Ayvalik Beach Hotel

Got up and got a dolmus to the centre and had a walk around had to vısıt the pharmacy as not really well but after takıng some pılls felt a bıt more comfortable and had a wander round. Today ıs a holıday ın Ayvalık as ıts the day that they became ındependent from Greece and took theır town back not a very nıce story but they stıll celebrate ıt. Bought Danıelle a present ...

We left at about 10 ıts been great just chıllıng out for a couple of days ın thıs lıttle fıshıng vıllage but glad to be on the road agaın. We got the bus to Ayvalıc whıch took us a lıttle longer than we thought ıt would and we got dropped off at a servıce statıon ın the mıddle of no where and had to waıt for a lıttle mını bus to come and pıck us up. No one really speaks ...

Why are we leaving gorgeous Ayvalik, our stunning guesthouse and lovely friends to go and see ruins I wonder as Tania harries me off to the bus stop.<br><br>Two hours later and having checked into a hotel where the owner admits "I am Gobi" (yep really) we trek uphill solidly for the next hour and it's 35 degrees plus. Perhaps this should be called schlepping to Asclepion. <br><br>However, the place was genuinely stunning and it ...

... off we certainly did - it was Baltic!<br><br>Another favourite stop became the covered market where during our stay we bought a 5 lira (£2) bottle of wine (not recommended!), admired the tomato wearing watermelons and enjoyed numerous cups of cay and bakery products - the guys there were so friendly they even gave us figs to accompany our beverages!<br><br>We really had to drag ourselves away from Ayvalik but our first ruins were calling...<br><br>

... water as well. I wasnt expecting that at all. I could have done that. It would have been better if he used his microphone to alert the captain or something. Anyhow, the boy was fine. I later laughed how I accidentally got the DJ to jump in the water with all his clothes. At lunch time, I needed to find a table where I could eat (lunch was provided). All the tables were full. It was a bit intimidating as everyone seemed to know eah other. I spotted one table which had 1 empty spot so I ...

... I still had time to get to the otogar and catch a bus for an exploratory trip west to the city of Bal&#305;kesir. Curiously, there was no mention of Bal&#305;kesir, a large city, in the Lonely Planet Turkey guide. Now I know why. I got off the shuttle bus from the otogar to the city, and just picked a direction to walk into the scene. Passed the first hotel, walked along seeing about three others, then returned to the first. An old guy led me to what I call the "typical Jim ...

... our 2 days there visiting Roman ruins. We were especially impressed with the acropolis which sits high on the hill above the city. Walking amongst the ruins and imagining what life must have been like during the ancient times of the Roman empire was a wonderful way to spend the day. The lack of tourist hordes made it all the better. This is the dry season in this region of Turkey and we ...

And a different world it is. We arrive in Turkey to smiles and welcomes, and offerings of a seat and a ride and tea, to different clothing, to women with heads covered....and although all we did was cross the boundary of water for 2 hours, Turkey feels altogether different than Greece (and it certainly is in the category of religion... Greek Orthodox vs. Muslim)... but this actually feels different than anywhere else I've been. Today is market day so ...

Said fond farewell to Koru Han and the nice family that runs it and headed off again, following the coast road around the bay of Edremit and down to Bergama, which was ancient Pergamon. Chris is finding the driving really easy so far - there has not been much traffic on the road and apart from being wary of other drivers (and some are driving very dangerously!) and the overloaded trucks, the worst part of driving is the navigating - because maps are pretty bad (showing roads that aren ...

... A quick snack and then explore the town. Treated myself to an English newspaper. Not seen any news I could understand in a while. The big bonus was there is a sudoku for me to tackle. Met a strange little dog. On looking closely at the contraption round his neck I found it was a solid metal collar. About 2" wide it was bolted into place. Round its circumferance triangular sections had been cut, bent outwards and sharpened. Anything biting that little ...