5 am and we are up and at um. Thinking back on this morning I am so pleased our tour had us up this early.
After a quick breakfast we loaded the bus and started the 4 hour journey to the Gallipoli peninsula. The landscape is so different to that of Australia or New Zealand. There is a love of high density multi level housing here. The quarter acre dream that we aspire to is not quite realized here. The valleys and scenery we passed was very impressive. The country is so green and inviting. We stopped for a break at a service station. Here I experienced something new, having to pay for the use of a toilet! I reckon the guy who maintained the toilet loved today as he made about 180 lira from our 4 tour buses. A good pay day for him.
After traveling through various checkpoints we made it to Gabe tepe. Here we waited, then waited and finally waited some more. Although this sounds bad, it actually wasn't. We got time to sit on the beach, talk to people from our tour or catch up on some sleep. Eventually we were released to walk to ANZAC Cove. We stopped at some of the Commonwealth cemeteries. These were especially moving. Seeing the names of soldiers, their ages and where they were from brought emotions bubbling to the surface.
Finally we made it to the main commemorative area. Here we laid out our sleeping bags and attempted to get some sleep. This was a lot harder than it looks as thousands of people were (and are) constantly arriving.
The time is now 1 am and there is 4 hours to go until the service starts. We are currently sitting and listening to different documentaries and speeches from various secondary school students.
It is a little overwhelming to think that the space that us as visitors now occupyis just above thousands of brave men from both sides who are at eternal rest.
Kia Kaha and God bless all of those young men.
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