Jordan 2010

Oops, I guess it has been awhile since I posted anything.  Been busy!  Having way to much fun!

Oct 14, Amman, Jordan to Laos

Today the Lebanese guy offered to drive us to Umm Qais.  A city on the border of Syria, Israel and Jordan, with views of Triberon Lake.  Took a couple of hours.  Was great.

Had to pass through a couple of check points.  At first they told us we could not pass, but then the Lebanese guy said something and the let us pass.  At the 2 check point they could not believe that we got though so let us pass.  Great view.

Headed back to Amman.  On the highway there were actually water pipe stops!

Got back to hotel and said good bye to Lebanese guy.

The Dutch couple had left in morning so the numbers were going down!

We went for a walk and found the market just around the corner.  Great.  Huge produce.  Eggplant, potatoes, figs, dates, cucumbers, cauliflower.  And lots more.

As usual there was the request to have picture taken!

Walked some more and found this little coffee shop in a dead end alley.  Sat down and had a great cup of Turkish coffee.  They put cardamon in it so has a different taste, but still great!  And more pictures of the 3 old guys sitting there.  We finished coffee and went to pay and the one guy had paid for our coffee.  This was so typical of how generous the Jordanians are.

I then decided to have a hair cut!  Well the French girl enjoyed this.  And the barber was not so sure that I wanted the cut I did!  But he did the cut.  This time my neck and sides were shaved with straight razor.  But this time for the stray hairs he used a piece of string to pull hairs.  First for me!  How he used the string to pull them I have no idea and could not get across to him to show us.  4 Jordanian dinars ($6).

Did some shopping and then back to hotel.  Got stopped by guy in small cafe across from hotel to taste his food.  It was excellent so decided to go back.  Turns out he was a chef and this was his shop!  Kofta with tahini sauce.  Excellent, and so easy (kofta is just hamburger).  Just as finished that a impromptu dart game was started by guys in shop next door and we ended up joining in!  Hilarious.  

Had to head off as English guy was at different hotel and wanted to go say good bye!  He flies out in morning.  His hotel was having party and he got invite for us.

We were first welcomed by the owner and given heck as we were late and there was food for us!  All in good fun.

Had a great visit and caught up on his Israel adventures.

A sad farewell to my traveling friend for the last 2 weeks, been great, but no good byes, just 'see you soon'!!!!!!

Now at airport. 1.16 am Friday morning and plane leaves at 2.10 am.

Going to be a long night and long day!

Jordan is an amazing place, and so difficult to put into words!  The sights are fantastic and people I met are just as, if not more fantastic.  So friendly and willing to help or to just talk.  Talking happened whether there was much English or not!  When the Jordanians asked where you are from, you always got a big 'welcome' from them.  Also it was very important to all that you enjoyed 'their' country.  So nice to see and hear and to experience it.

Sad to leave, which is always a good sign that the stay was great!

Oct 13, Amman, Jordan

Up in morning and out for walk!  Mist settled over all the valleys.  And cool.  Almost eerie!

Breakfast and then off to catch taxi.  The taxi to Amman was going to be too expensive, so went back to Aqaba.  They were caught a collective taxi to Amman.  These are taxis that you share with someone else.

Was a 3 1/2 hour ride, but made it back to Arab Tower Hotel to a warm welcome!

Turns out the dutch couple are also here!  Great reunion even though we only left them in Aqaba, 2 days ago.

Decided to go out for dinner.  A Lebanese guy joined us.  He was here for work.  Very nice man!

Gave each of us a book by Richard Branson.  Went out for mansaaf, the traditional Jordanian meal.  Meat, rice, and potatoes with a sauce.  This time were we told that is made with fermented sheeps milk so who knows what it really was.  Pretty good but the one we had in Petra was much better.  The Lebanese guy bought us all dinner.  Very nice.

Then out to a cafe for beers!  Ah!!!!  The first beer since being here!  WAs very good.  The restaurant was weird as you had to go through a bookstore to get there!  The view from terrace of the city was great.  Also almost everyone was smoking the water pipe!  The guy next to us had a whole bottom of Chivas on the table.  He looked like he was going to be there for a while!  Was another fun night with lots of laughs.

Oct 12, Wadi Rum, Jordan

The 2 of us caught a taxi to Wadi Rum. A Czech professor also joined us.  He had just finished the same chemistry conference on the Dead Sea that the guy from Portugal had.   Interesting, but they did not know each other.

