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 Istanbul: 

Art & Culture

with

 Sevan Melikyan


September 17 - 27, 2023

September 17 - 27, 2023
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Trip Status:   CLOSED
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Tour Cost:  ~ $4500 *

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Single Supplement: $800 *
 
Activity Level: Medium or 2 hours of walking at a slow pace
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* We are estimating the cost currently. We must have an in situ travel agent to make most of the arrangements so we are waiting for a firm price from the agent. 
Galata Tower (By Alexxx Malev).jpeg

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This trip will take us to a more exotic culture than the usually staid, but artistically prolific sites which equal previous trips. While Istanbul does not ooze the quiet light of Provence or the deep brocade of colors of the Northern European Renaissance painters, the city (and the country) is a cacophony of noise, color, and life. It has a wealth of art and culture which we will also see: the Aya Sofia, the Hippodrome, and Turkey's Versailles, Topkapi, to name a few sites. 

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iTINERARY

Muslim museums, modern art museums, mosques, churches, towers and palaces offer so much to see (I'll let Sevan pronounce all these names). Negotiate your best at the spice and grand bazaars, where you will be sure to find wonderful souvenirs and gifts. 

Hagia Sophia (By A.Savin).jpg
Itineray

We will have one welcome day of complete leisure as we sail the Straits of Bosphorus to view the majestic mansions and bathe ourselves in the sun, assuming the weather cooperates. 

Grand Bazaar (By Dmgultekin).jpg
Topkapı Palace (By Carlos Delgado).jpg

Be ready to see the sights (we'll be traveling by tram and private van or bus, but doing a lot of walking). We will eat wonderful Turkish food, great news for you  pescatarians, and learn about this fascinating culture from Sevan, who was born here. His sister Sheyda will be our co-host. Not surprisingly, they both speak Turkish, which will be a huge asset for us! 

Chora Church (By Takeaway).jpg

We'll be staying in the Eresin Hotel Sultanahmet, which is in a nice neighborhood, bordering the sea. 

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In conjunction with the trip, Sevan will be hosting a zoom series on Istanbul entitled Illuminating Istanbul.  You can learn about this series here.

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Your Hosts:

Hosts

Sevan Melikyan

sevan headshot.jpg

Sevan Melikyan is the director of Wired Gallery in High Falls, New York, a founding member and director of Chagall in High Falls, Inc., a lecturer on art museums, and an artist. In 2013, Art Society of Kingston presented Melikyan with its ASKars award in recognition for his “significant contributions to the arts” and The Ulster County Executive recognized Melikyan as an Arts Ambassador. Prior to the U.S., he lived in Paris, France where he earned a BA focusing on arts marketing, and prior to that, in Istanbul, Turkey, where he was born of Armenian parents in 1965.

 

" . . . these trips with you cannot be closer to my core values of sharing amazing art through the ages, with which we also learn about ourselves and our civilization. And my hope is always that at the end of it, people are left to believe in humanity, in our own power to create amazing, positive things. And I also hope they smile, because...I like to be funny!”

Sheyda Eversley

My name is Sheyda (its origin is Farsi, and it means Mad with Love).

I live in New Paltz, NY, 90 miles north of New York City. My first trip

was at the age of 3, from Toronto, Canada, where I was born, to

Istanbul, Turkey, my parents' birthplace, where I lived until I was

married at 22. I eventually settled in the USA. 

 

Growing up in Istanbul, I was introduced to several languages,

more by necessity than choice. By age 10, I was fluent in Turkish,

Armenian, and French but spoke little English. My biggest wish was

to join the Aviation Industry, but I needed to improve my English.

So I came to the USA and stayed with an American host family for

four months, watching lots of television and practicing English daily.

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My professional life of almost 40 years with two International

Airlines helped me see the benefits of language while interacting

with the traveling public from all over the world.

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Joan Hill

In 2008, the seed of Artful Journeys was planted in her brain, when Joan brought together all of her life's passions - her love of music, an affinity for the beautiful things in life, and an ability to organize events - to give birth to Artful Journeys, a program of art education trips for the soul.


Joan was born and raised in the apple country of the Hudson River Valley in New York; her father was a gentle, very tolerant, educated land surveyor, and her mother was the efficient business administrator and home engineer. The youngest of four children, Joan was encouraged to pursue anything she wanted, but also to do her best. Sometimes that was difficult, especially
succeeding three very accomplished siblings.

joan_hill.jpg

Journey Cost:

Cost
Cost
Hosts

Trip cost is $4,500, d.o. 

Single supplement is $800.

  • Includes all accommodations, most meals, transportation in Italy, museum & studio entry,  other scheduled activity fees, and teacher and admin fees

  • Not included are tips and gratuities, personal purchases, and pampering

  • NOTE: A deposit of $500 is required upon registration to secure a place on this Journey

  • Airfare is not included to enable travelers to use their “travel points,” upgrade flight arrangements, or to extend their trip

  • Travel insurance is strongly encouraged. Please see the Travel Insurance Form

  •  Covid vaccinations  required by the EU and Artful Journeys.

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Please note that PayPal remittances must go through the form on this website.  Thank you.

Buyukada tea break.jpg
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