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ANDREW JOHN PINCUS Don, This past August, we toured part of the Aegean Coast with Iffet Ozgonul. She arranged for us to spend a morning with you touring the Institute of Nautical Archaeology. The morning that we spent with you was remarkable -- we were overwhelmed by the excavations conducted by the Institute and the knowledge gained of peoples who lived thousands of years ago. While we enjoyed our visit to Ephesus, and Priene, and Didyma, the time we spent walking through the finds from different shipwrecks was like opening a time capsule of that period and civilization, and our conversation over lunch made clear how much work remains to be done... Under separate cover, we have sent you today a check for $5,000. in support of the work of the Institute, at your Texas address. We are making this contribution to honor Iffet Ozgonul, who so generously shared her love for Turkey with us. Best regards to you and your wife for a happy and healthy New Year. Laura Wertheimer |
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MR. DONALD
BOOTH & MS. ANNE BIGGS Dear iffet Thanks in no small measure to your efforts on our behalf, we had a wonderful holiday in Turkey : thank you very much! We thought Cappadocia got better and better! The landscapes are beautiful and amazing; the geology is fascinating (and it is possible to see its evolution happening); the history is equally fascinating. We are inspired to learn more about the Hittites: they were clever people! The balloon trip surpassed all our expectations. The balloonist’s skill was truly awe-inspiring: indeed, the technology and the balloonist’s control of it were almost more interesting than the country through and over which the balloon conveyed us! Mehmet was very helpful, patient and good-natured. He also drove carefully. Kalekoy was just as good in different ways. The place is beautiful, Yasin and his team were excellent, and we did a lot of exploring on foot and by kayak. We also very much appreciated the fact that no music plays in Kalekoy: evenings were spent eating and conversing to the sounds only of water lapping gently against the pier – and watching shoals of tiny fish trying to escape the jaws of barracuda! We enjoyed the Dogan Hotel in Antalya , and wandering round the streets resisting others’ attempts to sell to us (we did buy one or two things)! Everywhere we went the food was excellent, and beautifully presented. We also found the Turkish people to be very gracious: their putting others before self is a very attractive trait to the visitor! It was very kind of you to meet and collect us from Istanbul airport – and very patient of you to wait for as long as you did! We enjoyed our long conversation with you and Elif. If we can extend hospitality to you in the UK we should be delighted to do so. And if we can help Elif if/when she comes to the UK we should be equally delighted to do so. Anne lives about half an hour from Heathrow, and I live between Manchester and Leeds/Bradford airports (about one hour from both). Do keep in touch. Meanwhile, we’ll tell Cox & Kings!!! All the best from both of us. Sincerely, Donald and Anne |
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KEN & PAT
HACKER Iffet. Don Frey was excellent! We all loved him. Thank you very much! We also paid him ourselves. Turkey has been the best vacation ever thanks to you and Art. We will all be back again. Ken and Pat |
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PINCUS &
WERTHEIMER FAMILY Iffet We are still on cloud nine from our trip to Turkey. You made that trip so very special for us, and we had a wonderful first taste of Turkey--and we hope for many more.We have loaded our pictures into the computer and are dreaming about a Blue Cruise. Or a hot air balloon over Cappadoccio. Or some other adventures you will find for us. Laura |
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ILARIA &
ANTONIO LOGI Dear Iffet, We have wonderful memories of the days spent in you country and I see that Paolo and Patrizia want to come back next year. We might let them twist our arm and come with them. Once again thank you for the care and professionalism of your service. All the best Ilaria |
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MRS. SANDRA
BAKER Hi Iffet Just wanted you to know that I have arrived safely home. Am very jet-lagged after my long journey and layover at Dubai. Didn't get to bed until 4pm Perth time and slept until 1.30 in the afternoon. The cats were very glad to see me. Thankyou once again for the wonderful opportunity you affor ded me. I truly had the trip of a lifetime! Please pass on my regards to Uysal. Love Sandy |
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PROF. MICHAEL SAGE & LAURA SAGE IN THE
FOOTSTEPS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT Dear Iffet, First, Laura and I would like to express our gratitude for the opportunity to participate in this wonderful tour. It allowed us to see sites we would never have been able to see on our own and in my case gave me a much clearer sense of nature of Alexander’s achievement in Asia Minor. Laura and I would like to thank you for this opportunity and the friendlessness and solicitude you showed us. I hope we can see each other once again. Best regards, Michael. |
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DR. PAOLO
TOTARO & MRS. PATRIZIA TOTARO Dear Iffet Once again, a million thanks for a marvellous stay: we are leaving our hearts in Turkey and will be back next year: Inshallah. Lots of love and regards Paolo, with Patrizia |
