Naz Han Izmir

... familiar to me, I find I need assistance more and am remarkably getting it!

So, for a little blip on the map overshadowed by the larger center Izmir, I think we did quite well for a few days. And for being sick, nothing beats warm blankets, hot shower and toilet nearby. Hopefully we'll be able to set out tomorrow, although it may be by bus. Nice weather on the days we're sick, and now it's raining when we feel better. Of course!

... half progressed we were joined by a Turkish girl who came to chat in her broken English and our non-Turkish. She was really enthusiastic about her team and the game, applauding the goals when they happened, cheering on her team when needed and teaching how to eat sunflower seeds out of their shells the Turkish way. (You'll all be pleased to here that we've bought some sunflower seeds in their husks from the supermarket next to the hotel so we can practise.)
And that was the match ...

... all the various security checks (except passport control, we were allowed to jump that part) and we were out.
A phone call to the hotel later and we were in a taxi racing against time on route to the hotel. 1.15pm, we had checked in, and were back in a taxi on our way to the game. The taxi driver was great, he didn't speak any English, but he could drive really well. (Or rather really fast, which by this time was the only thing we cared about - we were so close ...

I felt asleep before 630 last evening, and got up at 5 this morning. What a sound sleep! And an amazing new noon arose outside my window. The prayer sound made the context really turkish.

Our lunch was at a resort with a lake. There were no other customers but us, the participants at the conference. It cost 20 lira, so maybe too expensive for local people.

Dinner was lighter, but i still couldn't finish it.

... and find a supermarket and buy fruit and ayran (natural drinking youurt) which i'm now addicted to. in fact my diet seems to be breakfast (olives cucumber cheese bread and honey), ayran, bananas, oranges, crisps and beer. I also get the chance to find out about the actual boat. its a 17 berth vessel (i.e. lots of people) entirely motor driven and doesn't have the power to charge phones etc. I'll be out of touch for four days from Saturday. 14/07/09

Those of you asking for photo's should be careful what you wish for, I presently have 1 1/2 hr of video & over 600 stills. Too much trouble to try and upload to a strange computer. When I get home I will post the best pic from each day. Sunday we were at the Tavertine Falls of Pamukkale and the took a train to Selcuk to see the ruins of Ephesus. The Library is incredible. Next on to Gallipoli. Later Allan

... main Nigde-Kayseri road and had some breakfast by a petrol station with some scavenging wild dogs. Rather than take the easy fla and boring route through Nigde I opted for the back road to Pozanti via Camardi. I found that the road was being repaired for the busy ski season and the first 25km of road were loose rock. Undaunted I continued towards the distant mountains. 20km later I pulled into a little village called Elmali for a tea-stop. I found the tea house and was immediately ...

... coffee and tea while we failed to buy a carpet from the charming hotelier; and best of all the wonderful ad hoc lunch prepared for us by the proprietors of a 'closed for the winter' campsite on the top of a mountain, beside an empty swimming pool. At the end of 5 days we gathered at Izmir airport to say goodbye. This was not as easy as you might think - the security barrier at Izmir is at the entrance to the airport, rather than at the entrance ...

... candy. We made a pit-stop for gas and a cay (tea) break. Amy went to the relieve herself and disappeared. After about 20 minutes I began to get a little nervous. Finally I went to where the public toilets were and discovered that she'd managed to lock herself in the bathroom! For some reason, when she shut the metal door it froze in the door jam. She didn't have the strength to push it open again. It wasn't a very pleasant experience for her. The Turks have ...

Our cruise stopped off in Turkey for a day. We toured a bazar/casbah and drank some tea.
I remember on our land approach, being surprised at how deep green colour the hills were, popluated with so many trees. The city buildings were a beautiful cream white colour - sublime beauty.