Arrived in the village.  The scenery is great.  Met by host at Bedouin camp and had tea at his house.  He is a story teller.  The best is is imitation of French people trying to speak English with some Arabic thrown in!  The best was "shokran beaucoup" , half French and half Arabic.  It became the saying of the night.  Off with a guide in old Toyota truck across the desert.  Not all sand as there many high rock mountains that stick out of sand here and there.  It is really nice.  The driver did some driving on the dunes, and gave us a chance to walk on them.  Some of the sand is really red and some is beige.  The area is beautiful.  Interesting as the guide stopped in a place with no one else around, lit a fire, put on kettle for tea and made us lunch.  Tuna, olives, cheese, humus with lots of pita!  Very good.  Surprising how fast he started the fire and how little wood he used to boil the water.  Good thing as not much for wood around.

Did some walking on the sand and between the rock.  Not a lot of wild life.  Lizards and beetles!  Crows and that is about it!

Went to the camp.  Very simple.  No running water, but there was a generator behind a concrete building.  Turned out it only ran for a while.  Then the only light was the campfire and the lamps people had.

2 other couples joined us.  A German couple that have lived in London for 30 years and a Jordanian couple that were friends of German couple.  They too, lived in London for about 30 years but about 3 years ago moved back to Amman.  Both very nice, but funny to hear them speak as they seemed to have perfect and proper English accents!

Do not believe they were cut out for this kind of camp.  There were tents, with sand floors.  But luxuary as had foam mattresses and an variety of blankets all just piled up in the corner of the tent!  

The other couples had brought their own sleeping bags, sheets and pillows with covers.  Hilarious to watch them prepare for bed.  The sand was everywhere and they were not really into it!  Took about 30 minutes for them to prepare.  Me, 30 seconds.  Mattress and a couple of blankets.

Dinners was excellent.  Chicken, rice, potatoes cooked in 1 pot.  Of course pita bead and cheese.  And tea after.

Watched the sunset before dinner.  The sun goes down very fast and early.  Was about 6.30 and was dark.

After dinner did some talking but by 9.30 the other couples went to bed, so the French girl and I grabbed a mattress and took it out behind the tents to look at the stars.  No other lights around to a lot to see.  Could not find anything I could recognize except for the milky way!

Never heard any critters but there was a cat fight somewhere that was loud.  No wild big cats, but told that they were domestic cats gone wild.

Oct 11, Aqaba, Jordan

Today I had my final exam!  Stress!  But passed!

Back to hotel.  It the the Darna Village, and it is super!  The staff here are great and have spent a lot of time just talking.  Learned a lot about the life of Jordanians.

They will help you any way they can!

Snorkeled in afternoon and then spent the rest of the day talking to a couple from the Netherlands.

Had dinner at hotel and asked them to prepare a surprise!  We ended up with great fresh fish, calamari and prawns!  Excellent!

Then the Dutch lady and I felt we wanted something sweet - baklava was the choice!  But none here.  After some discussion, the Dutch guy took one of the manager's brothers and off to Aqaba to buy some baklava.  Only 12 km away!  It was great, had a variety of baklava, but they did have to go to 2 or 3 shops to find as they were sold out!

It was enjoyed by all when they got back.  The staff from hotel and some of their friends that were visiting!

Oct 10, Aqaba, Jordan

Up and off to dive centre.  So nice as they pick you up even though it is just up the road!

Had 2 dives today and more lessons.  Great as much more comfortable in the water and seeing so much more around me.

Also had to read part of a text book!  And do 3 quizzes!  Not really sure if that makes it a holiday any more!  But I did pass them.  

Went snorkeling again.  Saw a couple of sea snakes!  These look more like eels and live on the bottom.

So many fish and so many colours.  Like an aquarium in a pet store!

Caught a taxi into Aqaba, about 12 

Oct 9, Aqaba, Jordan

Went on another dive today at the Japanese Garden!  Here there was even more fish!  I think we found Nemo!  There are many of  them.

Beautiful colours in coral - red, pink, violet, beige.

he instructor picked up puffer fish (?) the one that expands itself to be huge.  amazing

Had to put under rock as it kept floating up.  At night the guy at hotel showed me the moon star, a star that follows the moon.  Quite the sight as the moon is just a sliver with the star beside.  He says it only is seen a few days each year.

Snorkeled again in afternoon.

Was planning on leaving the next day but the French woman and I decided to take the PADI lessons.  Funny as we were both thinking the same thing!

Oct 8, Aqaba, Jordan

So easy to get very lazy here!  Sit over looking the Gulf of Aqaba, part of Red Sea.

But we did actually do something.  

Went diving!  I first put my contacts in.  Damn I had been missing a lot with out them.  It was great.  Introductory lesson and then into the water.  They took us to an army tank sunk just off of shore.

Lazy afternoon again, but did go snorkeling.

