Turkey Day 7 - (3/16)
Late night last night as we hit the hotel nightclub. Started off around 8-10 people, then dwindled down to 4 by the end. Very fun. Bulent got then to switch to more local music than Europop. Cindy and Don started some Armenian dance that they used to do at family reunions. Really enjoyable until Monica fell. Given her back surgery and problems walking, I’m not sure what possessed her to get up and dance. Anyway, that ended the folk dancing part of the night, but there was modern dancing on the bar a little later. I had to talk drunken Melissa and Heather out of waking up Bulent at 2am. Not sure if they wanted to thank him, ask him about the next day, or what. Funny how the young ‘ins all had to sleep on the bus the next day. I didn’t.
Stop off at the local leather place first, where we were greeted with a touristy fashion show. Fun, and Jessica and I got pulled up on the stage to help. Some hideous tribal-looking coat, I think. I’m sure there are pictures. It was kind of fun, and helped get me a reputation with group when combined with last night’s escapades. Some of the jackets were very nice and European in style, so of course I bought one. :) Fabric is supposed to be some kind of shaved leather – Polent.. something or other. Lighter than regular leather of other varieties.
Day trip to Bodrum. The time in the bus is really getting tiresome – 2 ½ hours each way today. The weather was crappy in the morning, but cleared up while we were having lunch in Bodrum Good food this time, and of course a connection. I think the restaurant owner was a cousin of friend of the owner of the tour company. Whatever.
First, an old fort that was constructed by various European countries during the Crusades. Quite impressive, and hopefully some good pictures of Bodrum from the top of the towers. Lots of walking and up and down stairs.
After the fort most walked to the Mausoleum – one of the original Wonders of the Ancient world. Walk, walk, walk, and through small streets in what looked light a neighborhood. When we got there, there was little to see, and even the size/scope of the place was diminished by all of the buildings around it (and on ground that used to be part of it). Many artists rendering of what it is thought to have looked like originally, but no one knows.
Another long drive back in the bus, then Jessica suggested we go off site for dinner. A great idea. It was going to be more of a casual thing, but we asked Bulent, who of course stepped in to help organize and ended up going. Nice dinner at a local seafood place (The Secret Garden”). Only disappointment was that I wanted to try to deal with the menu in Turkish myself and muddle through – instead Bulent took care of it all. Food was good – Octopus appetizer and probably the best calamari I’ve ever had. Then we stopped in the “James Dean Bar” on the way back to the hotel. I think this was what Bulent was suggesting at dinner the previous evening. Staff were fun and funny. Some bartender flair. People were tired (and had to pack tonight) though, so we held it to one drink.
Picture upload thing looks broken. Will try again later.
Stop off at the local leather place first, where we were greeted with a touristy fashion show. Fun, and Jessica and I got pulled up on the stage to help. Some hideous tribal-looking coat, I think. I’m sure there are pictures. It was kind of fun, and helped get me a reputation with group when combined with last night’s escapades. Some of the jackets were very nice and European in style, so of course I bought one. :) Fabric is supposed to be some kind of shaved leather – Polent.. something or other. Lighter than regular leather of other varieties.
Day trip to Bodrum. The time in the bus is really getting tiresome – 2 ½ hours each way today. The weather was crappy in the morning, but cleared up while we were having lunch in Bodrum Good food this time, and of course a connection. I think the restaurant owner was a cousin of friend of the owner of the tour company. Whatever.
First, an old fort that was constructed by various European countries during the Crusades. Quite impressive, and hopefully some good pictures of Bodrum from the top of the towers. Lots of walking and up and down stairs.
After the fort most walked to the Mausoleum – one of the original Wonders of the Ancient world. Walk, walk, walk, and through small streets in what looked light a neighborhood. When we got there, there was little to see, and even the size/scope of the place was diminished by all of the buildings around it (and on ground that used to be part of it). Many artists rendering of what it is thought to have looked like originally, but no one knows.
Another long drive back in the bus, then Jessica suggested we go off site for dinner. A great idea. It was going to be more of a casual thing, but we asked Bulent, who of course stepped in to help organize and ended up going. Nice dinner at a local seafood place (The Secret Garden”). Only disappointment was that I wanted to try to deal with the menu in Turkish myself and muddle through – instead Bulent took care of it all. Food was good – Octopus appetizer and probably the best calamari I’ve ever had. Then we stopped in the “James Dean Bar” on the way back to the hotel. I think this was what Bulent was suggesting at dinner the previous evening. Staff were fun and funny. Some bartender flair. People were tired (and had to pack tonight) though, so we held it to one drink.
Picture upload thing looks broken. Will try again later.
posted by pantherman at 10:46 PM
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