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Pamukkale

Sitting on my hotel balcony overlooking the Travertines in the early am. Bus day yesterday and am now in Pamukkale. It’s 7am and 6 full busloads have just driven past. It’s scary!!! The hotel here is OK but he is trying to fleece me for every cent and I hate that. There is a pool and it is so hot that that is a bonus at the end of a long hot day. I have to get a taxi to the top gate if I want to walk down which I think I’ll do.

Yesterday I was quite clever in that I got myself around all on the transport system. Found the local bus from Denizli to here without too much trauma.

Will write again after my day here. The people walking on the Travertines already look like ants!!!

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Last Day in Antalya

It is so hot here that pacing myself has become an art form. A nice leisurely day today but very enjoyable. Started by just wandering around looking t the gorgeous Ottoman houses, enjoying the odd Apple Chay and mooching. Then I went to the Old Town Museum which was gorgeous, in one of the lovely old houses, cool, untouristy and perfectly enjoyable. Then I went to a quite expensive restaurant for a prolonged lunch mainly because they has appealing things on the menu for a nervous tummy. I had an entree seafood risotto which seemed like just the ticket although time will tell!! A nice glass of white ( I use nice loosely). It was good and no ill effects yet. Some more wondering and off to a lovely gardens/ park overlooking the ocean and then back to hotel. No swim today, too many people by the pool!!

Still, I’m contented at the end of the day. To Pamukkale tomorrow to see what that brings. I do believe at this stage that it will be straight to Selcuk from there bypassing Bodrum.

If all keeps going well intestinely I’ll go and find a place for tea tonight.

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Antalya Day 2, Part 2

Now for tonight’s missive.

So… Set off and found a place to have my jeans and a few tops laundered….they charged me an arm and a leg and didn’t remove the stains so not too happy with that….been doing a much better job myself. Then walked down to the harbour and the city beach. It’s quite pretty but not too tempting. Antalya is just FULL of Germans. They are middle to over middle aged and look like lizards. They would turn you off wanting a sun tan….they look positively leathery. The other brand is flocks of Chinese piling onto ugly boats for a tour. So left there and charged uphill through the markets. That was nice. Explored a few mosques and ‘roooooons’ and meandered back to hotel for a swim. Couldn’t go out to find a meal so finished up early.

I know I’ve been saying I wanted a day or so downtime but think I’ve made an error with Antalya in that 3 nights would have been enough. I explored the town and am champing at the bit…particularly as time is at a bit of a premium. Another day tomorrow just seems like a bit of a waste.

Anyway, not to lament….just not quite as invigorating as previously and I do feel a bit more ‘alone’ here….a million tourists…..and me :).

I think it will be a bit similar in Pamukkale and Selcuk but then Izmir and back to Istanbul.

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Antalya

Basically another day of 6 hours on the bus. Goodbye Henri….kiss, kiss…phew!!

Already 2 emails from him that won’t open on my iPad as they obviously contain photos.

Antalya is certainly back in tourist land isn’t it. There are positives and negatives to that of course. Have just done a little passagiata, got some fish and a Turkish gelati for tea, bought myself a bottle of Turkish red and trotted back to hotel. Tomorrow will be explore day.

I’m one thinking I’ll go straight to Pammukele from here, skipping Fetihye and Bodrum. Then onto to Selcuk.

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Adana and Anamur

Turns out each time I get to a place like Adana yesterday and today, Anamur I don’t know what to expect and feel negative about the place, and then am wrong. I have just spent a wonderful day exploring ancient cities, castles, eating amazing meals on the way, with Yacop (who owns the pension and spent the entire day showing us around) and Henri a ‘my age’ sort of guy from Paris who assesses UNESCO world heritage sites….very interesting, but before you go uh hum ….he is the closest thing to Hercule Poirot I’ve ever met including the fastidiousness and the moustache !! Notwithstanding  I have scaled cliffs, walked up hill and down dale and climbed boulders all around ruins. Now I’m wrecked and ready for sleep!!!!!! I have to say just in case you were wondering, by the end of the day Henri/ Hercule was all over me ….adjusting my Tshirt when it fell off my shoulder, adjusting my bag on my shoulder etc. when he wanted to meet up after we’d ‘showered’ I hastily said I was exhausted and was off to bed!!! However, he does live in Paris and has a bed for guests and really wants me to visit!!!!!

Also I maligned this very humble pension….firstly it does have wifi and secondly the owner has been totally amazing devoting a whole day to Henri and me.

Lastly, I spend my life taking care not to fall while really scaling massive cliffs etc and low and behold my little Parisienne smart arse fell arse over tit. Did that ever put him into a state that required ice bags and laundry having thoroughly dirtied his immaculate shorts!!

Hah well I am buggered, off to Antalya tomorrow for 4 nights that hopefully will allow me a day of downtime.

This is an amazing, challenging and satisfying adventure in the sense that I kind of think I’m doing ‘good’….probably famous last words. The only thing missing of course are my trusty companions that I’ve shared other adventures with.