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SUSAN SCOTT Dear Prof. Shrimpton, I obtained your email address by enquiring from the Dept. of Greek and Roman Studies. I have just returned from a tour of Eastern Anatolia which was offered by a Turkish company called Peten Travels. They design tours for the scholastically-minded and all tours are accompanied by a guide with a background in archaeology and art history. They offer trips such as: Classical Turkey, In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great, Pearls of the Byzantine Empire, The Hittites and the Phrygians etc. I can recommend them too highly. Tours are meticulously planned and accommodations superb. I thought the teachers and students in your department might be interested. Their website is www.petentour.com and email petenturizm@petentour.com. They publish a beautiful information booklet and I'm sure you could ask for one. Sincerely, Susan Scott |
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GRAHAM
JONES Dear Iffet, This e-mail is rather overdue! I did want to say how much I enjoyed my guided tour of Istanbul. It contained all the unmissable places - Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, etc. - but also some other excellent places that a casual tourist would probably not see - Sabanci Museum, Chora museum, for example. I much enjoyed Inci's style of guiding and have of course already e-mailed her to say so. It was a pleasure to meet you on the last evening and I much enjoyed your kind gesture of the excellent dinner. Thank you also for seeing me off safely at the airport. I have of course told Dargan of my very enjoyable tour. With renewed thanks and good wishes, Graham Jones. |
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MRS. &
MR. COLLIN DRISCOLL Dear Iffet, Just to 'thank you' very much for a wonderful holiday in Turkey. We both enjoyed all our experiences and spent the last week recounting the details to anybody who will listen ! We have also been trying to absorb all the information given to us by both you and Neriman. At the moment I'm very keen to try some of the receipes which we picked up in various places! Trust that you aren't working too hard. Take care. With very best wishes Colin and Jill Driscoll |
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THE
SINGLETON FAMILY Dear Iffet, We had such a great time; we can't wait to return. Turkey is an amazing and beautiful country. The people of Turkey are rightfully very proud of their home. I wish I could speak your language as I would love to become closer. Petentours is the BEST ! See you next time!! Dean Singleton |
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MARY
GAYLE VAN INGEN & DICK INGEN Hi Iffet, Just a note, a little late, to let you know we arrived home safely and on time Monday, feeling absolutely euphoric about our trip. We thank you for everything you did yourself or arranged with others to make our trip so interesting, fun, and educational. Dick and I would like to invite you to visit us in our humble home and explore our little corner of the United States. We think it would be great fun if you could come for a visit. You could fly directly here, or fly into New York or Chicago and take the train across the top of the United States to Portland. We would like to extend this same invitation to Uysul. We enjoyed our time with her so much. In addition to guiding us through all tourist sites, she did such a nice job of giving us a small taste of what it is like to live in Istanbul. Thank you both so much for everything. Mary Gayle Van Ingen |
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MRS. MANON
RUBEN & PROF. GEORGE C. RUBEN You must have extrasensory perception: I was just about to write to thank you, and Inci, for the trip of a lifetime (sorry, I don't know how to find the cidilla alternate key on my computer keyboard). We enjoyed it immensely. You may use us as references and for "testimonials" at any time! Inci was a perfect guide and companion, and I hope we can continue our friendship. Indeed, we all had mostly compatible interests and developed considerable esprit de corps, formalized by naming ourselves the N2Ls -- the Neo-Neolithians. Maybe this device will serve to keep us in occasional e-contact, although we'll definitely see Glenda Robinson when we visit Oakland late this summer when she'll be recuperating from knee replacement surgery. We promised not to show our pictures of her successful climb to the summit of Nemrud Mountain to her surgeon! We are especially grateful to you for conducting the tour despite the small number of participants. If we can assist you in any way in promoting your company in the U.S., please do not hesitate to ask, and we will certainly be recommending it to friends and family who consider trips to Turkey. Best regards, Manon and George Ruben |
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RICK BURIAN Dearest Iffet Thank you for a wonderful holiday experience. I so appreciate your attention to detail and personalized approach. I will remember this trip for years to come and will certainly recommend your company to my friends and colleagues. I will start working on my article for Orchids Magazine soon and may contact you if I have any questions. Again, thanks for making this such a great vacation. I hope to visit Turkey again in the near future and look forward to seeing you then. All the best, Rick |
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MR. H. JUNG
& DR. D. JUNG Dear Iffet, I hope you are well. Please find below comments from Mr Jung regarding his recent trip to Turkey. It was very unfortunate that the original guide became ill as they were not happy with Mehmets knowledge. However it was unavoidable and despite this I think he enjoyed his trip Kindest regards Mark Robinson General Manager |
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MARTIN &
LINDA SIMON Dear Iffet, We are back in Mexico. I just wanted to thank you for the time you spent with us in Istanbul. I look forward to another visit - there is so much to see & do. Turkey is a wonderful place. Best regards, Linda |
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EARL &
