A Little TV Didn't Hurt Nobody!
Trip Start
Jul 06, 2008
1
19
26
Trip End
Aug 18, 2008
Marmaris,
Turkish Aegean Coast,
Turkey
Sunday, July 27, 2008
We were shown to our room and the first thing we both noticed was an odd smell. Not a pleasant smell - but not exactly unbearable either. It was familiar to both of us, but we just couldn't put our finger on it. Although the room was a bit cramped, and the lighting was fairly dim, there was a small TV attached to a metal rod sticking out the side of the wall infront of the bed. It was precariously balancing there so that if you wanted to watch anything your neck would be somewhat tilted to the left - kind of in a pose from the Will Ferrel Saturday Night Live skit "Night at the Roxbury". Upon turning the TV on and flicking a couple of times through some static and some loud Turkish channels - we found one or two channels in English, including an MTV Video channel
01. Marmaris Lunch
. Sold!
We do not want anyone to get the false impression that we are TV junkies. We do have certain shows that we enjoy watching - but we are not the kind that MUST see something every night of the week or we will die. However, having been away from home - and to be quite honest - away from almost any ENGLISH anywhere, including the other tourists we've encountered - just hearing someone else speaking the language we understand was great we didn't care if it was Saturday morning cartoons or the latest on the stock market. We had it all planned out to sit and watch some TV with a bag of chips and a drink in our room - no longer caring about the dim lighting or the unusual - but familiar smell. (What is that???)
After getting stuff organized in our room, we wandered towards the harbour in search of an information booth and the possibility of booking a ferry to Rhodes Island for the next day. Marmaris is a busy place full of shops and icecream vendors and restaurants and loads of boats and companies offering day tours to other locations
02. Harbour
. The gentleman at the information center was great. We could get a ferry to Rhodes the next afternoon (the morning one was fully booked already) or we could wait the extra day and take the morning ferry then. WELL! With some English speaking television back in our room - we didn't mind just vegging for an extra day. There also seemed to be plenty for us to check out around the harbour, and even more down some busy streets, so we booked the ferry for the following day.
Upon returning to our room, we walked in again stood there trying to figure out the smell. We did realize that it was coming from the bathroom - but it wasn't the usual 'bad plumbing' or stale kind of smell that you can come across. Regardless of what it was, we kept the door closed and opened windows to the room to air everything out. We enjoyed a little TV, before heading for a dip in the pool.
From what we read in the guide book, this place was supposed to be somewhat of a dud - more of a place you want to be only to get to your next destination. We decided to check it out for ourselves our first night. We headed out on the town, joining masses of people who were flooding the walkways searching perfect souvenirs, gifts and of course food and drink
03. Harbour Street
. This street had the business of the Las Vegas strip without the huge hotels and flashing lights. There were pubs, restaurants and bars all mixed in with the 100's of shops that filled the busy street. This would be a GREAT place to go with a few more people - we can definitely see some good times and serious partying happening here. We checked things out until late in the evening and headed back for our second night in our hostel. Our room was aired out very nicely now, however going to the bathroom had become a battle only for those who could hold their breath for certain durations over a minute - or however long it takes you in there. What IS that smell??? Nothing has died - if that is what you're thinking. It isn't rotting food either - it was just a stinging, powerful smell. Like a strong cleaner or asbestos and paint mixed together or something.
We think we narrowed it down. Trevor came out of the bathroom with the "Aha!" look on his face. Urinal Pucks. Definitley urinal pucks. There was no urinal IN the bathroom, but the smell of them was definitely there. Upon closer inspection, we saw three small, white, circular 'pucks' in the sink. Could these little 'Certs of the Sink' be the stench culprits? We thought so, but that shall remain a mystery, as we were not inspecting it any further.
With the great restaurants and pubs alining the streets, a pool there for whenever we wanted it, and the TV available for movies, and sitcoms that we knew - we quite enjoyed our stay in Marmaris.
We are still very excited to be moving along though.
Greece, here we come!!!
Hugs and Love,
Dana and Trevor
