Wednesday 7th July

 

Day 4

07/07/04

As we bid a fond farewell to our Island paradise, and head out into the open sea, it becomes distinctly more difficult to write.

Greek cheese is great. Fact. Had it for breakfast and lunch - very cheap and fulfilling. Makes Brian feel like Dick Whittington... best ferry journey so far as we got to sit on deck but Brian banged his head 3 times (and once on a bus). Coming into Kusadasi was very different from Greece - it is right, Brian's taking over control of the pen...

Our first impressions of this distant and strange land reminded us that we truly were entering a different continent. Swamped by touts as we set foot upon its concrete shores, we battled our way to passport control, where they charged us some number they seemed to pluck out of the sky. They only seem to deal in hard cash, PROFIE in Turkey the phrase"it cost millions" doesn't have quite the same meaning. Getting a bus to Izmir was quite straightforward. I expected it to be a ramshackered job with chaps tying us in but it was a proper air-conditioned coach. They handed out free coffee and tea and gave us this lemon-smelling liquid to "refresh" our hands. (Nice! was Heather's choice of word) (Apparently, it does not say nice, so strike the previous comment. I apologise-). Izmir bus station was, in a word, huge. Everything was in Turkish, making it, in Brian's opinion, the most challenging part of our travel. The phrasecard (ie. working it) was harder than it looked.

There then followed an amusing incident involving a pack of cards and a stubborn, locally bought and immature Heather. I don't see how bluntly refusing to play slam any way, but my way (i.e. the way) justifies throwing a paddy, going into a serious strop, and giving up the game. If you ask me she was just trying to save herself the embarrassment of defeat.

Another air-conditioned bus, more lemon juice, tea and coffee... and this time free cake (very nice - I kept the wrapper) (greak). The journey started off well and got better - there was a lovely section of scenery which I could see many countries - the flat fields and tractors of Norfolk, the mountains and firs of Austria, and the poplars of Tuscany.

What amazed us the most was the vastness of the country, and the huge huge amount of uninhabited desert/hill/farmland and mountain. One single road wound its way, like a distance equivalent to the length of England, from Izmir to Bodrum, passing through just 2 towns en route.

The Turkish women working the fields under the afternoon sun contrasted sharply with the American-style bill boards and roadside petrol stations.

All our connections managed to work out just right. We stopped for Turkish meatballs at the port (£1 each) (not £1 each per meatball)

(N.B. There were some girls that I thought were very similar to home once a like west country)and we're now on our 3rd ferry of the trip. Two hours and we'll be in Istanbul - we'll arrive to see the city lights.

We somehow have to make our way across Istanbul to the backpackers with the belly dancers (as Brian wants to take me here, I think). Well, see if we make it and if he is successful in his plight...

Wow! We actually made it. A mammoth day of hardcore travel, and a very satisfying feeling at the end. Unfortunately, the hostel was nothing special - possibly a bit too much of a party-hostel when all we were looking for was six hours kip (it was very noisy, very hot, and very lacking in locks). I thought it was very clean and well-kept. But yes, couldn't breath in the room and everyone was silent towards one another. Good shower. Not bad for my first youth hostel abroad.