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| Thursday, 8-Sep-2005 00:00 |
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Day 32 (71) - Ephesus, Turkey
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The impressive ruins of Ephesus...a massive ampitheatre (able to hold some 30,000 people) and a smaller assembly sized ampitheatre...paved streets, fountains, temples, latrines, houses, shops, etc...and that's just what they have unearthed so far...apparently 70% of the city is still under the valley floor.
The other highlight of Ephesus - other than the ampitheatre - is the library. A two-story facade remains of this building...absolutely gorgeous carvings adorn the front.
Lunch at another carpet store, which meant another purchase - this one being my favourite of the three that I had bought along my trip.
Bounced around town for the rest of the day looking in at the numerous shops...bought a jewellery case and earrings for Lindie, got a shave, watched some of the Ashes in a pub and had a small bite to eat in one of the street cafes.
Conert that night with traditional music and dancing of the region and from other countries - Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece, etc.
Looked around the festival market and then had a few drinks with Jo, Clara, Zoe and the hotel owner.
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| Wednesday, 7-Sep-2005 00:00 |
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Day 31 (70) - Selcuk, Turkey
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Off to Selcuk today by way of Pummakkale and the Calcium Carbonate Flats and the ruins of Heiropolis.
The calcium flats have over the years been destroyed by the numerous tourists clambering all over them and by the nearby hotels taking all the water for their own use. So much of the flats are now out of bounds and a huge project is underway to creat artificial flats for the tourists whilst he natural flats remain untouched.
There were some very scary outfits worn by people wading through the waters - sends a shiver down the spine to think of it!! G-strings and speedos galore - if only those modelling them were up to it!
The ruins are basically are huge amount of tombs and a temple complex.
They are in quite a state of disrepair (obviously, given how old they are) and some of the ruins are teetering - with small fences not too far away from where they would fall - anyone near the fence would be crushed should it fall.
The flats themselves are quite stunning...under the sun the flats are blindingly white and the water is cool and refreshing.
Rest of the day was spent on the truck getting to the flats and then from there to Selcuk. The truck is still under the wars and Paul is still unable to put it into the higher gears - thus we end up on the road a lot longer than would normally be the case.
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| Tuesday, 6-Sep-2005 00:00 |
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Day 30 (69) - Olu Deniz, Turkey
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Big day today...started off the morning (early again!) with a bit of paragliding...though had a bit of car trouble on the way up as the truck we were in broke down three quarters of the way up to the take-off point...its a bit daunting standing there knowing you are about to run off a cliff!! But its quite a sensation just to hang there a couple thousand metres above sea level gliding along...unbelievably peaceful and very exhiliarating...the twists and twirls are gut wrenchingly fun! And the view above the Mediterranean coastline is nothing short of phenomenal.
After floating away above the sea we headed to swimming in it as part of a boat cruise around the coast to several of the nearby beaches. Spent about 5-6 hours in total swimming, lying on the beaches, chugging along the coastline and just generally lazing about soaking up some awesome sunshine. If only all days were like this.
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| Monday, 5-Sep-2005 00:00 |
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Day 29 (68) - Kas & Olu Deniz, Turkey
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Drive to Olu Deniz.
Stop for lunch at Kas - cool little town. Quiet and quaint.
Stopped off at the beach on the way to Olu Deniz...great beach...water was gorgeous.
Bungalow accommodation at Olu Deniz.
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| Sunday, 4-Sep-2005 00:00 |
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Day 28 (67) - Olympos, Turkey
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Went canyoning with Dave & Sam.
Excellent...very cool. Water absolutely freezing though - Dave & I had said no to the wet suits - "How cold could it be?"  Very bloody cold as it turned out. Water was crystal clear - only a couple of large drops...the biggest a 6 metre drop into a deep pool. Great fun
Bit of volleyball in the afternoon.
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| Saturday, 3-Sep-2005 00:00 |
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Day 27 (66) - Olympos, Turkey
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Day of the seemingly endless drive to Olympos.
Numerous stops due to broken down truck - not being able to go into the higher gears.
Was very cold for much of the day as we went through one of Turkey's mountain ranges.
Arrived late afternoon at Olympos where they have tree house style accommodation.
Very laid back and relaxed.
A trip low point.
Photos are a day ahead due to the fact I went photo crazy over the next few days and there weren't any pics on this day. These are of the canyoning I did the next day and the camp we stayed at.
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| Friday, 2-Sep-2005 00:00 |
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Day 26 (65) - Goreme, Turkey
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Not feeling the best - big hangover.
A free day today - one much needed.
Head off to Turkish Bath for a scrub down and a massage...very nice but not exactly what i was led to believe it would be like.
Wander around town and veg the rest of the day.
Purchase Turkish carpet in the evening
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| Thursday, 1-Sep-2005 00:00 |
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Day 25 (64) - Goreme, Turkey
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Okay - photos of the next week are a bit stretched out over the days (i.e. not shown on the day they actually took place) mostly because I took so many and we did so much.
Today:
*early rise for some hot air ballooning over the surrounding area. Absolutely amazing - very difficult to describe what it was like to see the sun rise over this area.
* then off to a nearby underground cuity after a quick brekkie.
* visit a ceramics shop
* have a look (on foot) through the surrounding area at the fairy chimneys.
* bit of wine tasting where the owners were quite unwilling to allow us to taste test
*Turkish folk night - trad dancing, big meal, lotsa drinking
* end up in pub dancing the night away - get home in the early hours of the morning
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| Wednesday, 31-Aug-2005 00:00 |
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Day 24 (63) - Goreme, Turkey
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Not much today - just one helluva drive to Gorme in Turkey.
Wanting to see this area since it was first described to me by Mark and Karla.
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| Tuesday, 30-Aug-2005 00:00 |
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Day 23 (62) - Aleppo, Syria
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Guided tour of Aleppo souq and a little of the surrounding area.
City very dirty.
Rows of old Singer sewing machines lined up along the street to repair shoes, etc.
Bakers placing freshly cooked bread straight onto he footpath.
Row of blind men praying outside of the mosque.
Citadel closed but dominates the city.
Unbelievable comments from stall owners in the souq - "Is that your sheila?" or "Cheap & Nasty" stuff like that.
Movies in the afternoon to escape the heat - War of the World (absolute shite)
Big dinner and a few drinks before bed.
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i love these photos i want to look at all of them
( in my archive i have complete photos of istanbul and those other cities