Oct 7, Aqaba, Jordan

The 3 of us caught a taxi to Acaba.  We were headed to one place but ended up at another, friends of driver!  But turns out this place is new and just across the road from The Red Sea, actually, the Gulf of Aqaba which is part of Red Sea.  Great place and fairly new!

Spent a lazy day snorkeling on the reefs which are very close to shore.  The fish and coral is great.

Then did nothing for the rest of the day!  I needed to recover from the 2 10 or 11 hour days of hiking!

Oct 6, Petra, Jordan

3 of us caught a taxi to Little Petra and had a tour with local guide.  He climbs so fast and agile and he had us follow him.  This is very nice, a smaller version of Petra.

In Little Petra there is a house that still has some of the painted walls.  Flowers, vines and pictures.  Had tea with a lady along the way, these are everywhere, and continued on to some great look outs over the wadi.

Then the guide showed us how to make the sand bottles.  He gave us directions to Big Petra, so we headed off.  It should take about 3 hours.  But somewhere we missed a corner.  We were following yellow painted rocks, where we supposed to or not.  So was really a very scenic tour!  But we spotted the large flags at the Monastery and Aaron's tomb, so we knew the general direction to go.  Back tracked a bit and headed down a canyon!  Walked by some more 'houses' carved out of rock.  Some were very small and not sure what use they would be.  The closer we got to Petra the caves and momuments became larger and more frequent.  Amazing the work!

but could see the Monestary lookout and Aaron's tomb so knew direction.

But made it back to the museum and ran into the guy on donkeys that met the day before.  The funny part is that he knew we were in Little Petra as his friend told him he had seen us pass through his village -  everyone knows everyone!

Went up to the look out over the Treasury and watched the sun go down and had great views of the Treasury!

Back to same restaurant for dinner and then got invited to one of the guys house for tea.  Was a late night.

Oct 5, Petra, Jordan

This morning we had an early start to the day.

Walking through the entry to the Treasury is very different by day than at night!  he size of the cliffs is huge.  Told about 100 meters and very narrow in places.  Amazing how they work for saving water.  They have carved a ditch in the side of the cliff to carry the water to the cisterns.  And then around the one corner you can see a part of the Treasury framed by the cliffs.  Amazing!

Continued walking and headed up the many many stairs to the High Place of Sacrifice.  Many women with they jewelery spread out on blankets or boards.  The view from the top is something.  There is a carved out rectangle for seating with an alter for the high priests and for the sacrifice.  There is a little place for the blood to run off.

Also here there are 2 obelisks that have been carved out.  Or should I say they have carved the mountain away and left the obelisks.  Always it is something to see the amount of work that went into the carved out areas.  Most of Petra has been carved out of the sides of the mountains, but there are a few buildings that have been built with stone bricks.

We walked down the alternate way.  The path had many steps as well, but around each corner and over every hill there was another very impressive monument or tomb.  All of them have varying amounts of detail.  Some are Nebetean, or Roman. The Garden and wall, the Soldier's tomb and the lion fountain.are probably the most impressive.

Very hot and the walking is exhausting.  Stopped for lunch near the museum and the London guy walked by!  He joined us and after a bit of rest we headed off for the Monastery.  2 people rode the donkeys and 2 of us walked.  We actually caught up with them having tea witha group of Bedouins part way up the mountain.  

I do not think any of the 4 of us saw anything on the way up as the other 2 were telling us about the donkey ride up.  It was hilarious just watching them relive the ride.  The donkeys have a mind of their own!!-

 The monument is probably more impressive than the Treasury as there is more detail to the structure, but the room inside is very small and does not come close to the size of the the monument.

There are 4 look outs from here each one is great!  You can see Aaron's tomb, the burial place of the brother of Moses.  

We walked down and was jetting close to sunset, so we to the Royal tombs to have a look and to watch the sunset.  The Royal tombs are very large with many rooms inside.  The carvings are very impressive as well.  

The one Bedouin found us again!  The man is nuts!  But funny!  He actually climbed up the side of one of the tombs.  He did say that tomorrow he would show us the view point that over looks the Treasury.

It was about 7.30 by the time we got back to the hotel.  Quick shower and off to the Al-Deir restaurant, the same as last night.

Tonight they just brought us a dish!  Chicken with rice and a yogurt/curried sauce.  Excellent!

Another late night as we ended up having tea and chatting until late.

Jordan 2010

Oct 4, Petra, Jordan

As the 3 of us were all heading to Petra the next day we hired the same taxi driver to take us.  Expensive but allowed for extra stops. 

The first stop was at Hammemet Ma'in.  This is a hot spring but with a large water fall with hot water.  There are 3 or 4 pools as well.  Great place, with only 3 other people there!

