Palm Court Ayvalik

... went for lunch. Gettıng addıcted to Pıda ıts a turkısh style pızza a bıt lıke a folded garlıc bread wıth cheese but no garlıc ıts tasty.

We decıded to go to the beach as the weather ıs amazıng and we do have a beach all to ourselves back at the goat shed so got taxı back and chılled and swam and had some turkısh tea both me and Ian can not stop dr ...

... start workıng too funny he kept walkıng past sayıng workıng workıng then he got really upset about the queen and the prınce wıllıam sayıng why they not do jobs!

We went back to our hut and the nıce man who owns ıt brought us some hot tea over and then we spent the rest of the evenıng sıttıng out talkıng to hım about Iraq he had worked there for 6 years as a welder he ıs such a lovely old ...

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.

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.

However, the place was genuinely stunning and it ...

... off we certainly did - it was Baltic!

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!

We really had to drag ourselves away from Ayvalik but our first ruins were calling...

... of the family made this a real winner in our eyes. Even better it was the cheapest place in town! Extreme hospitality wasn't confined to Pansyion owners, but extended to restaurant employees as well. We had excellent food in Bergama. Places were crowded with Ramadan fast breakers all waiting for 7:20 to roll around. We were still welcomed by the staff who were quite harried trying to satiate all these hungry Muslims. Our first night's waiter was so ...

... It was a day of never-ending fun and celebration aboard the boat. They played games, had races on the top deck, had loud Turkish music booming out of speakers, and danced to certain songs. We spent the day watching them enjoy themselves, joining in on the games occasionally, sunbaking on the top deck, enjoying the shade and breeze on the lower deck, diving off the side of the boat ...

... a simple kebab dinner in a local hostelry and hit the sack. On Tuesday we headed up to the main attraction, the Acropolis and sundry temples, theatres etc started by one of Alexander the Great's generals who was left in charge of a large wad of dosh by Alexander who was then promptly killed. The general decided to build stuff using A.t.G.'s gold. The Goths (the originals, not the morbidly dressed teenagers of the current incarnation) then started the downfall ...

Today we were lucky enough to visit Gallipoli. Despite having been a few years ago, it doesn't lose its impact and Geoff was blown away by the terrain and size (or lack there of) of the battle field area. Our tour was touted as Gallipoli 'without the crowds' but being 4 days before Anzac Day, there were ...

... old and others are from 200AD. Nevertheless, it made for a good opportunity to work on my tan as it was about 38 degrees and no shade. We managed to negotiate another minibus and super coach trip south to Ayvalik that evening. Ayvalik is a seaside village on the Aegean Sea and is very popular with locals. The area is quite renowned for there seafood so we enjoyed a lovely meal of lamb kebab and salad on the seaside promenade. As we were ...

... cold water and snacks served and your very own F1 Driver at the helm - what more could you ask for. 6 hours later.. Jay - 5hrs sleep Mari and Mike - 0hrs sleep ... we arrive at our destination. So Gallipoli and the whole ANZAC thing...Not really sure what my feelings where of the whole ANZAC day thing. Each April, some 10,000+ Aussie and Kiwis (& Turks) crowd the peninsula for the dawn service. Now the idea of that many ...