Trouble in Europe

Well when did I leave you last… hmmm … so much has happend!! As you would have read Leighs had some “issues” which brought the website offline for several days not allowing us to update and to get terribly behind. Because of this we both decided to communicate in this entry in point form…enjoy

Kas - Stayed at a brilliant place called Hilal Pension which is very relaxed and had a balcony view of the bay. Kas is the sort of town where dogs were sleeping in public squares seemingly oblivious to everyone around. Swam at a local beach in the afternoon and played beach volleyball. Listened to Miles Davis - Kinda Blue in a jazz bar drinking Raki. Sea kayaked over a sunken city.

Fethiye - Went to a very nice beach in Oludeniz where they sell everything in british pound!! Hiked from there to an abandoned city called Kayakoy. Mainly we relaxed in the pool at the pension and drank some Efes. Checked out the Lycian ruins which were nice. Temples carved into the cliff face and all.

Pamukkale - Well in Pamukkale there is essentially one thing to do, check out the limstone pools in the cliff face. Did this which was amazing!! Swam in the hot springs at the top of Pamukkale for free, normal entrance $20 as our resident spy Basil Jet sussed out a weakspot in the security defences. Paul our leader organised a trip for a few of us to the mud baths in a nearby village. No tourists, plenty of rotten egg sulfur smell!!. Smelt like rotten eggs for about 2 days afterward, brilliant

Selcuk - This is a town where there are that many turkish people speaking with an Australian accent it is ridiculous. We were greeted at the bus statoin by a turkish tout in an Australian Rugby top, jeans and thongs yelling out “Are you looking for me” . Places called Canberra Hotel, Outback hotel. Cafe owners called Russell Crowe and so on…. very funny. Selcuk is the place Australian and New Zeelanders tend to travel to after visiting Gallipolli. Visited Ephesus which was the capital of Asia Minor in the Roman times. We got there early and we were lucky enough to see it before all the boat loads of tourists flooding in off all the cruise ships. Waves and waves of them. Bec, Laura and I watch a peformance of the Singing Angels (church choir group from the Mid West USA) peform several songs in a senate arena of Ephesus. One song which I managed to record on my camera was “Istanbul not Contantinople” by They might be Giants. A highlight of the whole trip as it was just sooooooo funny. Also checked out the local Ephesus Museum and the Basilica of St John where he supposedly wrote the Book of Revelations. Got very drunk of Efes back at the pension playing cards. $2 lira per 500ml stubby was a very cheap way to have a lot of fun!!

Canakkale - Troy in the morning, Gallipolli in the afternoon. Went to Troy with Tony, Leigh and Shelly where we were fortunate enough to get a guided tour by a brilliant guide who has written a couple of books on the area. Gallipolli was amazing, a must see for anyone anywhere near the area. Australians and New Zeelanders I don’t think have any understanding how important this site is to all Turkish people as well. Around 250,000 casualties on the turkish side but not only that, it was the place where Ataturk (the man that won the battle for the turks) asserted himself as a force to be reckoned with. After winning Gallipolli he then continued on revolutionising the turkish nation becomming General then leader of Turkiye. It was a very emotional and hot day! Lone Pine, Shrapnel Valley, The Nek, I saw all the sites that we all hear about and it puts the battle into perspective on how it was lost (allies for those of you who forgot) and won. Went out to dinner and a bar/bars (lost count) then watched the Australia/Croatia replay back at ANZAC House with a bunch of Aussies who were also very drunk. 1.5 hours sleep and onto the bus to Istanbul

Istanbul - Well we arrived here yesterday afternoon and hung around before going out to goodbye dinner and drinks. Paul brought us to his favorite restauraunt in Istanbul where there were no tourists in an area called Taksis where it was very young and vibrant. Lots of fun. Leigh explained the night in the other post but I think any night where you end up in a dodgy kebap place at 4am where in the same place are two Turkish Shims (yes Transvisties) is a night to remember. As Leigh also said, but I feel I need to say as well, last night/this morning was fun and happy but also very sad. We both made some great friends on this trip, Laura (one time in band camp), Becs (token New Zeelander), Shelly (token American), John (Commander), Tony (Basil Jet, Dad) ,Geraldine (Gerry, Mum), Tina and Carrolyn (our resident healers) and Xena (Warrior Princess). I can’t wait for the reunion in Sydney!! Greece here we come. 

