Kerasus Hotel Cesme

... Had breakfast at the hotel which consisted of hard boiled egg, tomato, cucumber, cheeses, an entire loaf of bread (move over France), sweet spreads, and olives (green ones and wrinkly black ones). Delicious (this was on the day when I could still eat)!

Then we went out for a little walk and got Brian a haircut - finally! Over 5 months and things were getting a little scraggly. But this wasn't just a haircut. it was a Turkish haircut. It ...

... miniscule version out of her purse. Very helpful, but still not what we needed.

We’re experienced world travelers now. What do we need a map for?

Setting off, upon arrival at the first junction there was a looming ‘no bicycles’ sign on the entrance to the highway. And none of the other directional signs showing names of towns matched anything on our maps. Which way would ...

... br>
Where does the chef bring you additional dishes of their prize food to taste?

Where do you catch glimpses of old men smoking narghilè?

Where can you stay in a hotel for less than a cheap campground in the UK?

Where do you drink at least 10-12 cups of tea a day?

Where does the smell of delicious roasting donairs haunt you from back alleys?

Where do blacksmiths do all ...

Destination 396

[Ferry]

According to the fact, that I already have travelled around Eastern Europe at the beginning of this worldtrip, there was little reason - or better said, little money left - to do it again. So it was planed to take one of those many ferrys connecting almost every corner of the european coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Chios, Northeast Aegean Islands, Greece pajas

Alacati, a very pretty little town with one main street, lots of eating places and very expensive hotels. We found a small place tucked away down a back street called Umit Otel after the owner. He was very nice and the place was very clean. You basically walk in through the garden gate into a paved semi covered area which is reception dining and chill-out area in the garden ...

... instantaneous but rather major suffering ensued and could last for days). Apparently several people sought refuge in the monastery believing they would be protected by the Church but it appears that was not the case. Most of the deceased were men and the women and children of these men fled to a nearby cliff where they chose to jump off these high cliffs with their children rather than become slaves. This cliff is called Anavatos which translates to can ...

... to the top, the view over the backside was pretty prosaic. Only a canyon and yet another barren slope to climb. I was not tempted. The view back down the front slope to Chios town and across the strait to Turkey made the climb worthwhile beyond the mere exercise of it.











On the return I drifted over to my right, spotting a blue domed ...

This entry may be boring to those not interested in the mundane, nitty gritty, just nuts and bolts of travel stuff. But, actually, there is a lot: travel, coincidences, harried timing, crossing the sea and a border. A Day in the Life.

On Sunday, February 8th, I took an over-night train to return to Izmir after a couple of weeks on a "side trip" to Ankara. I needed to leave Turkey by Tuesday the 10th as my 90-day Tourist Visa was to expire on that date. One merely needs ...

... and entertaining experience. Ah well, such is life. Apart from the touts it is a great bazaar with lots of more day to day stuff at genuinely good prices. We actually bought a professional wok, a cooking knife, shoe polish, bubble wrap and some, possibly amber, worry beads. We also had a cracking Pide meal for the equivalent of a couple of quid each, in fact the eating houses in the bazaar were heavily crowded with local yuppies and seemed to serve excellent food. A genuinely ...

... to see an Asian in REAL life. He came, sat down directly opposite me, and spent the next 45 minutes just staring at me and smiling. He couldn't speak much English, but communicated that it was the first time he had seen an Asian and the first time he was speaking to an Asian. Even his friends had to say "she's also human!" I was soaking in all the attention with delight.. and at the back of my mind, I felt that I was starting to be spoilt by Turkish men..