Marmaris

OMG we have discovered the Ibiza of the Eastern Mediterranean - that is if you're over 50 and Russian or English and want to dance the night away to music of the 60's 70's and 80,s Thank god for my earplugs that's all can say. The beach is grey gravel but the water is beautiful clear blue and almost warm enough to swim. The trip here was through pine forested mountains and past cotton fields and fig orchards. On the way we visited three sets of ruins, Priene, a walled hill town which we explored up and down, an amazing roman theatre with tunneled walkways and marble stairs at Miletus and the Temple of Apollo in Didyma. The temple was enormous, set in the middle of the village where we had lunch. Helped Janice haggle for a lovely silk carpet and perhaps would have bought my own except stangely enough I couldn't find my husband with the money!!!











See you soon

Love Wendy and Graeme

Join the queue

We have hit the big time in Kusadasi town. When the cruise ships role in it is line up and wait your turn or else.....other tour guides yell at you!!
We first lined up at the House of the Virgin Mary on top of Mt Coressos and got our share of the blessings


And then down and around to Ephesus where the crowds spread out a bit and you can wander around and climb in the ruins to your hearts ( or legs) content . This is a pretty intact city with library and temple and latrine still intact !









Weather is beautiful, warm but not too hot with a good breeze through the pine trees. We are starting to sleep all night which is great too.


See you soon

Love Wendy and Graeme

Kusadasi

Visited the 2nd Trojan Horse today at the ruins of Troy, which had been inhabited since about 2000 BC before the wars resulted in the city's famous scene with Brad Pitt as Achillies .


Not quite Brad but still alive today to tell the tale!!

Then back on the bus and into another of our guide Cema's friends shops and then down to Pergamon. We had to ride the cable car up the hill and then were set free in the ruins to explore. The Greek theatre was well preserved and the temple up on the hill was even better than the Acropolis ( well maybe).









See you soon

Love Wendy and Graeme

Lest we forget

See you soon

Love Wendy and Graeme

5000 shops and still counting

The spice bazaar has many different types of Turkish delight and they are very happy for you to try before you buy so we tried and tried before we bought!!! Rose and pistachio - very delicious. Then the palace of the Sultans complete with real treasures and a view to die for over the water, could have spent the whole day here. The end of the day was spent at the Grand Bazaar, a labyrinth of leather, pashmina and golden jewels - 5000 thousand shops in total to the dismay of many of the men in the group !! Didn't buy a thing but did try on a particularly nice ring - if we could only just find that store again .........



You can see the hairs on the goatskin!

See you soon

Love Wendy and Graeme

Sunrise

Did I mention yesterday that I thought I had lost my precious ( phone) at some stage during our sleep deprived fog ? Bit of panic stations for a while but the lovely bus driver came back to the hotel and after a bit of a search it turned up between the seats. Whew . Seem to only be able to add one photo at a time but this is the Santa Sophia , a Christian come Muslim church with frescos and lights, absolutely huge and beautiful.


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Istanbul

Wow what a day - now 4 am Monday morning Aussie time and we are just off to bed for the first time . Well we did nap this afternoon when we arrived at the hotel but not for long and then it was tea time . The view from the roof top dining area is fantastic - across the Golden Horn (think Sydney harbour only narrower) and over to the mosques and palaces which are all lit up for the night. We hear the call to prayer as the lights come on and the ferries and boats zip by. Bit breezy but still beautiful. Food is lovely so far now we are off the plane and hotel is well placed near the train stop and a easy walk into the old town.


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Location:Yemeniciler Cd,Istanbul Province,Turkey

Changi Transit

Just to be boring we are now boarding plane at Changi for last leg to Istanbul - did I say that I hate travelling on planes ??

Turkey here we come

At the airport and through security with minimum of fuss and no confiscations - almost a first for me ??

Now shopping for perfume.... watches....... Armani handbags and of course Jimmy Choo's for the girls  - wait Graeme says no.. Oh well maybe next time lol.

Next stop Singapore.

Hello friends

This is my second try - seems i pads don't fraternize with blogs too easily !!!

And the random photo has caused me a bit of anguish.


Next stop Istanbul



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