One of the things you just don’t (we’ll I don’t) realise at home is that you do actually need sleep occasionally. I also have to say this diary blog crap thing is turning into the most half-arsed effort - as anything with good intentions seems to turn out.

Back to sleep - I have qu?ckly learned that in order to sleep on a tour like this you need to limit each night to 4 - 5 hr, less if you can convince someone to join you in Rak? or beer, the beer here (Efes) ?s quite a nice drop. Then you sleep on the horribly long bus rides, but something you quickly get used to.

Anyway, because this blog ?s now half-arsed - and because holidaying for the first time in another country is just so awesomely fantastic. Pat and I have decided to stay here, never to return. However, this thought may only last as long as the cash flow - which may not even get to the end of the trip

In summary - every day involves food and beer as a minimum. Pat last took us to the picnic by the river w?th Laura, Shelly, Pat and myself (thought I’d keep some names coming - they may be offended if they’re only ever known as the others).

After that night it was yet another 12 hr bus ride to Antalya - once again a very different c?ty to the last couple. Still friendly people, but not as overly friendly as the people in Malatya - I shouldn’t say overly, because it was very welcome, but the crowds drawn to us as tourists was quite phenomenal - about 40-50 people gathered around us at one point in the markets.

Once we hit Antalya, we had very good food - again - and went to a Hamam, the turkish baths. I’ve never even been in a sauna, so this was even more an experience. In short, you wear nothn?g but a towel - underground - very hot - very wet. Then some guy takes you into a room, scrubs you down, soaps you up and gives a very relaxing massage.

Early night last night - about 2am after a couple beers. Probably 2nd best sleep I’ve had since I left - should give me several more days of no sleep.

This morning most of us hired some taxis and went to the mountains to cl?mb up and check out a well, mountaintop city, on top of which there is an old (as is everything) Greek theatre with beautiful v?ews. Then to some caves, the source of some relics dating back 50,000 years. And lastly to a very pretty waterfall.

None of which I have pictures of - cos there’s no USB plug in this PC.

Lastly, Bec has found out she has been introducing herself as Becca (bekar) to the locals with some strange and promising looks in reply. We found out it actually means ’single woman’ ?n Turkish. Any rebeccas going to Turkey - take heed.

Well, I think it’s time to talk about the food using as few of the letter i as necessary, because th?s keyboard has a weird layout.

Food good Turkey. Excellent, that should explain it. Found

OK, ok - we found this great place in Istanbul where I had some dish - aubergine with mash potato and lamb. Also had a tomato stuffed with maybe couscous - or something similar.

Paul (our tour leader, not a guide, I could be imprisoned for calling him a guide) took us to a restaurant on the first night I th?nk which was noth?ng special, but I gave him another chance and he hasn’t d?sappo?nted. Had some interesting food at the train station on our way to Göreme, some mixed mezze, a couple little vegetar?an d?shes that were very nice - and the only meat dish that I’d chosen tasted interesting - and later found out was liver, which actually went well with the raw onion. Couldn’t eat much of it tho.

After many hours by bus and train maybe 15 hrs, the trainride being a sleep deprived overnight trip (it’s at this point I’ve decided there are too many i’s ?n the English language, so from now on I will remove them) we arrved at Göreme.

In Göreme we had lunch at a nce cafe and ate some crepe bread lke thngs flled wth spnach and cheese (OK, maybe I need these pesky i’s).

In Göreme, the place ?s full of dwellings carved into rock, we visited the Open A?r Museum where you can see all the old cave paint?ngs from Christians, about one and half thousand years old (the paintings, not the Christistians).

