Antalya

We enjoyed a long weekend, with no school on Monday because of the national holiday, Youth and Sports Day.  Ataturk was a big believer in exercise and often spoke of the children as Turkey's future.  So, to celebrate, we left kids and went to the southern coast of the Mediterranean to a resort to drink and relax!! 

The Kervansaray Lara Hotel.  Notice the giant flag.  They're everywhere on holidays.

Antalya, is another amazing city.  As with everywhere else in Turkey, this was a quick flight from Ankara-just 46 minutes to get there and 38 minutes to get back.  We left Friday afternoon at 4:15 and returned Monday at 7:00 PM.  In the past, we have generally left for vacations after interacting with parents and kids for an entire school year, and just liked to "chill out" and do very little but relax and read books.  Since we've been here, most of our trips have been tourist activities, trying to cram in as many sights and experiences as possible.  Antalya was a little different, as we were in an all inclusive resort, and spent Saturday and Monday on the beach or by the pool.  I read two novels and started a third (and drank a lot of their free booze)  

The pool water was very cool but refreshing, but the sea water was very comfortable.  

We left the resort on Sunday, taking a shuttle to the old town center.  On a restaurant street just before the old bazaar area, we looked up to see umbrellas---lots of umbrellas. 

We spent quite a bit of times in the shops, one of which was in a 500 year old hamam, or bath house.  The oldest multi-domed mosque is at the base of this "fluted" minaret, over 800 years old.    

In the bazaar area they were very ornate in the way they displayed their spices.

We just kept walking downhill, stopping and talking to shop owners along the way.  After a sharp left turn, we were at a small harbor.  As we were walking past, two guys invited us (for 45 TL each) to go for a quick boat tour.  A total of eight of us, a couple from Latvia, four Turks, and and Peggy and I, were out on the water for about an hour.  

The water was so very blue near all of the cliffs.  

As our resort was all sandy beaches, we were surprised by the cliffs and lack of beach in the old town 18 kilometers to the west of the resort.  We saw many "sunning" platforms with hundreds of steps from old hotels down to the water.  There were more tour boats in the water on this afternoon than anything else, but we did see a few enjoying the day fishing or sailing.  

The water was just beautiful and wonderful with small waves and a nice temperature.  The air temperature was in the mid 90's when we left on Monday.  We enjoyed being served and pampered again.  The evening shows were nice, and on Friday night after the entertainment they even had fireworks.  Unlike many Mexico vacations, this water was very clean, no smells, soft waves, and full of Europeans!  It was very relaxing and a nice break before the final push with kids.  Our last day with students is June 18, so it's now less than a month away!

Kos, Greece-Home of Hippocrates

During our time in Bodrum, we took a ferry for about an hour across the waters to Kos, Greece. It was absolutely pouring rain early in the morning, but reduced to a drizzle for the rest of the day. 

We arrived in Kos at about 9:30, and after getting through passport control, first wanted to get a hotel room.  So, dragging a suitcase behind, off we went in search of a taxi.  Taxis in Turkey are all yellow and small.  We didn't see any taxis coming off the ferry, and continued to walk into town, getting rather wet shoes.  We didn't see any taxis on the main street so finally asked for an information center, and were directed to the south.  And then west. And then north again.  We never found the information center, but we did stumble upon Hippocrates' tree.  We were told that it was extremely hard to find and directions would have to asked many times before finding it.  So, our quest to find the information center was not in vain, as we passed by the tree several times.  It is said to be 2000 years old, and has structures holding up its limbs.  On the back side, it is so hollowed out that it could not bear its own weight.  

Here is where Hippocrates taught his students.  He was the "father of western medicine," and authored the Hippocratic Oath.  Doctors still take this oath (we saw Tony swear to this at his graduation).  St. Paul was also said to have preached under this tree.  

Finally a man picked us up on the street and said "come to my mother's hotel," which seemed like a stretch, but we were wet and lost.  He drove us to his mother's hotel, Hotel Marie, and it wasn't much.  Cold, wet, soaking feet, and we still decide to trek onward in the hopes of something better.  Only about 5-6 blocks away on the bay, we found the Hotel Kostas.  Whew, it was much nicer and had great views from the balcony.  

