Orient Burhaniye

... and was askıng ıf they knew where he could go and watch the football as Unıted where playıng ın the champıons league and playıng a team from Istanbul so he thought that places would play ıt they told us that a bar down the road would have ıt on and ıf we lıke they would take us there thats how nıce they are honestly they cant do enough for you. Anyways ın the end we went for a dr ...

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.

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 ...

In the previous blog I told of my cross-country walk to the north east, but starting southeast, around a reservoir lake which lies below the northern (backside) of the Pergamon Acropolis in Bergama, Turkey.

The following day I didn't walk so far. But, a really cold wind chilled me to the bone, especially as I walked some ways beyond and above the Asklepion just to see it from a unique viewpoint--and take some pictures. The ...

... how do you explain that timing?

I went back to them, there at the head of the alley. I indicated I was going to walk to Bergama. We weren't communicating really well, but I did hear the word su, water. And, maybe dragons, or wild boars. And, I did perceive an offer to drive me to Bergama--without charge (ucretsiz). It seems they were going anyway.

They were going anyway! I mean, of all the people in this small village, I was caught at the last moment by ...

... sieht ab** nicht **kennbar bess** aus als das mit 270 kb we***** als ein zehntel schluckende manuell ausgeschnittene bild. Eh** umgekehrt. fazit: digitalzoom ist total unsinnig und blaeht das bild unnoetig auf!!! Es macht mehr sinn den bildausschnitt spaet** auszuschneiden. das wars p.s.:in die beispielbild** muesst ihr reinklicken undreinzoomen um zu sehen was ich meine. Bei op**aeinfach auf +, bei and ...

... on the street and attempted to follow some guidebook recommendations and toured a number of inaccurately described places until we decided to go for the cheap strategy. The cheap strategy just so happened to land us at the aforementioned old gentlemen's pansyion. The strategy definitely paid off as the family run Gobi Pansyion was a diamond in the rough. The homey atmosphere, excellent breakfast, hidden garden, and most of all the amazing ...

... on the importance of tourism. People here aren't sniffy about it being a second rate career for kids. Succesful tourism is about giving good service, making vistors feel welcome, taking the money and getting it into the bank - simple. The only school band that was absent from the parades seemed to be that from the Turkish school of Touts, Spivs and Associated Trades. One assumes that they must have sold their instruments to a gullible coach party as ...

... man boarded and had the seat next her but when the porter came by to take tickets, he made me switch seats with Gisela - presumable so that a man and woman who didn't know each other don't sit together! Ah, the strange subtleties of a Muslim country. We arrived at the Metro Bus station in Bergama and were pleased to see we were right next to the Red Basilica. According to ...

... in one place gives me that "oh dear" feeling, so I have deliberately not ventured to Turkey for that day, but kept it locally in London - but being there in Mid July - does not really change the importance of the place and more importantly the "education" you get from the guide. Sure we are all taught the basics in school (ie watch the Mel Gibson movie) - but it is not until you get there and spend some 5 hours ...