Rambles of a Rambler

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

Postcards of Antalya

The old town of Antalya, gorgeous. On the coast with spectacular views over the Med, cute small streets, they can be cute when you are on foot not when you are in a car. Spent the day wandering about. Huge thunder storms previous night, thunder storms again in afternoon.

The private beach, we really are spoilt in Australia aren't we.

Unlike any harbour Linquenda has been in.

Guard cat

At last clean shinny shoes

Lunchtime, lovely shady courtyard

No idea what I just clicked on here

What s garden tap

Not long before this goes, miracle this is still standing

Hamami time.

gorgeous buildings

Antalya

After roaming the ruins of Sagalassos we hopped in the car and headed to the coast arriving a couple of hours latter to the big smoke of Antalya. Our hotel in the old town , sounded such a good idea when we booked , then reality hit us. First, how to get in, an extra round of the block, boom gate that was down at entrance to old town then we realised we could go through, just get a ticket, let hotel deal with it. David navigating, what a fantastic job, Knud driving, also fantastic job. Roads, and I use this term lightly, actually more like ally ways got narrower and narrower , then joy of joys, there was our hotel. Quick unload of bags, grab a hotel guy to guide Knud to car park , book in, relax. Then explore

Our drugs of choice.

Spectacular evening sky, camera on this phone really doesn't do it justice.

What to do with drift wood

No idea who this is but he spent a lot og time out on the rocks posing, seemed such a pity not to take his photo.

Fire brigade had motor bikes, makes sense with the narrow streets, not sure how they will actually put out the fire though.

Sagalassos

Leaving Egirdir, short stop to visit the pharmacy, oh the joys of travel tummy,
then off we set towards Antalya.
Knud had read of a relatively new archeological dig the largest in the Mediterranean area so we took a slight detour to see Sagalassos.

looking down the valley from Sagalassos

Sagalassos settled by the Luwian in 3rd millennium BC, a chequered history with Greeks, Romans all passing through leaving their mark.
Economy of the city mainly based on agriculture. Bubonic plague ran through the place in 540AD, then a huge earthquake in 610AD decimated the population, 13th century the Seljuk's destroyed what remained. Site rediscovered in 1706 by Paul Lucas.
In 1990 with massive financial input by Belgium government and a few wealthy Belgians excavations were begun by the University of Leuven, Belgium.

The most amazing and special place, and we were the only ones there.

Sunday, 20 September 2015

Sille to Egirdir

Time to get moving , headed in a westerly direction , a day of mountain driving, passing through beautiful landscape.

sighting our first lake for the day

Team Duster , beside our hire car.

Coffee stop , smartest Turkish Coffee cups we have seen so far

Yesildag. Madam Garmin insisted we go this way , turn right, turn right, do we did. Goodness the places you find.

Belediyesi area.

Huge lake

Up over another mountain

Looking down towards Egirdir

Found our hotel Choo Choo out on the peninsular, wind blowing a gale, white tops on the lake.

Postcards

detail of gorgeous wall hanging in Sillehan Hotel

If you have an old toilet lying about here is am idea.

just being artistic

Sillehan Hotel

What a fantastic hotel this is. Our 1 night stay changed quickly to a 2 night stay. Habib & his wife have spent 10 years restoring this property, wonderful attention to detail.
Restaurant was up on the roof terrace, food wonderful plus the added bonus of very good live music both nights. Staff were gorgeous, so helpful and friendly.