ANZAC Day at Gallipoli....
Trip Start
Feb 23, 2008
1
63
104
Trip End
Jun 05, 2008
Gelibolu, Turkey
Saturday, April 26, 2008
All the people who were sleeping got told to stand which made room for others to go stand on the hill on the grass -- a much better view. My toes were numb and the body was cold - a few of us made the quick rush to the portaloos before the service started at 5.30am - just as the sky was starting to light up. After all the formalities had been said I walked down and got a little closer to the action. I watched people from all countries lay wreaths and then they played the Last Post and yep, I may have shed a tear or 10. I returned to the group so we could all sing Advance Aust Fair (hardly anyone knows the words to the second chorus and it was lucky they had printed it in the program). The service was over and we tried to make our way down to the front to take some pics of the wreaths - it was a struggle to go against the crowd saying sorry sorry excuse me sorry but we made it there eventually. It was definitely worth it...
We re-grouped and made the hour trek up the rock path to the Lone Pine Aussie service.... It was a tough slog and my toes still felt numb but it was a beautiful sunny day. There were massive queues at the top as we all had to go through the bag check again but we passed and got seats in the stands. We chilled and tried not to go to sleep (I may have had a quick 5 minutes - in my sleeping sheet (was cold), backpack on my knees & leaning over - not the most comfortable sleeping position!). The service started at 10am and it was a struggle as Mr Sleepy kept coming and knocking. I made it through and paid my respects to our fallen soldiers. After hearing the Last Post we decided to walk straight away to the NZ service about 3km away up at Chunuk Bair. Gem & I took off and met the others up there - we had our head down and were doing the power-walk to wake us up. We passed the Turkish service and had a little look - guns going off but we didn't stay for long.
The area the NZ service was in was really small and there wasn't enough room to sit ad see the service so we sat on the side of the hill and watched it on the big screen. The NZ service was great - a Maori lady sang a very powerful song and it was quite moving. After though it was the same routine, Last Post etc etc and again we regrouped and laid down to wait for out bus which was expected to show up around 2.30pm. After an hours sleep we woke up and went to wait down on the road.... At 2.30 no bus... 3pm... no bus...3.30 ... no bus...At around 4pm Bus No. 142 finally comes cruising around the corner (the road is 1 lane and its one way in and 1 way out -- just imagine all the buses that are needed to transport 10T people to and from Gallipoli ... hundreds!) -- we made the scramble on board and I immediately fell asleep - I don't remember crossing back over in the ferry - Gen woke me just as we were pulling back into the hotel about 1 1/2 hrs later. I had a quick shower to warm up then met everyone for a celebratory beer... I tucked into the buffet then met Jan in her room so she could cut my hair (had some straggly bits from my cut in Istanbul)...
Soon enough but not soon enough I was tucked in bed -- it had been a long, tiring, exhausting day but also one that I will never forget.