Had a great soak, and super massage in the big water fall and in the water flowing from one pool to the next!

Next to Karak Castle.  This is a very strong looking castle on the hill.  Many underground tunnels to homes and also a church.  This castle was built in the 12th century.

Made a stop at the lookout over Wadi Dana, a large natural river bed.  Looked very nice and supposed to be some great hikes in the canyon.

Arrived at Petra about 6.  Another long day.

Went for dinner a Al-Deir restaurant.  The food was excellent!  And the guys working were great.  They spent a fair bit of time talking to us.  We were the only ones there.  We got some more ideas on great food and told to come back.  

Met a guy that works at the local 5 star hotel during the day and at this restaurant, his brothers at night!  Very nice.  He said that he would invite us to his home.

Then off to see Petra.  They have a show some nights where you walk in the entrance, which is about 3 km long, to a candle lit path!  Very interesting shadows on the cliff walls.

Then when you arrive at the Treasury the main monument, there are several candles in front.  Tried taking pictures but they did not turn out, but the candle light certainly gave the monument a strange look.  Very difficult to describe! 

Oct 3, Amman, Jordan

Signed up for tour at hotel.  Again a taxi for only 3 people.  Was with with a French woman and Portugues guy.  Great people and we had lots of laughs.  Both of them have done a lot of traveling.  Drove south tour include look at Wadi Majib.  Looked great except it was very hazy and could not see very far.  

Next to Madaba, and the Church of St George.  This church had a floor that was completely covered by a mosaic.  The mosaic was a picture of Jordan showing many of the sites.  It had been created about 1500 years ago and is very accurate.  They believe that it was used to direct people on there travels, during the Crusades and for merchants on the Silk road.

Next to Mount Nebo.  This is where Moses saw the holy land and buried.  Again the views not great.

Went to the Baptism place of Jesus on the Jordan River.  Interesting as the Jordanians believe theirs in the real site but then the Israelis believe the same thing.

Amazing that the river is only about 3 meters across.  Israel is right there.  The site on that side is much more developed.  Also we were watched by guards on both sides.

Then off to Dead Sea.  Again not really very busy.

This was quite the experience.  We walked in and when the bottom dropped, we did not sink!  Amazing!  Could actually float standing straight up with the water at chests.

Hilarious.  We were all laughing.  It is really amazing how easy it is to float.  Tried to go under but very difficult!  And the water really stung the eyes!  Apparently it is about 30% salt whereas most seas are about 5%.  Spent about 3 hours floating and of course taking a free mud bath!  Saved about $20 as we used the mud from the sea and not the packages sold in the shop!

Dead sea is the lowest place on earth, about 300 meters below sea level.

Oct 2, Amman, Jordan

Met Dutch girl at breakfast and we headed off to the Roman Theatre.  This place is huge as well.

There is a great museum in the theatre showing traditional dress, tools and jewelry.  Very interesting.

Next to the theatre is the parliment, which seats about 500.  Both sites in very good shape as they have been rebuilt.

Great as there are not many people around.

As we were leaving a local guy started telling where we should visit in Amman.  Was hilarious as I got the impression he was a local 'character'!  Found out later that he is well known.

Also ran into the guy from London and he joined us.

Hired a taxi to get us to the Citadel on top of the hill over looking the old part of Amman.  This covers a huge area and has been built up over about 1500 years.

Great museum that covers about 10,000 years.  They had some fossils of animals that were very old.

Leaving the Citadel hired another taxi to take us around the city for a couple of hours.  Went over a famous bridge, although I had never heard about it and around some of the rich parts of the city.

Got dropped off near a park.  But this park did not have any grass, but many trees.

Caught the bus back to centre.

Stopped at a small restaurant that the taxi driver recommended and had falafel!  Excellent food!  And for all 3 it was 3.50 dinar, about $5.

Oct 1, Amman, Jordan

Left london and arrived in Jordan about 11 pm.  Caught a taxi to Hotel but by this time it was almost 2 am.  Ended up talking to the night clerk for 30 minutes as he was working on a computer graphic design project for his homework.  He was designing an office, right down to the furniture.

London, Salisbury, Avebury and Bath

Sept 30, Bath/London

No breakfast at hotel this morning, so up an off on the hunt for coffee.  Ended up having a walk along the River Avon, over the Pulteney Bridge, which is tough to identify as bridge as there are shops on both sides of the bridge. The river as a lock, but did not look like it had been used much, and there were several canal boats.  They are very narrow, but long.  Not sure I could spend much time in there but it would be great to do a trip on one!

Took a walking tour of the city.  Was interesting as he pointed out some of the more notable buildings.  Including the home of General Wolfe who fought the French for control over Canada.  Interesting part is that the house is now an English language school.  

