I love Turkey

I can't believe that I've been in Turkey for a week already! I haven't checked my email at all so I have no idea what is going on in the world!

Turkey is fantastic! Istanbul was an amazing city, I did all the touristy things like the blue mosque, the pudding shop (where the hippie trail used to start), the palace and even went for a Turkish Bath! This was an interesting experience once we all got used to the fact that we were sat starkers together (I went with Alex, Sarah (Kiwi) and Sarah (from Newbury!). We had chosen to go for the second best package which started with a full body scrub (the rank brown sludge that was coming off of me was disturbing), you then had a full body massage before your hair being washed. This is all done on a large circular marble slap in the middle of the room so your topping and tailing with 5 other naked ladies. It was really good actually and I felt so clean it was fantastic! That night 6 of us went to a water pipe bar, we were the only tourists (and Louise and I made up 50% of the girls in there!) We chose two pipes to share Strawberry and Apple. I preferred the Strawberry. We got talking to a Turkish guy who taught us Turkish chequers whilst we were drinking Apple and Island teas! Felt like a local!

The next day in Istanbul was a national holiday and the Iranian embassy was closed so I caught the ferry to Asia (how funny!) and had lunch there. I then spent most of the afternoon scowering the Grand Bazaar for clothes for Iran. We haggled our hearts out and got a chador tunic and trousers from 80 to 50 lire (about £25 pounds!) We've still got to get head scarves but that shouldn't be a problem. That night was Ian (our driver to Istanbul) last night so we all headed out for goodbye drinks. I really liked Ian and it was sad to see him go! I ended up staying up to 4am chatting in the hotel bar, someone mentioned Politics at 2am and the topic didn't change after that! We left Istanbul on the 24th after an early morning visit to the Iran embassy to apply for our visas. It only took us 2 hours! Less than I was expecting!

We headed out of Istanbul and followed the costal road to Gallipoli for ANZAC day celebrations. I didn't really no what to expect and if I'm honest didn't know much of the ANZAC landings. There was a big area of the beach sectioned of for the dawn service and when I headed down to the area about 9pm it was just a sea of Aussies and Kiwis laid out in sleeping bags! There were thousands of people there. On entry we were each given canvas bags with all info about the memorials and the history of the ANZAC landings. We also got ANZAC cookies, which were dead tasty. Martin and I chatted to the guy who was giving them out and blagged us double! The guy, think his name was Ardemen is a city councillor in Darwin (he's the water warden) had actually paid to come and volunteer at the event. After we had explained what we were doing he gave us his card and said we should call when we get to Darwin! It had his picture on it, he looks like a proper Aussie! The dawn service is at 5am, Sarah (Kiwi) and I planned to get up at 4.30am we were sleeping out on the beach (no tents) so thought it would be fine but some how we didn't hear the alarm nor people who had put tents up getting up and putting them down! I was disappointed to miss the service since I finally woke up at 6.30am, Sarah was more disappointed but made it to the separate New Zealand service.

The next day we visited Troy and posed in the wooden horse after walking around the ruins. That night (27th) we arrived in a town very close to the Ephesus ruins (I can't spell it but think it was Selcuk). The campsite was right on the beach and absolutely gorgeous. The next day I visited the Ephesus ruins and was dead impressed! The ampitheatre was massive and still holds 25,000 people for concerts and special events. It amazes me that the Romans lived so well, there was even public toilets although the marble was a little cold on the bottom!

That afternoon I spent on the beach and even swam in the sea, it was fantastic! And not as cold as I expected it to be! It was Tom's birthday so we had a party in the bar (well we gathered at one end there was a Turkish do at the other end, we think it was a communion or something) but there was music and dancing. The music was all Turkish and surprisingly really good so we got up and had a dance. The locals were perfectly happy with this and showed us their best shoulder dancing moves! It was a wicked night, which ended with a few of us sitting on the beach having a chat by moonlight. I really loved being at the beach but I do appear to have half of the beach in my tent! Ah well.

Today (28th) we visited Pamukkale, which has these amazing chalk ledges that thermal springs flow down. You can go for a paddle from the top to the bottom. You have to go bare feet (my feet are now a tad sore) but it was defiantly worth it. Strangely though it was only me and Martin who went right down to the bottom, which then meant that we could go back up the other way and get some wicked pics from the top! We walked in total for 2hours and I was shattered when I got back to the bus! We are now on route to Olymplos, we may have to go to Ankara (which is the capital not Istanbul!) to get out Pakistan visas. I don't think there is much to do there but it might be a good opportunity it catch up on the gossip from back home. Can't believe I've not watched Neighbours or Hollyoaks for 3 weeks now! Actually I can't believe that I've been away for 3 weeks, all the cities are starting to merge!

I've tried to add photos but the pc is too slow will try again soon!

I better finish up now as the battery is dieing, I guess I'll be able to update in a week or so again!

Lots of love from Nicole xxx