After drying and changing cloths we wondered the streets and followed a map, still using an umbrella, and only got lost a few times. We passed several grey cars parked, again, and finally realized they were taxis!  No light on top and no signs!  I could help them with their marketing.  

Greek odem

Orthodox Church

We had a snack and sampled Greek beer, then off for more sites.  We had a late lunch and got lost walking back to the hotel. 

They're everywhere!!

The next morning the sun was shining.  By 8:00 the fishing boats that we heard go out early in the morning darkness had returned.  They set up tables and sold the fish caught under their umbrellas.  Besides individuals buying a couple of fish, we saw guys on scooters load up bunches in coolers, which probably went to restaurants.

From our balcony 

It was a nice day and we enjoyed the sunshine after 3 days of clouds, wind, and rain.  We ate Greek gyros again at the Museum Cafe, and caught the ferry at 5:00 for our return to Bodrum.  

Bodrum from the ferry

This ends the Bodrum, Kos, Efesus, House of the Virgin Mary, Pamakkale, Hieropolis, spring break trip posts!  

   

  

Cleopatra's Fountain of Youth

As was mentioned earlier, when making plans to go to Bodrum, we definitely wanted to visit Efesus.  During the peak tourist season, daily trips are planned.  Still in early April, only two trips per week go to Efesus.  On Wednesday, you can book a trip to Efesus and back, or go to Efesus and then on to Pamakkule for an overnight stay and visit the waters and Hierapolis the next day.  Since we'd only been in Bodrum for a little while, we decide to just do the day tour to Efesus and return that night.
  

Orhan, our guide

Well, we met some nice people on the tour, were thrilled with the House of the Virgin Mary and Efesus, especially liked our tour guide, Orhan, and wished we had packed clothes and booked the extra day to Pamukkale.  Peggy asked Orhan if we could go on the bus to Pamakkule instead of returning to Efesus.  Orhan called to see about a room for us that night, and said it was OK.  We didn't have another 400 TL and asked if we could get to an ATM and a place to buy swimsuits, and he said they were right next to the hotel.  So, we jumped on the other bus and set off on another adventure.  

First item of business, tooth brush, antiperspirant, and swim suits for the hot waters.  A very small store, as in one choice of tooth brush, paste and antiperspirant, and a beautiful selection (6 choices for me) of swimsuits.  Don't worry, I didn't chose the Speedo.  We hurried and tried to get to the waters for the sunset.

Pamukkale is a series of travertines, or deposits that formed natural pools.  To safeguard the pools, no one can actually soak in them, but can "wade" after walking shoeless across rough white deposits.  These waters flow through the ancient city of Hierapolis, so one ticket allows for both sites.  

The next morning we met and started our day with a tour of Hierapolis.  

Extra columns, etc. waiting...

Hierapolis was another city that was once great.  It too it mostly still covered with earth and grasses.  Excavation by Austrians was halted a few years ago due to budget shortfalls, but work on the theatre continues.

St. Phillip was martyred and his tomb is here

The 10,000 seat theatre with a fantastic view of the valley was, for us, better than Efesus'

The south entrance gate

Egyptians were supposedly in Hieropolis and told of the healing properties of its warm waters.  They took some back to Cleopatra, who decided that they did help maintain her youthful appearance, so she travel here to soak in the waters.  So we paid the extra 25 TL to get youthful!  Our guide was also in the waters with us, (along with lots of green algae) and kept telling me to splash water on my face to get the youthful benefits.  I did as I was told, but can see no immediate benefits.  Maybe it takes awhile.  

We were in the pool for about 1.5 hours and then began our journey back to Bodrum.  We've found that all tours are at least partially sponsored by local businesses.  In Cappadocia, we visited a jewelry store as part of the tour.  Yesterday we visited a jewelry store after Efesus, and after lunch near Denizli, we visited an onyx manufacturing place, as well as a textile factory that made Turkish rugs.  We were able to watch both in action, and learned a lot about rugs, and will purchase one before we leave.  

We returned to Bodrum at about 8:30 PM, about 24 hours later than expected, but very thankful we decided to take all of the tours and excursions.