Adventures of Thésée: Road Trip Part 1

Road Trip Part 1 - To Izmir and Kusadasi

Sunday 20th November... Day 1-4

Linda - This morning we picked up a hire car from the local Travel Agent in the marina, and headed off on a 300 mile road journey to Izmir. Why? Firstly because we had arranged to rendezvous with my brother Alan and his wife Yasi who had flown into Turkey from Canada for a three week holiday. And secondly, we could take our very large mainsail and genoa to Q Sails based in Izmir, where Dean has arranged for them to make us two brand new sails for the handsome Thésée. The journey took us inland and across country giving us the chance to see the mountains, valleys, plains, and small towns. We stopped overnight at a super hotel in Aydin after 220 miles, and next morning travelled the further 80 miles to the sailmaker in Izmir, before picking up Alan and Yasi at the airport who had flown in from Istanbul. A three night stay in Izmir followed.

Day 1 - Evening meal at the super Anemon hotel in Aydin.

The hotel is used by trainee Turkish Airlines pilots

and there were lots of them!

Day 2 - Arrival at the sailmakers, Dean looking very happy.

Day 3 - Alan's birthday and a surprise cake for breakfast

Displayed in the hotel was this

Classic Single Cylinder BMW motorbike

Along the main road towards the seafront

Konak Pier

Izmir seafront, brilliant weather too

Dean and Alan spot a row of balloons in the water,

then realise they were being used for target practise by the locals.

Yasi in Konak Square with the pigeons

The lovely restaurant in the old town at L'Agora hotel,

where more than a few Rakis were consumed that evening.

Dean has to kneel down to buy tickets into the Agora of Smyrna ancient Roman city,

because the hatch was so low. Smyrna was the previous name of Izmir.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agora_of_Smyrna

Yasi and I, smiling in the sunshine as we approach the ruins

Overground, the roof now long gone.

Underground. Dean in the background.

The decorative arches

The ancient underground walkways

Old city and new multi storey car park

Now we are on the hill at Kadifecale Castle

looking down at the intense road network.

Notice the very large rock carving of

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (Turkey's hero) on the left

Kings and Queen of the Castle

The Turks are very proud to display the country flag...

everywhere!

Izmir views looking north west

Back at the hotel, a second birthday cake for Alan

which we had brought with us and the sails from Finike.

It only got slightly squashed on the way!

Now a Birthday meal in a lovely restaurant on the seafront

Day 4 - We find some sort of artwork exhibition in the nearby Culture Park.

There are old suitcases placed into the rocks, no idea what it's all about.

Raining today, as we approach the small market in the park

Pomegranates are in season,

and there's plenty to go around.

If you want a wedding dress come to Turkey.

There are tons and tons to choose from and they are all fabulously gorgeous.

We were invited inside one of the wedding shops

to get a closer look. How could Yasi and I refuse?

Next we talk Alan into vising a Turkish barber near to our hotel.

We were in there two hours watching, it was very very entertaining!

Alan even got steamed, amongst various other things

that they did to him! Too numerous to mention. He was very brave.

Thursday 24th November... Day 5-6

Today we were all on the move again. Alan sat in the front passenger seat and directed us the scenic route 60 miles south to Kusadasi. Our hotel this time was right next to the marina. The hotel was disappointing but the views from the room were great. No time was wasted, we checked in and then straight out for a walk down the promenade to Bird Island.

Day 5 - Our view from the hotel room. Marina to the right.

First photo opportunity

Hand of Peace sculpture.

There seems to be a bit of a bird thing going on here.

Viking Sky cruise ship in port today

Shaaaaaaaark

More unusual statues, cat, fish, stool

Alan takes a rest on the stool

Just past the port we reach Bird (Pigeon) Island.

The island is a place of birds during seasonal migration.

Byzantine castle on Bird Island

No birds here today though...

....just visitors

Into the old town now, big mosque

Lunch al fresco, Efes beer

Rose wine for the ladies

Day 6 - Excitement as we visit Ancient Ephesus,

one of Turkey's main tourist attractions.

The main street leading to the ancient harbour

The rain just about holding off for us in this

vast and fascinating place

Alan acting out a scene on stage in the Great Theatre

Will Yasi give him the thumb up, or the thumb down?

Some Japanese tourists arrived and began singing

More arches along the way

Decorative and crumbling column tops

on the ground these days

This is the Celsus Library... a big wow moment

Selfies time while we split up and wander about a short while

Dean and Yasi looking around inside the Library

Relics and Relatives

Close up hugs

Ancient latrines.... Yikes, a bit nippy in winter

The Temple of Hadrian, he gets around a lot

Another temple here.

I've lost track of what I was looking at by now.

...and another street to walk upwards this time

The Goddess Nike!

Now we know where the Nike 'tick' logo comes from.

Time for a pose from Dean, or is it a song?

Wow! Yasi showing off her Samson strength

What's this here? Not sure

I found these three ancient statues on their very own plinths

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus

After finishing off the sights of Ephesus we had some time left on the way back to Kusadasi to stop off at the Camlik Steam Locomotives Open Air Museum (that's quite a mouthful). It was getting cold so we only had a quick whistle stop look around for half an hour or so. Plus, we were starving by now. I've never seen so many steam engines in one place in my whole life. It was quite impressive. Here's the photos...