2015 Gallipoli Ballot - 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings

[amaroo]

Looking good! Weather forecast for Gallipoli - Holiday Weather

 

[ellen10]

Well thats a good forecast.

 

[vetrade]

Safe travels to all those heading to Gallipoli.
Opportunities for Aussies to commemorate notable events such as AD in foreign lands where they actually took place are rare; and 100th anniversaries are rarer still.
I'm sure it will be a talking point for you all for many months after your return.
Have to admit I'm a little envious you get to the "main game" but still chuffed that we'll be at the Villers Bretonneux service instead. We depart tomorrow.

 

[ellen10]

vetrade have a great trip I will look forward to hearing about your travels.

 

[Katie]

Have to admit I'm a little envious you get to the "main game" but still chuffed that we'll be at the Villers Bretonneux service instead. We depart tomorrow.

We've done the Dawn service in Villers Bretonneux twice, and Gallipoli once. Villers Bretonneux is very special. We are looking forward to going back in 2018.

 

[amaroo]

And so it begins! 502 days after I started this thread

You can following the TR here http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/showthread.php?t=67312

 

[Groundhog]

Very excited for you Amaroo, i leave on Friday night, so will see you in IST, hopefully for a beer

 

[Flying mermaid]

Have fun everyone and travel safely.

 

[Atleastonce]

We are in Switzerland at the moment having done London and Paris over the last 1 1/2 weeks. Off to Germany today and then onto Turkey for our tour, arriving 18th.

 

[Groundhog]

Yeahhhhhh, i am underway.Well in the lounge at Mel at the moment with wife and kids..Next stop DXB then on to IST. Looking forward to seeing everyone over there

 

[ellen10]

Have great trip.

 

[Atleastonce]

We are in Frankfurt, to London tonight and Istanbul tomorrow. Very excited.

 

[Rick93]

Just got a phone call from IC Istanbul ...

They say my credit card declined, and threatened booking cancellation if I didn't give a valid card RIGHT NOW !!

I said, I updated my card details over a month ago. Caller said, can't access any updated details AFTER booking made ?? Is this correct ???

Caller even asked for my email, but THAT was too sus for me.

I said, I'll email hotel myself.

A clue ( perhaps ) ...

I locked ( hopefully ) a rate for AMB Cert. use. 270 Euro for Sat. 25th. April - with 26th. as free night.

Tonight, I just checked the AMB Cert cost for the Sat. night ..... 1,000 Euro !!!! ( 26th. was just 270 Euro )

No wonder they would be checking if I'm going to turn up or not ....

Point is, that all Australians ( including visiting VIPs ?? ) won't be getting back to Istanbul until after 9 - 10pm. So we miss out on drinks in the Club Lounge ...

( hopefully, I'll get them to put some food away for us ... )

 

[medhead]

I'm waiting in KUL. 2 hour delay on the A380 to Paris.

Should I ask for compo?

 

[Atleastonce]

I'm waiting in KUL. 2 hour delay on the A380 to Paris.

Should I ask for compo?

We were delayed last week on the A380 out of Abu Dhabi for nearly 2 hours for a sand storm to pass. Nice and quiet upstairs on Etihad J, and champagne flowed freely for that time

 

[Rick93]

Mmmmm. Co-incidence, or paranoid ???

I've had two phone calls to my mobile from IC Istanbul. Seemed to be legit enquiries about my booking and credit card details etc.

Also, a few emails, asking what time are we expecting to check in ...

Tonight, an unusual black van was parked directly outside my residence.

I couldn't identify the make. Large and looking similiar to an F100.

Totally blacked out windows ALL ROUND - even the windscreen !!!

NEVER seen any private vehicle with total blacked out windows, to include front and windscreen ...

With drink and cigarette in hand, I casually walked over, and could not see any 'activity' inside.

Back to the verandah, and whilst looking directly at the vehicle, the engine started, and it drove away ...

Now, maybe I've seen too many movies, but ........

 

[Pushka]

Just got a phone call from IC Istanbul ...


Point is, that all Australians ( including visiting VIPs ?? ) won't be getting back to Istanbul until after 9 - 10pm. So we miss out on drinks in the Club Lounge ...

( hopefully, I'll get them to put some food away for us ... )

Honestly, the Club just isn't the normal IC club. No self serve drinks. Food not bad but not much choice. But don't worry if you miss it. Cant say wonderful service. They wont be putting any away methinks.

 

[Rick93]

Well, I've woken up in a Holiday Inn Express, somewhere on the 'other side' of town from the airport.

I've never really experienced a 'full on' jet-lag, but this must be it !!

I THINK it took us a train, a bus, and a taxi for us to get where we are right now ...

It's going to take some military-style logistical planning to get to our tour meeting point at Hagia Sophia Mosque by 07:00hrs. on the 24th.

( and hopefully, we'll get some sight-seeing done before then too. )

 

[Cynicor]

For those wondering, I ended up taking a taxi both ways. No hassles, didn't have to ask to use the meter, didn't cheat me. About 70-80 T-Lira from Ataturk to Bosphorus (Conrad in my case).

 

[Rick93]

So, here at the HIX Altunizade on the 'Asian' side of Istanbul ....

We have experienced a glimpse of the 'common' life in Istanbul ...

Only about 1:4 staff speak broken English.

There was a complementary breakfast each morning, which has saved us perhaps 10 - 20 Euros each. We are on a rate of 80 Euros a night ( which we needed to have a few paid nights to meet the requirements of Set You Sights for my partner's 50.5k bonus )

Went for a 2k walk down to the ferry terminal last night ...

Encountered a woman sitting outside a Burger King outlet ... begging.

We stood back a little, and watched the locals passing by. about 1:10 -15 actually gave a few coins.

The women was craddling a 'bundle' covered up. My partner said, that looks like a baby !! ( but there was no movement )

We waited and watched for movement, and discussed between ourselves, whether or not she actually had a baby ...

I said, I think she did, and so as we finally passed by, I stopped and offered a few Lire coins. I asked " do you have baby? "

She opened up the blanket .... and YES, there was a real ( live ) baby - about 6 - 12 months old ....

We gave the rest of the coins in our pockets. It was cold out there on the streets last night ....