And for dinner had this beautiful meal that is cooked in a clay pot and cracked open to serve you the food, which is minced meaty and spicy, and great for dipping the fresh Turk?sh bread. One of the waiters had Laura (one of the group) try to crack the pot open herself, eventually smashing it on the ground, giving her a heart attack - only for ?t to be completely empty. Both these places chosen by Paul, so he more than redeemed himself

This morning we went on a hot air balloon flight, I’m sure most of you won’t believe that may have cured my fear of heights at Cappadocia. We had Champagne for breakfast which topped it off nicely.

Had a great lunch again - a different kind of kebab, meat laid out almost look?ng like a skinless sausage, with flat bread underneath - very spicy and good.

Sorry I don’t have photos at the moment, but patrick has, hopefuly temporarily killed my portable hard dr?ve with his dodgy memory card. And I have to go now - plenty to write , not enough time.

OK, thought I should make my first post, been here almost 2 days. Such an amazing place. Arriving at the airport at 7.30am yesterday, after a gruelling 24 hours of air flight - ok, it wasn’t THAT bad - but still. We decided to give public transport a go as the first bit a fun. Not really much different from Melbourne, you jump on a tram or 2, everyone looks at you strangely, no one talks to each other and it smells

Istanbul is absolutely full of people trying to sell you everything from children’s toys to cigarettes and weapons (apparently, I haven’t seen them yet). Pat and I checked into the hotel and wandered around to check out the city. Was interesting trying to buy a turkish coffee from people who don’t understand English at all. After about 15 minutes, we got one, not bad, and managed to not get ripped off - score 1.

We met up with out tour group, nice bunch of people (you know I have to say that, cos they might read this ), maybe half an older crowd, and some around our age, 12 all up. Went on a walking tour around the place, checked out a couple of mosques - the detail the put into everything in the city is just crazy. From the shoes and hats, to the stained glass windows and entire structures. So much history, that I won’t bore you with (mainly because I don’t remember most of it). Wandered through the Grand Bazaar, and went to the place where Turkish Delight was first discoevered, and of course bought some.

Second day, we spent 5 hours in the Top Kapi palace. We also visted the harem, it is now my aim in life to become a sultan with a thousand wives, mainly for the giant bath. The palace is huge, all sorts of jewelled things from cup holders to weapons to the thrones, they’re all encrusted with ridiclous amounts of emeralds, rubies, diamonds and pearls.

We also visited the underground cistern, which has stone heads of medusa, very cool. Anyways, for the most important part - here’s some photos.

singapore airport / patrick the tourist / the grand bazaar / stained glass window in the harem / the cistern / the blue mosque

When Leigh and I first decided to travel together overseas it was more of a melding of two trips. I wanted to go to Turkey, Leigh wanted to go to France. The rest of the trip was pretty much made up of us getting from Turkey to France.

Occasionally I get asked the question why Turkey? Well after some thinking I have decided the reason why I have always wanted to go to Turkey was because of an abiding memory from my local fish and chippery when I was growing up. Sounds a bit strange I agree, the mind is a weird thing and I am sure of those people who know me, mine can be quite weird at times.

This local fish and chippery was also the place where I chose to play arade games, double dragon, raiden, 1942….ahh such great games. Not only did this Fish and Chippery have arcade games and of course fish n chips, above the deep fryer there was a photo of a place in Turkey called Pamukkale.

I thought this place was one of the most beautiful places in the world…from memory I think I would have been around 10 or 11 yrs old. As I have grown older the memory and the beauty of pamukkale didn’t leave me, and as I learnt more about Gallipoli, Isanbul and all the ancient civilisations I thought I had to see this place. Also I heard it was cheap - Pat

Edit: I loved the idea of Turkey also because it was cheap - and I’ve never heard a bad word about it from anyone that’s been there - unlike the other places we’re going to. - Leigh