A boat on Hellespont (the ancient name for the Dardanelles)

The things that I didn't know before travelling ...

For a millennium the Dardenelles have been the key to Istanbul or so writes the book. The navy that could capture the Dardenelles had a good chance of conquering Istanbul and so it was for this that so many ANZACS died at Gallipoli.

I've stayed on both sides of this body of water where Lord Byron came in 1807, to prove possible the myth of Hero and Leander. He did it by swimming from Cannakkale over to where Hero used to wait in Kilitbahir.

TJ's Backpackers in Eceabat is my favourite place to stay and he's is the best battlefield guide you could wish for.