Kusadasi and Pamukkale

Another busy day, getting up early, bags out by 7am and breakfast.  I thought this was a holiday!   This morning we went to a leather factory which makes  the goods for Chanel and Gucci.  Firstly the young modelled the then the young man chose a man and myself from the group to model a jacket each.  They took us out the back and dressed us up in a jacket each.  The leather was so soft it was almost like silk.  I modelled one of the new designs for this year's Chanel releases.  We all had some fun with that and hope to download a photo from one of the other's cameras.  Unfortunately that was rather an expensive stop for the bank account.  I have had that little stash shipped home, so Bek and Patrick should be getting that little parcel to their door any day soon.
After lunch we arrived at the Pamukkale terraces which are huge white cliffs with curved terraces of water. These white cliffs and scalloped terraces are the result of water with calcium dioxide.  This occured after an earthquacke a very long lime ago we were told.   After a paddle and a walk around the Roman ruins we came to our hotel.  Of course again the meal was delicious and once again ate too much.

Today is the first day of the week national holiday marking the end of Ramadan.  All of the eating places will be full tonight.  Families all go home to their relatives etc.  Yesterday they visited cemetries.  Tomorrow is a very early start as we travel by bus the 700 kilometres to the next place with some more ruins (stones) on the way and apparently a museum which is some holy shrine.  

Izmir - Epesus - Kusadasi

Today we left the port of Izmir and went to Ephesus where we saw the best preserved Roman ruins - so they say.  They were pretty good.  There was a huge amphitheatre where the Christians were fed to the lions and we walked through the tunnel whence the lions came into the arena.  Also I saw the House of the Virgin Mary that St John built for her.  Much of it is still intact. At the site of Ephesus there is a church being excavated that was the church that St John built for her also.
Tonight we are staying at this magnificant 5 Star hotel.  Each room has its own jacuzzi.  The balcony looks out over the pool and the Aegean Sea.  Unfortunately I am only here for one night.    It has been quite hot today but is ok when the breeze blows in.  I actually had to buy a hat fom a market stall.  Many of us did as we were 2 hours walking around the ruins.  The little men in their stalls made a killing as we had to rush and didn't have time to bargain well.  No photos tonight as the system wouldn't let me upload. Ah well you didn't really want to see such sumptuous surroundings anyway.

Troy

Today we have travelled to Troy to see the ruins and the renowned wooden Trojan Horse.  The replica is huge and really not based on too much fact at all I don't think.  After Troy we went to Pergamon which is the site of the first recorded hospital.  The ruins were strewn but some parts like an underground tunnel, shower, mud baths and healing springs are intact.  Tonight finds me in Izmir which is the second biggest seaport in Turkey after Istanbul.  It is quite modern by the standards of what I have seen so far.  This hotel is quite sumptious.  Izmir actually overlooks an inlet of the Aegean Sea.

The food has been great and plenty of it.  Tonight dinner was in a huge convention resteraunt in this hotel.

Day 1

Today we left Istanbul after going to the Grand Bazaar where there are over 4000 'shops'.  Gallipoli was different from what I had imagined and quitea  moving experience.  We crossed the strait from Europe to Asia on a vehicular ferry.  At the moment I am in Cannakkale for one night.  It is quite an amazing sight to look out the window and see this magnificant half moon pool.  The Agean Sea ws really blue. 
I had no problems with all of my connecting flights and meeting up with the tour group.  It is mostly Australians and New Zealanders.  I am sharing a room with an American travel writer.  She is quite nice.

Departure Time

Well it has been an eventful? day where I went to work then discovered my leave had started already.  To think that I am going to navigate around five countries solo and I can't even get the first day of my Long Service Leave right!!!

4 Days to Go

Tonight is bag packing night.  The gear is all laid out on the bed and now it is time to try out the bag.  The reason for this entry is to make sure that I am able to manage this blogging before I depart to far shores without my IT support.

Our First Test Message

Today we are setting up the blog site for the trip.  It is a huge learning curve, Patrick's frustration levels are rising and I am going blank.  Bek is sitting on the other side of the table, crocheting and laughing!!!!