Saw the curved row of houses, which seems to be common as hotel was the same.  

Then into the Roman baths.  This was well worth it as you had an audio guide.  One of the commentators was Bryson, the author.  He provided a different perspective on the place.  One thing he did say was that it is so contradictory that the Romans were so far advanced in building, architecture, providing services such as water and sewer yet so primitive since their religion required sacrifices to the gods!

Then went to the Spa.  Expected a more natural hot spring type pool, but really was a public pool and not convinced that the water was natural!  The 4 different steam rooms had various smells ( I guess I should call it the aroma therapy!)  That was quite good.  There were 2 pools.  The roof top one was good, except could have been hotter, but had a great view of the Abbey and the surrounding hillside pastures and houses.

Then off the train station to get back to London.  Arrived 3 hours later.

Out for dinner with friends at a local pub.  So nice!

Sept 29, Bath

Talked to woman at breakfast who got great delight when I told her my name was Randy.  Glad I made her day as she complained about everything else.

She recommended I go to Avebury to see the stone circles there.  I went!  2 hours on bus with 1 change in Pewsey, a small little village. 

  Had time for lunch but did meet a young guy that said I should also see the Long Barrow.  He said that his friends play drums in there every Halloween and even after they stop, you can feel the vibrations of the drum.  Eerie!  

There are 3 large circles that date back to about 4000 BC.  Many are missing and interesting to see the highway run through the middle with the village in the centre of the circles.

  A 40 minute hike through a field of dirt, or should I say mud, as it has been raining, and through a pasture or 2 found the West Kennet Long Barrow!  Was neat.  on Top of a hill over looking the valley.  Very nice.  The tomb dates back about 4500 years with about 40 skeletons found that apparently ranged in time over about 1000 years.  On the trail to get there I had to walk around the Silbury Hill which dates back to about 2700 BC.  No one is sure why it is there.  No tombs were found.

Caught the bus to Swindon and then a train to Bath.  

Sept 28, Salisbury

Took a 2 hour train ride to Salisbury.  Great as outside the train station was the tour bus to Stonehenge.  An interesting site as it is 5000 years old and not sure what it is really for.  They do know that the placement of stones matches the calendar and show the solstice.  Eerie a bit as there were lots of crows on the site and in the fields around the site.  They do know that there were no human sacrifices or that the druids occupied the site.  I guess someone should tell the druids outside the site with signs saying they want the place back.

Took a short walk through pasture to The Curious Burrow, 5 burial mounds that date back 1000s of years as well.

This bus then stopped at the Old Sarum, the original site of Salisbury that dates back to 3000 BC.  It was also the site of a castle dating back to William the Conqueror in the 11th century.

very intetersting old city.

Dinner at old mill.

Sept 27, London

Wandered around Sutton doing some shopping.

Sept 26, London

Lazy morning then out in afternoon for a Pub walk.  Very nice but did start to rain so cut it a bit short.  Thought for a while that it was a perfect walk, 2 for 1, 2 pubs, 1 walk, but one of the pubs was not open.  Oh well.  Still nice, lots of peasants in the fields and many cows.

Turkey and then to London 2010

Sept 25, London

Up and off to watch friend's son play rugby at his school.  Arrived early so had a look around the school.  The facilities available at the school would be the envy of any school or university!  Huge grounds with every available sport possible and the pitches (fields) were immaculate.

Later in day off for a pub walk.  Very nice.  Cloudy and a bit windy.

The weather here is quite cold, at least to what I am used to!  Maybe reaching a high of 20, which is very much a change!  Long pants, shoes, sweater and a jacket needed.

Sept 24, London

Easy morning, breakfast then pack to fly to London.  Arrive after a 3 1/2 hour fligh and so nice to get picked up by friend and taken to her house!

Lots of talking and catching up on the past few months.

Sept 23, Istanbul, Turkey

Caught the tram to Taksim, an area on the other side of the bay.  This is the main shopping area.  There is one long street that runs for about 2 km that is all shops with many side streets that lead off with many small cafes and restaurants.  The street is only pedestrian except for an old tram that runs the length.  The street is full of people, both all afternoon and into the night.  Wandered around, up and down the many streets ending up at the Galata Tower.  Great views of the city from the top, including the Blue Mosque and the Aya Sofa.

Met up with the 2 sisters that live in Istanbul that I met on the Saklikent Gorge/Tlos tour.  We had a great dinner together at a restaurant near the tower that served Anatolyian food.  Then wandered around the streets, having some ice cream.  It was 11 pm by the time I got back to the hotel.

