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crusades

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bielle Joined: Dec 07 Points: 1844 Posts: 9 Posted: 2008-08-05 15:28:00    Has anyone information on an itinerary for following the Crusader routes through Syria and Jordan either in an organised trip or independently. Bielle Reply    Reply with quote    Contact bielle   plancarpin Premium account Joined: Aug 08 Points: 3228 Posts: 28 Posted: 2008-08-05 15:41:00    Hi Bielle, will be glad to help you! i did it already! just focus on which crusade you speak among the 8 majors? where from do you want to start? where do you want to end? (4th crusade only went to Constantinople, the latest were targeted on Egypt). how long do you have? 60 days is fine, but you can split in 2,3 or 4 different trips as I did. some border crossing are tough (Greece/Turkey at Ipsala, Turkey/Syria; Better end in Israel instead of starting there (to avoid israeli stamp in passport, which happened to my travel pal) let's keep in touch cheers plancarpin --- One travels, not to change locations, but ideas. Hippolyte Taine (french philosopher) Reply    Reply with quote    Contact plancarpin   bielle Joined: Dec 07 Points: 1844 Posts: 9 Posted: 2008-08-06 16:02:00    i think my interest lies in the first three crusades with an overland journey from Istanbul to Jeruselam following the Syrian coast. is car hire possible can you make the journey independently time is not really a problem j'attends vos reponses bielle Reply    Reply with quote    Contact bielle   plancarpin Premium account Joined: Aug 08 Points: 3228 Posts: 28 Posted: 2008-08-06 19:02:00    Dear Terry, Here is how I handled the portion you are focusing on: (cities listed are where I spent overnights) From Istanbul, take the ferry to Yalova, then Iznik (former Nicée)/Bursa/Ayvacik/Kusadasi/Dalyan/Kalkan/Tekirova/Konya/Kayseri/Adana (on the way, on the left side of the road, downwards Adana, you will see a mark on the road; this is the place were Frederick 1st Hhenstaufen dies when crossing the Aleph river, during the third crusade)/From Adana you can make a side trip to Antakya (Antioche) and Iskenderun (Alexandrette in middle age, Marco Polo did spend a long time here as well)/then crossing into Syria and straight to Aleppo. If you have more time, you can also make the detour to Urfa (the former Edessa), then follow the Euphrate river southwards to Syria (border point is also open there) Go to St Simeon then to Lattakie via Chateau de Saone/Apamea (roman site but really worth the detour)/Marquab/Krak des Chevaliers/Homs/ mandatory side trip to Palmyre/Damascus. From DAM, enter Lebanon. Country is quite small and more famous for roman than medieval ruins; anyhow, do visit Anjar, Baalbek on the way to Bayrouth. Then Tripoli in the north (chateau St Gilles on top of the hill is disapointing), via wonderful Byblos; then go south to Saida (Sidon) and Tyr, then back to DAM... will post the end of tour in a new mail, to avoid loosing all I wrote! ;-) --- One travels, not to change locations, but ideas. Hippolyte Taine (french philosopher) Reply    Reply with quote    Contact plancarpin   plancarpin Premium account Joined: Aug 08 Points: 3228 Posts: 28 Posted: 2008-08-06 19:37:00    GRRRR I was over with the second part and I erased by mistake... so again... from Damas, drive south to Amman; border is easy to cross, yo ucan keep the syrian car into Jordan. Do visit the 2 old churches of Izraa and the Bosra Theater before leaving Syria. Not much historical sights to see in Amman. Better go to Jerash and Castles of the desert (Qusayr Amra), up to Azraq if you're a fan of Lawrence of Arabia ! and of course, I guess you also plan to incluse Petra in your trip, right? from Amman, then drive to Israel border; cross at Allenby bridge; stop at Madaba and Mt Nebo before. I crossed there in april 2001 and we had to change bus..double check the actual situation; I'm really not sure that they actually allow a jordan car into Israel... I would suggest to ask a car from Jericho (Palestine) to pick you at the border... Then holy land with what you can imagine (Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethleem); do not forget Tiberiade lake , where a big battle took place in 1187, against Saladin's troops (called Hattin at that time). do also visit Akko, Cesarea, Haifa which where crusader's strongholds. then drive to TLV and take your flight back home you can drive your own car in Turkey, but better take a driven car, for other countries. I will suggest you to use a travel agency better than a usual car rental company, will be much cheaper. Make sure that they have the proper green card to cross borders, if not you will be stick at gate for hours... feel free to contact me if you need more info bon voyage! jean philippe --- One travels, not to change locations, but ideas. Hippolyte Taine (french philosopher) Reply    Reply with quote    Contact plancarpin