Day 65, 7 September 2012, Selcuk - bus to Izmir - Flight to Istanbul - AND - The best place we've stayed in weeks - the Han Hostel Airport North, Istanbul. But more of that later! Quiet old day here. Had to pack our backpacks for the domestic flight tonight and an early international flight tomorrow - Istanbul to Marrakech, via Madrid. Backpacks seem to explode whenever we unzip them, and it seems harder each time to fit it all back in. Still only 20 kg each. Note to Australian airlines. Lift. Your. Game. Our flight to Istanbul was out of Izmir which is an hour's drive from Selcuk. If one presents oneself and one's luggage 2.25 hours prior to one's flight departure at a little corner shop, then the FREE airline shuttle picks one up, drives an hour (or a $50 cab ride) and drops one in front of the airport door. Amazing. Good flight, budget airline, prompt arrival. And then off to our "close to the airport, not expecting much" lodgings. Weren't we happily surprised. The Han Hostel Airport North - brand new, gorgeous, nicer than most hotels we've stayed out was sold out, but at 12.30 pm today 5 rooms suddenly appeared as I was lurking in cyberspace watching last minute rooms being released. For a mere 59 Euro - brilliant for the room quality, we secured a small room, with shower, toilet, desk and chair and the softest bed in Turkey. Bliss. And the restaurant was inexpensive and fast and good. But the best thing about the hostel - which should be called a hotel, is the rocks. Everywhere we looked were wonderful fossilised wood pieces, massive chunks of quartz crystal, coffee tables made out of enormous amethyst geodes with glass on top. Like walking around a geology museum (today's cover photo shows the lobby and the counter is encrusted with semi-precious stones). All told a stunning place for our last night in Turkey. Bring on Morocco tomorrow!