LOUISI KARI Dear Iffet We just wanted to tell you how wonderful our trip has been. We all agree that it was beyond our imagination. Your country is extraordinary and Gulden was simply fantastic. We appreciate the time you took with us. I know we were pretty 'high maintenance'. By the way, the gulet was wonderful. The crew was very good and took care of us and the food was beyond words ! |
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CLARK &
JOAN SCARBORO Dear Iffet, Here we are at the end of a wonderful 21 plus days in Turkey. Everything that you planned for us has been perfect. You must have a wonderful relationship with the weather gods as the weather has cooperated beautifully. Gulden has been an inspired choice of guide for us. From the moment we first met her at the airport, she has been our teacher, our daughter and our friend, her command of English is amazing and her sense of humor charming. As far as knowing her country's history, her knowledge and memory are staggering. I am so glad she has not given us the "quiz". Days spent on the gulet have been very bit as delux as advertised. The crew are charming and the Turkish cuisine produced by Mehmet, inspired. Thank you for making our visit so very memorable. |
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PAT & JIM
CARFRA Dear Iffet, How could our three week trip have been any better ? We have no answer for that. It was perfect. Thank you for creating this trip of a lifetime. We appreciate your answers to all our questions in advance & your attention to minute detail. Most of all, we are grateful for 'the wonderful Gulden'.Never could we imagine a woman & a guide better than she. We love her humour, her amazing command of the English language, her sensitivity, intelligence & knowledge. What a woman ! The gulet trip was perfect. The firendly crew work hard as a democratic team & kept the boat sparkling. The food ? wonderful. The area ? breathtaking. The swimming & kayaking-lots of fun. We will never forget this trip. Thank you, thank you ! |
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DAVID &
LINDA STORRIE'S SPECIAL GROUP My Dear Iffet, I wish to thank you most sincerely for all the work, excellent advice and provision of services that you gave on behalf of myself and my prestigious clients for our tour to the Gallipoli Peninsula and Istanbul . As you know, Jason is a very important American client and his Party of business associates from Britain , Bermuda and the USA were demanding in their requests. You coped with their changes in plan and late alterations superbly! The luxury coach, the fast-ferry advice, the preferential booking of hotel rooms were all excellent and made my life much easier – just what I wanted. I do hope that we can work together again and thus continue our relationship of these many years. All the best wishes for the future and Linda and I look forward to seeing you again before too long. David Colonel David Storrie, Royal Marines (Retired) Kingstown, Deal , Kent , England |
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VICTORIA
HOLDSWORTH Dear Vicki, The accomodations and tours were excelent. The Guides were extremely knowledgeable, more than we expected ! We're very impressed with Peten's service. You've got an excellent partner. Thanks for the arrangements, Tongs |
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BIBLICAL
TOUR Hej Iffet! It was very nice to see you again! Our trip were very good, all members were
very satisfired. Thank You and best wishes Nils Holmberg |
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COSTUME
SOCIETY We certainly experienced many aspects of Turkey in a short time – our main objectives of seeing as much as possible of dress and textile production from design process to finished product, examples of urban and regional garments and jewellery, highlights of Turkish architecture and decoration essential for the cultural context, were fortified by the kindness of Turkish colleagues at all levels, and were well nourished by excellent Turkish food. We could not have achieved and enjoyed so much without the response of the Costume Society’s group to all the hard work which Iffet Ozgonul and her team had devoted to the tour. |
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PROF.CAROLINE BYNUM Dear Iffet, Once again thanks for a wonderful trip!!!! As for a testimonial: “I had a wonderful time in Turkey. Peten Tours arranged an itinerary that suited me perfectly and provided a guide who was knowledgeable, energetic, and a splendid human being. I learned from her and I enjoyed her company immensely. She was patient when I wanted to stop to spend more time somewhere and thoughtful when my middle-aged feet could not walk fast. My days in Istanbul were perfect. I saw everything I wanted to see and had
time also to walk around on my own and get a feel for the City. The Turks I
met were amazingly gracious and enlightened people. I have seldom been in a
country where I felt so at home. I am grateful to you for an absolutely perfect vacation. Caroline Bynum “ Of course if this is too long, feel free to cut it down. And thank you again, Caroline |
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PROF. BOB
MECHIKOFF Dear Ms. Ozgonul, Thank you very much for making all of the excellent arrangements for my trip to Turkey this past week. The hotels were wonderful and I spent several days with Reyhan Korpe evaluating the ancient stadium Alexandria Troas for excavation in 2008 and 2009. Professor Korpe also took us to Assos, Troy, Apollo Smitheon, and many other beautiful archeological sites. He is a gift to archeology! Thank you again for your superb professionalism and excellent service. Please feel free to use me as a reference and the next time my plans call for travel to Turkey, I will be contacting you. Thank you Professor Bob Mechikoff |
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MR.ROGER
SUYAME & MRS. ALICIA SEOW Hi, |