Botanik Standard Alanya

... to Alanya, I opted to take the coach this time instead of hitch hiking. I got into the station at 6:30 and then took a city bus to get closer to the beach. I think I was pretty much in the wrong neighbourhood for cheap hotels but was able to negotiate a room down from 50 to 30 TL. The apartment had a living room, kitchen, dining area and bedroom!

Now for a walk-about town for the evening...

... la montgolfıere en Cappadoce.

Raftıng ın the Kropulu Canyon. Blue water, fıshes. Very nıce day wıth new frıends, Mıchel and Suzanne, from Montreal wıth whom we are goıng to go balloon flyıng ın central Turkey (Cappadocıa).

... schönen Halbrund die gute Akustik bei Konz**ten genießen. Von den Ruinen auf d** nahen Akropolis bietet sich ein weit** Blick üb** die Reste eines Stadions, und eine harmonische Landschaft aus Feld**n und Dörf**n vor ein** Hügelkette, die von den beeindruckenden Resten eines römischen Aquädukts durchschnitten w**den, samt Turmstationen für den Wass**druck, die alleine noch hi** **halten sind. "Allahu Acbar", so schallt zum Nachmittagsgebet d** Ruf d** Muezzine ...

... and slippery paths, I think. Saw a European Robin by the way. From Silifke to Alanya Leaving early after breakfast we hit the road with the firm determination to reach Antalya shortly after lunch. The road decided otherwise. The Turkish know about the third dimension. We went left, right, up, down, sometimes in the opposite direction of a course steered just seconds before. In short: A motorcyclist's wet dream. Also we arrived at a place where they had just ...

... Damo felt energetic and even swam out to the castle while I lay like a lazy whale on the beach! From Kizkalesi we headed along the coast road towards Alanya. Unfortunately the coastal road was slow as it wound it and out so we made a decision to head inland. Not the best decision ever made on our part. It took us 9 hours and part of the road wasn't sealed and ...

... and postcards and other junk. I was amused to see low-end bellydance outfits, but no, I didn't buy any of them. After that stop, went further up the river valley. Lots of nice scenery, cool mountains and stuff. Also, bits and pieces here and there of the old Roman aqueducts that used to carry water from the mountains down to the city of Side on the coast. That was one of my favorite parts of the ...

... we kicked back in a local carpetshop where lunch was provided and we were treated to an insightfull carpet demonstration (never knew there was so much to it) it was a nice atmosphere full bellies free wine and what do you know we are now the proud owners of a huge turkish handmade silk carpet!(So much for our budget) Later that arvo we went to the temple of st. john and to one of the 7 ...

... a kıwı pensıon (aka a budget hotel) tonıght - yay for runnıng water! And a loo where you can sıt down ınstead of squat! Then off to vısıt the Temples - St John and Atermıs - tomorrow. Also goıng to the ruıns of Ephesus so wıll need a beer or 5 after all that sıght seeıng.. That's ıt folks Cy and Ants

... coast, and after a bit of a search I got sorted. But mainly it was just a case of strolling and rolling and just enjoying being in a vibrant city that was v easy on the eye. Id said prevýous that Trabazon was vibrant but Antalya takes the No1 spot. Lots of pedestrian streets, lots of shops, plazas & cafes and of course the harbour to take ur breath away. Didnt actually buy anything either but its nice to have the option as opposed to some "unspoilt" village ...

... was a glorious halo of crystal white light. For four transfixing minutes the solar system danced where we could see it and we watched in wonder and, at an older, deeper, instinctive level, in fear. With the first sliver of the sun's face the light and warmth returned with a rush. We shook ourselves like waking dogs shedding cosmic awareness and sluggish and a bit blurred, packed up our left- overs. 29/3/06