Missing planes saga

Well it didn't finish there... no economy seats on the later flight, forfeiture of the early ticket money, business class seats for a one hour flight, plus a mountain of food not needed, NO bus class checkin , just hustle with the mob, and fly back one hour to Istanbul, various long delays, then a 1 hour flight forward to Antalya so instead of an hour or so to save time with a short coach ride - 1 hour on to the ancient seaside town of Side, they arrived at 11pm - ugh! At the the room was good, although, due to the vagaries of the Turkish wifi they (the hotel) didn't get the email so could only give a room for one night!!!
Beautiful little town, thanks Paul for the recommendation. Moved next morning up the road to the hotel of another family member and spent three glorious days, swimming and exploring this lovely place, where the sea turtles (carretta carretta) come to visit and cavort.
The whole town is built on an ancient city. Truly lovely.
More soon..

Cappadoccia

This has been a long break from reporting for us on behalf of D and G.  Their next adventures took them to the Cappadoccia region. They stayed in the Hotel Sofa in Avenos which is a lovely village in the region, with a large fast flowing river, similar size to the Macleay.  AND they hire out gondolas. The area was truly fantastic, and they walked themselves to exhaustion. Second day they, hired a car, and really enjoyed their adventures. The cherries were delicious, as usual, as were all the stonefruit coming into season. The wild and wonderful landscapes, lend themselves, to amazing imaginings. Many are ancient churches, still with the ancient artists handiwork on display. The people didn't live constantly in the caves, only when the warring marauders came through. on the last day when they were due to drive to Kayseri, to catch a mid morning flight,  and were held up in heavy traffic due to road works AND MISSED THE FLIGHT!! .....
More on that later..

Pammukkale to Lake Egridir

The trip across was by train and they settled in to a great hotel across the road from the wonderful shining white terraces, the hotel owner drove them up to the Heiropolis entrance,(where D nearly stood on a small thin green snake nearly a metre long) that made her leap.
The walked through the ruins along the top of a ridge with the terraces spilling off to the west, after walking for about half an hour they came upon the antique hot pool with the old  columns artfully placed around in it. Water temp 36° they stayed around in it for about an hour luxuriating. Then paddled back down the hill to the hotel through the travertne shallows.
Next day, was a tour with 5 other people to Aphrodisius where D got all excited because she spotted a hoopoe bird. Rare in Turkey these days. The stadium of this ancient city still in really good repair for a place a few thousand years old. It seated 30,000 bodies. That afternoon it was back on the coach and off to Lake Egridir. This is in the mountains of central Turkey, where the beautiful roses ars grown for their oil.Attar of Rose. More later...

Last week in Turkey

This is the is D and G's last week in Turkey before they head off to Venice. So here's the updates, with some photos and more, when they get to Italy. Ephesus and the small town of Selcuk, with the storks, nesting on the tops of the power poles, the minarets - the mums and Dads take off at prayer call time, unfortunately, the bubbies have stay and get themselves, blasted by the speakers.  Selcuk museum, though small, was very interesting, G bought a CD of Turkish instrumental music that was playing. The was a very old road, now next to a busy highway, which the locals use for walking, it used to be for donkey carts, horses etc, but it's too narrow for the traffic these days. It is lined with huge mulberry trees, alternately black and white mulberries, yummy all fruit ripe and dropping. It runs for a couple of kms past the entry to the Artemis temple site. It's a very elegant boulevard of dappled light in the early morning.
Leaving Selcuk, they travelled on the commuter train to Pamukkale, a very fast two hours, lovely clean, train NO GRAFFITI!  Turkish kids must be having more fun.

Ephesus nr Selcuk

The blog has been somewhat neglected for a while.  So much going on. Stayed in the hotel Rebetika beside an ancient mosque Isa Bey Camil, fell down a few centuries ago, after an earthquake, but has bow been partially restored, is very elegant and is used by the local old boys at prayer time.  The nesting storks use the minaret, to rear their babies. Photos coming soon. They fly off when the megaphoned call to prayer starts. Poor nestlings can't though.  It was so lovely to see the storks again, not seen since the Morocco adventure. Ephesus, was amazing, and typically, D and G started from the lower end so it was a long slow and steady climb, as the day heated up and the coach loads from the cruise ships and the tours arrived. 25000 per day now but goes up to 250000 at full peak with 10 ambulances on standby. Even with all the crowds it was a truly amazing sight. The tour guides had a set path so it as relatively easy to get away from the crowds.  The beautiful red flanders poppies we blooming everywhere amongst the fallen marble columns, supported by Queen Anne's lace with flower heads as big as saucers and bigger. Fig trees ancient and huge provided shade.
On the way back down they got a ride in a horse drawn buggy and wou d their way through pomegranate and nectarine orchards, all red and glowing in the shady green trees, as they clip clopped along.

Bursa and Beyond

After a 2 hour fast ferry trip from Istanbul D and  G arrived in Mudanya, a lovely seaside town near Bursa, the 2nd largest city in Turkey, staying at the Montania hotel, an old railway station built by the French in the 1800's. A bit down at heel in the rooms, but lovely and relaxing after all the bad stuff that's been happening here. Mate died from stress, so now no easterngrey joey babies have survived the latest release.

From room in Montania

They had a really relaxing time here and next day travelled on to Bursa, the silk centre of Turkey, had a wonderful time exploring the silk bazaar. Didn't buy anything but did  a lot of admiring. There was also a cable car trip to the top of Uludag mountain, to the ski resort area above the city. beautiful wildflowers in bloom, all our garden flowers.  Very chilly at that altitude but lovely and sunny, and lots of rubbish, beautiful mountain streams, chilly and clear. The next was a walk through the spice market, buying beautiful fresh and crunchy hazelnuts, native to this area. Beautiful fresh almonds, yummy fresh dried figs.  Everything was so relaxed unlike Istanbul.  Another lovely walk was to the green mosque, stunning green tiles, perfect for D's bathroom. If only they were available in Oz.

Heybeliada - Princes Islands Istanbul

Awaiting brekkie at L'isola guesthouse

Seagulls on rooftops nesting in guttering.

Ponies off to work