Sept 22, Istanbul, Turkey

Thought I had an early start to the day, but the tour buses had me beat!  Went to the Aya Sofa (started in 500s AD), an huge mosque that has been converted into a museum.  Interesting as this was first a church until 1453,  then changed to a mosque and since Muslims forbid showing faces they plastered over the many frescos and mosaics.  Turns out this preserved them so in very good condition.

The is a huge place that also has a balcony on the second floor.  This is very high, but the domes are still much higher.

Around the corner and to the Topkapi Palace, built in 1453.  Here the line ups were huge, for all the rooms, including the bath rooms.  Frustrating as people were jumping the 'queues'.  Went into the Harem, which is the area for the various wives of the Sultan, princes and also the unichs of the palace.  Many rooms including the meeting, sitting, bed, bath and dining.  Many of the rooms in tile, and not convinced many of the different styles and colours of tiles actually go together, but who am I to say.

Went to an evening performance of the Whirling Dervishes.  In 4 separate times they spin and go into a trance like state.  

Sept 21, Istanbul Turkey

Went on a boat tour of the Bosphorus River.  It joins the Black sea and Marmara Sea and divides Istanbul between the European and Asian continents.  Was interesting to see all the palaces, summer homes and castle along the shores.  The weather was very windy and cold.  I am actually wearing a sweater!  Not good!  Not used to this!

Then went for a walk and found a main eating area by the looks of it.  Lots of people around eating fresh fried fish sandwiches.  Was really very good!  4 lire ($2.50)  Also tried the Turkish bagels were are also very good and then had the Turkish donuts!  Wow.  Smothered in honey with a dusting of pistachio.  

Then wandered through the spice market.  The smells and sights are great.  I liked this much better than the Grand Bazaar.  Much more life to this place.  Turns out is a place where you can buy anything you may want.  Even electric motors, plastic goods, toys and the list goes on.

Stopped in a small place to have a coffee and a young guy and his grandfather sat beside me.  They are here on holiday from Pakistan.  The young guy's brother is studying at York.  Great chat and when they left they said they had bought my coffee.  Wow that was so nice of them.

Went to the Archeology museum.  Huge place that is in part of the old palace, I think.  Lots of exhibits, with a huge section on sarcophagus.  Then went to the Cistern, used for water storage.    Dates back to 500 AD.  The place is huge.  There are a couple of columns that have bases with statutes of Medusa at the bottom.  Weird as one is up side down and the other side ways.  They do not know why.

For the first time in months I wore long pants!  Awful!  But had to for 2 reasons - need to wear to get into Blue Mosque and also it feels cold.

Completed in 1616, the Blue Mosque is huge.  The tiles and mosaics are beautiful and true to name, much is done in blue tile.  Also interesting, they do not charge to go in and see.  They do limit where you can go but that is not a problem.  Many domes, and the large dome seems to be supported by several stained glass windows.  Very nice.

Turkey 2010

Sept 20, Istanbul, Turkey

Got to hotel at about 11 am  Long night, and hit Istanbul just in time for morning traffic.  Took for ever to get through the city.  Turns out there are only 2 brigdes that join the European and the Asian sides of the city, so lots of traffic and slow going.

Walked throught  the Grand Bazaar.  Really 4000 shops selling everything you can imagine!  Then on to the Roman Aquaduct.  Disappointed as not able to walk along the top!  Tough one as many of the other sites you could crawl all over the various sites.  Stopped for Turkish coffee at small vendor under on of the arches of Aquaduct.  Very good. And had to have picture taken.

Went out for something to eat and then some walking.  Went to an exhibition called '1001 Inventions' staring Ben Kingsley.  Showed the many inventions by Turks that influenuce the world today.  Very well done as has won several film festival Gold awards.

Wandered around a bit and then got hit up by a guy in front of carpet place.  He asked for 10 minutes so he could practice his English, and no sooner had I sat down that he was gone and a  salesman joined in.  30 minutes later, I left, having not bought anything!  Told salesman that up front but he tried very hard!

Sept 19, day in Goreme then on bus over night to Istanbul, Turkey

Another slow start to the day.  Legs a bit tired from the hike and then the walking up and down stairs yesterday in the underground city.  Had to bend over as the the ceilings were very low in places.

I rented mountain bike for the day.  Got part way out of city and realized legs were extremely tired!  But did make it to Fairy Chimneys.  This are layers of lava of different colours and density.  The top is the hardest and does not erode as fast as the softer, sandston like rock below it!  Amazing to see them. 

But was so tired and legs so sore that headed back after being out for only about 2 hours.  Then just relaxed at pension as had to catch a bus at 8 pm to Istanbul.

