eclipse2

	STORY LINK: "Solar Eclipse 2006" on Space.com

	STORY LINK: "Chasing Shadows"

	The Total Solar Eclipse tour to Turkey was a huge success. Our tour was made up from an exceptional group of people and everyone had a great time. Some have seen eclipses before and others had not, but now everyone has had their first taste of what a total solar eclipse really means. There is no way to convey what happens during an eclipse unless you have stood there under the totally blocked solar disk yourself. I will be updating this web site with images and thoughts from the eclipse. In addition, I will preserve the original itinerary for historical purposes.

Total Solar Eclipse

3 minutes 40 seconds of Totality, March 29, 2006

Tour: March 22-April 2, 2006 (11 days, 10 nights)

Tour Schedule/Detailed Itinerary

Wednesday, March 22: USA/IZMIR. Depart for Izmir, Turkey. Enjoy Turkish Airlines superior in flight service

Flight information

Departure from Chicago: Turkish Airlines Flight 6 departs Chicago's O'Hare Airport at 17:00 Central Time.

Arrival in Istanbul: Flight arrives in Istanbul at 11:45 Turkish Time on March 23 for connection to Izmir flight.

Istanbul to Izmir: Turkish Airlines Flight 324 departs Istanbul at 13:00, arriving in Izmir at 14:00.

Tour Itinerary

Thursday, March 23: IZMIR. Arrive in Izmir. You will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Friday, March 24: IZMIR/EPHESUS/IZMIR. You will have a full day tour of the ruins of Ephesus, one of the largest archaeological sites in the world. Founded in the 13th century BC, it was an important center of Christianity, where the Apostles Paul and John preached the infant religion. A short visit to the Selcuk Museum and St. John’s Basilica follows. Return to Izmir for overnight. B, L

Saturday, March 25: SPACE CAMP/ECLIPSE ORIENTATION. After breakfast, you will be transferred to Space Camp. At Space Camp you will receive an orientation about what to expect on eclipse day and have the opportunity to ask any questions. After the orientation you will have the rest of the day to experience Space Camp simulators such as the Space Shuttle, Zero-G Wall, 1/6th Gravity Chair, Multi-Axis Trainer, and more. B, L

Note that Turkey will change to Daylight Savings Time at 02:00 on Sunday, March 26, so clocks will be set forward one hour. Daylight Savings Time in the United states does not occur until the morning of April 2, so will be in effect when our tour arrives in Chicago that afternoon.

Sunday, March 26: IZMIR/PAMUKKALE. Today, your tour travels to Pamukkale, where calcareous water cascades over the mountainside, forming numerous levels of water basins and white stalactites has given it the colorful name of “Cotton Fortress.” While there, you will visit the ruins of Hierapolis, founded in 190 BC by the King of Pergamum. Dinner at your hotel includes entertainment by local Turkish dancers. B, D

Monday, March 27: PAMUKKALE/ANTALYA (SIDE/MANAVGAT). After breakfast, visit Aphrodisias, the remains of an ancient city that flourished in the 1st century BC. Archaeological excavations are ongoing, uncovering a wealth of artifacts, the remains of a once thriving community of 60,000 inhabitants. Continue to the resort town of Side, along the

Turquoise Coast. Dinner at your hotel. B, D

Tuesday, March 28: ANTALYA. Today’s full-day tour takes you for a visit to Side where Cleopatra and Mark Anthony first met, the vast ruins of Perge with its Acropolis, thermal baths, Roman basilica, and paving stones that still exhibit the marks of chariot wheels is next. Final stop is Aspendos, the best preserved Roman Theater in the world. You will have a chance to stroll through the charming Old Section of Antalya. B, L, D

Wednesday, March 29 : TOTAL ECLIPSE DAY. Entire day is dedicated to the total solar eclipse. After breakfast, you’ll have a short orientation and then we will set up for viewing the eclipse from our location at the Kaya Side resort hotel, along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Our tour bus will be on standby to move us to a new location in case clouds threaten our viewing site. Tonight, Dinner and Eclipse Party at the hotel. B, L, D

Total Solar Eclipse Timetable (Turkish Time, -8 hrs ET or -11 hrs PT):

12:38:29 (04:38 ET, 01:38 PT) — 1st contact occurs (start of eclipse)

13:55:10 (05:55 ET, 02:55 PT) — 2nd contact begins (totality)

13:58:50 (05:58 ET, 02:58 PT) — 3rd contact (end of totality)

15:13:45 (07:12 ET, 04:12 PT) — 4th contact (end of eclipse)

The Sun will be 55° above the horizon at totality. Totality at our location will last approximately 3 minutes and 40 seconds. Total time including partial phases will be approximately 2 hours 35 minutes 16 seconds.

Thursday, March 30: ANTALYA/ISTANBUL. After breakfast, transfer to airport, a short flight to Istanbul, transfer to hotel. This afternoon, you will visit Turkey’s famed and historic “Kandilli Rasathanesi” (Kandilli Observatory), originally established during the Ottoman Empire. B

Flight information

Antalya to Istanbul: Turkish Flight 917 departs Antalya Airport at 08:10 Turkish Time and arrives in Istanbul at 09:20.

Friday, March 31: ISTANBUL. After breakfast, you will visit the Blue Mosque, built in only 7 years by order of Sultan Ahmet I in 1609. It gets its name from the blue Iznik tiles that cover the inside. Stroll through Topkapi Palace, with its impressive displays of jewelry, porcelain, clocks, miniatures, textiles, and religious artifacts. “Topkapi” means “Gate of the Cannon” for the Byzantine arsenal was once situated where the Palace now stands. Visit St. Sophia, the Christian masterpiece whose construction was presided over by the Emperor Justinian. The day’s tour ends with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, a shopper’s delight with more than 4000 shops from which to choose. B, L

Saturday, April 01: ISTANBUL. After breakfast, visit the Spice Bazaar, cruise on Bosphorus in a private boat, and visit Dolmabahce Palace. Farewell Dinner at Kizkulesi. B, D

Sunday, April 02: ISTANBUL/USA. Transfer to airport for final departure.

Flight information

Departure: Turkish Flight 5 departs Istanbul's Ataturk Airport at 10:00 Turkish Time.

Arrival: Flight arrives at Chicago's O'Hare Airport at 13:40 Central Time for connection to domestic flights.