Extension: Istanbul: Ancient City and Modern City

Sami Ozcini has shared his love for Turkey — and his home city of Istanbul — with Road Scholar participants for more than 12 years. His on-site lectures bring a different perspective to understanding and appreciating the rich history and legacy of Istanbul. A graduate of Marmara University, Sami has a degree in English literature and enjoys traveling throughout Europe, Australia and the U.S. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and acting as a referee for amateur football games in Istanbul.

Timur Comertpay was born and raised in Adana, a city on the eastern Mediterranean shore of Turkey. After working as an English teacher at several schools, he took up a new profession as a licensed excursion leader in 1992. Timur has lead educational groups to some of the best known archeological and historical sites in Turkey, as well as on hiking adventures along the Blue Voyage Coast. He believes to truly appreciate Turkey, visitors should experience the culture, taste different foods and interact with locals.

Senol Ogru enjoys sharing the cultural treasures of Turkey with lifelong learners from around the world. After studying English language and literature at Istanbul University, he became a licensed excursion leader in 1992 and began to lead archaeological and historical walks. He has been sharing his expertise with Road Scholar participants since 1997, and in his free time enjoys photography, cinema and music.