The wait for bus in the small village was very interesting.  Many people there to send off family I guess, but also sent huge bags of potatoes and onions back with them.  The huge storage area was full with this and the baggage.  Amazed that they got it all in!  The pick up spot was the street so people were wandering around the street.  Good thing not alot of traffic!

The local school kids had fun, 'talking' to some of the tourists.  The usual questions!  And of course the need to have their picture taken.

Sept 18, Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey

Took a tour of the area.  Stopped first at the panorama of  Goreme.  The area is really something.  The land around is virtually flat and it just drops into these valleys that have some amazing rock formations (yes more rocks!)  Much of it looks like sandstone but is a lot of balsa (?) around as well as many of the new houses are building with balsa bricks. 

Next stop an Underground city, one of about 200, which were started in about 3 century BC.  These were built originally as a safe place to hide from attachers and later used for shelter and storage.  They are a maze of underground rooms, kitchens, wineries, monasteries, schools, and barns.  They also have get away tunnels, one of them being 9 km long.  The tunnels are low and narrow so was a challenge bending over and walking up and down the stairs.

Took a walk along 3 km of Ilhara valley.  Very nice with very high cliffs and a small stream running through the center.  A couple of churches along the way.

The Semila Monastery built into the rocks.  Several chapels with tunnels joining.  These were used and built to hide out from the pageans.

Sept 17, Goreme, Cappadocia,, Turkey

Left at 9.30 pm and arrived in Goreme at 7.30 am!  And it was cold!  Turns out this is in a desert and cool at night.

Got checked into a pension.  As heading to room, ran into one of the people I met in Kas!  Great to see her again.  Drank lots of coffee and had some breakfast.  Then on hike.

Went to the Goreme Open Air museum.  This area is sandstone with houses, and churches carved out of the stone!  Amazing sights.  There are holes in many of the the spires (not sure what to call them).  The museum is mostly various chapels and churches.  These are very detailed and completely carved into the stone.

Then headed off on a hike through a couple of the valleys, Rose Valley and Red Valley, both named after the colour of the stone.  Beautiful.  Met a retired guy from Toronto so we ended up doing the rest of the walk together.  Lots of up and down and climbing into some of the holes.  Saw a couple more churches.  One of them even had columns, and an atler and chapels off to the side.  All carved out of the stone!

5 hours later, got back tot he pension.    A great place, very friendly.  Rock Valley Pension, which was recommended by a couple met in Kas!

Sept 16, Antalya, Turkey

Another lazy day.  Not doing much as have an over night bus to catch.  

Went out to Konyalta beach by tram.  Took about 30 minutes.  This is a huge stretch of pebble beach with a few very fancy beach club type bars/restaurants.  Great place but hardly anyone around.  Water was very clear and nice and warm.  Gets deep fast but still nice.

Saw a Hobie 16 today!  Check and it would cost too much for 1 person, so past on it.  They would not even consider reducing price!  Watched and it never got used for the 2 hours I was there.

Had a nice lunch on way back to town.

Then went to a Hamam (Turkish sauna).  Interesting experience.  The one guy was very rude when he realized I had no idea what to do.

For 25 lire ($18) I got a sauna, then a scrub down with something that felt like sandpaper on the skin, and they called it a 'peel'!

Then soaped down and then buckets of water thrown at me to rinse!  All I can say is 'interesting'.

Talked to an 18 year guy that sells shoes while I was waiting for the bus.  He spoke very little English.  He had the usual conversation questions - Where are you from?  What is your name?  How old are you?  Turns out he quit school and was a bit shocked when I told him I was a teacher!  So instantly started the English lessons.  That mixed in with a teasing session with another guy about which was the best city, Antalya or Izmir.  The guy was from Izmir.

Funny as the guy on the bus asked exactly the same questions.

Turkey 2010

Sept 15, Antalya, Turkey

Another lazy day.  Nice breakfast chatting with the only other guest at hotel.  A German lady that has done an amazing amount of travel. She has given be hints on places is Jordan and Vietnam, but also has increased my interest in India!  She is here on her own as she wanted a beach holiday and her husband wanted climbing!

I went to Duden falls today.  This strange waterfall in the middle of nowhere.  Great as this is spring fed and is under and over ground a few times.  A great picnic spot.  They have also carved out a tunnel behind the falls.  Water dripping everywhere.  

Wandered around city after dinner.  Went and watched the ice cream guy again.  He always has an audience.  Bought an ice cream and actually got to eat it after he stuck it in my pocket and then onto my nose.  Hilarious.  Great traditional Turkish ice cream.

Sept 14, Antalya, Turkey

Lazy day, slow breakfast but nice as very good service, as there are so few people here.  Talked to the German woman a bit and she gave me some hints on what to see.

