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Greg and Kerrie's travels
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Mon 28.03.11 - today is bike collection day. Wrong. A quick change of plans and we drove 85 km south to visit the ancient site of Efes which is supposed to be one of the best preserved Greek/Roman sites in the eastern Mediterranean. So with fellow travellers Darren and Phill, we headed off and checked it out.
On arrival we parted with 7.5 Turkish lire (about $4 AUS) to park then another 20 lire to get in and then another 15 lire to see some terrace houses. Like all tourist hotspots, they know how to bite. At least the toilets were free!. The library at Efes was considered an ancient wonder, I guess signing out a book limited to those who had slaves who could carry them! The amphitheatre seats 25,000 spectators, nothing like a good throwing of Christians to the lions as a warm up for the main event of gladatorial combat.
Efes has cats, cats and more cats just loitering around hoping for a handout feed from the tourists. Didn't get any from us; not cat fans. Our arrival at Efes was preceeded by a courtage of police, both uniformed and plain clothes, as well as police motorcycle escorts. They must have known we were coming and arranged a hurried honpour guard? They were all armed to the teeth - weapons of choice seemed to be the Uzi sub-machine gun (30 rounds) and the Baretta pistol (15 rounds). We discovered the Efes library was being used as a celebration of library week. The VIP was a government minister (Minister for Libraries?) and he opened "library week".
The drive back to Izmir was via the motorway at a cost of 5 lire - not bad for 65 km of excellent road. We came down via back roads just for a look see.
We put the car away and then explored the city by foot including back ally ways eventually arriving on the water front where we found an excellent restaurant that served steak. Kerrie needed a meat fix. We sat next to a man who spoke excellent English as he had lived in Canada. He bought us a local Turkish drink called Raku, a bit like Greek ouzo. He also fed us a few light snacks of yogurt and an egg plant vegetable mix. Yummy but we were filled up by the time our mains arrived.
There are two words most Turks know "Harry KEWELL". When ever they ask if we are from Australia and we reply in the affirmative, they say with a big smile - "Harry KEWELL". Good one Harry.
Hopefully the bikes will be ready tomorrow for collection.
On arrival we parted with 7.5 Turkish lire (about $4 AUS) to park then another 20 lire to get in and then another 15 lire to see some terrace houses. Like all tourist hotspots, they know how to bite. At least the toilets were free!. The library at Efes was considered an ancient wonder, I guess signing out a book limited to those who had slaves who could carry them! The amphitheatre seats 25,000 spectators, nothing like a good throwing of Christians to the lions as a warm up for the main event of gladatorial combat.
Efes has cats, cats and more cats just loitering around hoping for a handout feed from the tourists. Didn't get any from us; not cat fans. Our arrival at Efes was preceeded by a courtage of police, both uniformed and plain clothes, as well as police motorcycle escorts. They must have known we were coming and arranged a hurried honpour guard? They were all armed to the teeth - weapons of choice seemed to be the Uzi sub-machine gun (30 rounds) and the Baretta pistol (15 rounds). We discovered the Efes library was being used as a celebration of library week. The VIP was a government minister (Minister for Libraries?) and he opened "library week".
The drive back to Izmir was via the motorway at a cost of 5 lire - not bad for 65 km of excellent road. We came down via back roads just for a look see.
We put the car away and then explored the city by foot including back ally ways eventually arriving on the water front where we found an excellent restaurant that served steak. Kerrie needed a meat fix. We sat next to a man who spoke excellent English as he had lived in Canada. He bought us a local Turkish drink called Raku, a bit like Greek ouzo. He also fed us a few light snacks of yogurt and an egg plant vegetable mix. Yummy but we were filled up by the time our mains arrived.
There are two words most Turks know "Harry KEWELL". When ever they ask if we are from Australia and we reply in the affirmative, they say with a big smile - "Harry KEWELL". Good one Harry.
Hopefully the bikes will be ready tomorrow for collection.
- comments
Debbie How good was that toilet system. We have a photo sitting there also. We don't think about how they do things like that. 1 week gone already. Have fun.Deb x
Chris Harry Kewell - bet you did not expect!. Great photos and news. The cats must have strayed from Egypt - isn't that where the love of cats started? It's pouring down here again however it was beautiful yesterday - a bike day definitely. BFN Enjoy!
Merrilyn Hope that you are enjoying yourself. Hope that you could pickup the bike and that it is not raining too much. I am looking forward to following you when Chris is overthere with you