Spend the afternoon just wandering around the city and the various shops and bazaars.  It is so quiet the shopkeepers seem to have gotten lazy and they do not even hassle you that much!  Nice!

Fish for dinner.  Head and all!  Was very good.  The waiter actually remembered me as last night I said I would be back for dinner but had too big of a lunch.  He laughed and said that he waited for me!  Too funny, but amazing that he remembered!

Went for a walk caught some more of light/fountain show and then spent about 15 minutes just watching an ice cream vendor.  He was hilarious as he would tease each customer as he delivered the ice creams.  He actually had a good sized audience!  I think you would have to see it to understand.

Sept 13, Antalya, Turkey

After about a 5 hour bus ride made it to Antalya.  Found a pension in the old part of the city.  The pension has seen better days but still good.  Turns out there is only 1 other person here, a German lady!  Amazing how quiet this place is, but school and university is back so not that many tourists around. 

Spent the evening just wandering around the old city.  They have a music and water fountain show which was well attended and very good to watch.  I missed over half of it so will try again to see the rest of it.

Many of the houses and pensions are in the Ottoman style.  They have enclosed balconies the hang over the street.  This is a 600 year period starting about 1300.  The buildlings are very interesting with the different shapes and sizes, especially the garden areas.  But there are some that have seen better days and are in various states of disrepair.  Even a few 'For sale' signs.

Sept 12, Kas, Turkey

Up early in morning and up to terrace for breakfast.  Turkish breakfast includes lots of bread, black and green olives, cheddar and feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, honey (the best), and many different and very good jams.

The French Canadian woman joined me for breakfast.  Great to talk to her.  Her pension roommate from Germany joined us and we had a great talk about traveling experiences.

During many of the trips for breakfast I kept running into a woman.  Turns out she is from West Bank and they visit Turkey several times.

Spent the day walking along the coast and snorkeling when there seemed to be a nice place.  Tough as the wind was howling today and the waves huge.  And I was not game enough to be climbing into water from the rocks!  Remembering that last time!  And there are plenty of sea urchins here!

Got back to pension and was sitting in the lounge area.  Very Turkish with pillows around a large table.  The German woman came in and invited for dinner with a group she met on her boat trip!  Then talked to another couple staying a pension and they joined us.  A Dutch woman and Turkish man.  The group at dinner ended up being about 15 people!  Was great, lots of talking and laughing.  Countries represented - Turkey, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, and Canada!  Great fun.  Dinner lasted about 3 hours and the food was super!

Sept 11, Kas, Turkey

Up early this morning and off to travel agent.  Took a sea kayak trip to the sunken city.  First was a 40 minutes drive over a couple of mountains.  Amazing country side.  Each valley was full of greenhouses built on very red dirt.  It looks like they dig up the dirt and put in greenhouses, and then use the holes for water storage!  The mountains and the rest of the land is very rocky, volcanic.

The kayaking was great.  After about 2 minutes of instruction we headed out the Kekova Island, where one of the sunken cities are.  Here you can swim around the walls that are under the water.  Very nice.  We then headed off to the national park over more of the sunken city.  Found out later that my camera did not work.  I bought a water proof bag to keep the camera dry, but  all of the pictures I took of the sunken city did not turn out.  

Next across the bay to the main land to a small village (Kalnekoy or Simena) that is only accessible by water or walking.  Lunch and then a walk up to the top of the hill to a castle that dates back about 3000 years.  A swim around the most famous tomb that is standing in the water.  So neat to be able to do that!

A short paddle back to the start off point and back to Kas.  Great way to spend the day.

Went for a beer on the terrace of pension as it has a great view of the bay of Kas and the Greek island of Meis.  Met a woman from Laval, PQ.  One of the few Canadians I have met.

Sept 10, Kas, Turkey

Slow morning. Then visited the theatre which half a block down the road.  Turkey is in the process of restoring.  

Then to a tomb which was just up the hill a bit.  Spent the rest of the day wandering around some more.  Bought a snorkel set and went off to swim.  The spot has some very very cold water.  I think that there must be some fresh water running in as so cold but also they is little distortions to the water that I think is the mixing of fresh and salt water.

Was a nice way to spend the afternoon.

Sept 9, Kas, Turkey

Caught the dolmus right at the pension door to Kas.  This is amazing.  7.50 lire ($5) for  the one hour ride to Kas.  The drive was along a fairly new highway that follows along the coast.  Beautiful sights.  The colour of the water is such a nice colour.

Arrived and found the pension easily.  Easy when you call and they come and pick up up.  

Had a coffee and ended up talking to a couple for Cape Town, South Africa.  They were staying in the hotel next door and were planning on moving to this pension as it seemed to have more atmosphere.

Spent the rest of the day wandering around the city.