Evening of Day 121, Isparta SERVAS Visit

Delightful Isparta SERVAS Visit

We arrived in Isparta late in the afternoon, but too early to present ourselves at our host's home.  It is Friday afternoon.  School is out, mid-day prayer is over, people are shopping, going home, and the streets are busy as we drive through town looking for a grocery store.  Eventually, we leave the city center and find a small market where we pickup some bread, cheese, fruit, and cookies to bring to our hosts along with a few small house gifts.

Earlier we had found the house, and after our trip to the grocery, we found it again easily, parked and rang the doorbell.  Our host Ugur said he would be working all day (middle school English teacher) and would be home at 5:00.  We arrived at 5:30.  Our host opened the door, a bit surprised that we had found his home without some phone directions, but still very welcoming.  He introduced himself and his mother Afife.

We spent a delightful evening with our new Turkish friends, learning about one another and discovering as we always do with our SERVAS visits that people around the world are more alike than dissimilar. We love our SERVAS visits because it keeps us grounded in the best of humanity, generosity, and kindness.  Our host Ugur took us out to dinner at a local restaurant where we enjoyed soup, Turkish Pizza, and kebabs.  The food and conversation was wonderful.

Afife was a lovely lady and when we returned home, she presented me with three scarves, one for me and two for our daughter and daughter-in-law.  She and I both took great pleasure as she demonstrated how to wear the scarf.  We had a good time.

The following morning, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast.  Afife grew up on a goat farm, and shared with us goat butter for our toast.  It was very tasty. We learned through Ugur's translation that Afife was sad that she could not understand or contribute to our English conversation.  I remembered that I had an app on my I-pad that could record in one language, and provide an oral translation in another.  We tried it out, and it worked fairly well.  The syntax of English and Turkish is quite different and because names in Turkish have meaning, for instance Afife (means a moral woman), the names color the translation. Ugur still needed to do some translation, but the conversation now became more participatory. Technology is really amazing.

After breakfast, Ugur guided us out to lake Ada, the second biggest lake in Turkey and much like our lake Tahoe.

Set in a bowl of large surrounding mountains which are home to ski areas in the winter, the lake changes colors from blue, green, and grey depending on the light and cloud cover.  We drive to a lookout where we have great views and enjoy a light lunch and Turkish Tea in a little cafe where we share a table with a lady from London who travels considerably and lives in Turkey.

After tea, we took our leave with a brief stop at lake level on the island connected with a land bridge, and returned to Isparta just before 3:00 pm.

We said our goodbyes to Ugur and Afife.  Ugur was driving his mom to his sister's home for a late afternoon tea, and we were off to Aspendos.  We had a wonderful visit and are grateful to SERVAS for opportunities like this to meet and make new friends all over the world.

All is Well with the Worrall Travel R's in Turkey

Days 122-123, Aspendos and on to Anamur

Day 122 - Aspendos, Turkey

The area of Belak on the Aegean Coast is in the midst of dozens of world class golf courses.  The entire coast line for miles is blocked from public view by gated greens and fancy clubs.  Belak is set up as high end tourist area for golfers and shoppers.  Our little hotel was a little budget class place off the highway.  A round of golf here begins at 130 Euro.  Immediately we decided we would pass on the golf.  We can only imagine how much the golf hotels were charging for the rooms.

As much fun as a game of golf would be, we are here to see the ruins .  Aspendos is a 500 BCE city that was contested between Greeks and Persians until surrendering to Alexander the Great in 333 BCE.  After that, the Romans took possession 190 BCE  Through the centuries, the theater of Aspendos, stayed nearly complete after it was rebuilt by two rich brothers, and kept intact by payments made to the victors by the vanquished to not destroy their city.

Aspendos theater is the best, oldest, well preserved theater of the ancient world.  It is magnificent.  One can only imagine the stories of people, performances, intrigue, surrounding ruins, and battles that  the theater could tell if it could speak.

The views from the mountain looking down on the ruins of the city gates and aquaeducts, and current day agriculture is mellow in the fall sun.

Not much else in Aspendos is as grand or intact as the theater.

Day 123 - Heading southeast to Anamur

We drove along the coast, by the sea and through the mountainsides, overlooking the Aegean Sea.  This must be the banana belt of Turkey.  We pass groves of open and green-housed banana trees.  Finally, we stop at a roadside stand and by a bunch of slightly green bananas to snack on.  Yum!

In Anamur, we are staying in the Luna Piena Hotel.  Our room is on the fifth floor and we have a lovely view of the beach and sea.  As soon as we get this blog posted, we are off for a walk.

All is well with the Worrall Travel R's in Anamur Turkey.

Snow in Turkey? Nope! Day 121, Pamukkale, Turkey

October 9, 2014, Day 121.

The white mountain glistens in the fall sunlight,  but it isn't snow!  Covered in limestone flowstone, this mountain is one of the natural wonders of the world.  Water flow is not as abundant as it used to be, so man made efforts channel water to different areas to keep the flow stone moist, and some of the pools full.  It is beautiful now, but it must have been exquisitely beautiful when it was very wet.

The small pools and the natural patterns of water flow build up create patterns and designs that only nature can do.  Fascinating.

The water flowing over the white stone is crystal clear after the sediment drops to the bottom.  Russ and I hiked to the top of the mountain, barefoot!

 No shoes are allowed.  We thought it would be slippery, but surprisingly not.  The water running over the limestone heats up over the day and it is bathwater warm.  Our feet were amazingly clean, and had the same post-pedicure feel of softness.  Amazing experience.  See this site for more info: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamukkale

On top of the mountain behind the flowstone is a plateau of the Hieropolis, another ancient city of ruins.  The city above this white mountain must have been quite a sight in the 1st and 2nd center CE.

Now even though the ruins are interesting, they take second seat to the llimestone mountain.  For more information on Heriopolis, here is a link: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierapolis

Today we are heading to Esparta and staying with a SERVAS Host for the night.  

All is well with the Worrall Travel R's in Pamukkale, Turkey

Aphrodesia, Turkey....Wow, Day 120

Aphrodesia rising from the sea foam on a shell.

Wednesday, October 20, 2014 - Day 120

We left Marmaris, Turkey, this morning and are now in Pumakale, Turkey, where the famous white limestone mountains are located.  On our way, we took a detour to Afordedsia (Aphrodesia), Turkey. Wow!  This is the best of all of the sites we have seen!

The marble relief and abundant sculptures found at this site are beautiful.

Noses and other body parts are hacked off of statues by crusaders

The Three Graces

The stadium was spectacular in size and in our imagination of how it was, seating 30,000 people for chariot events, competetions, and gladiators.  

Ths city was dedicated to Aphrodesia, who purportedly arrived from the foam of the sea in a shell.  She is the goddess of love and beauty.  The Romans built a huge temple and city to honor her.  

From a historical standpoint, the Emporer Tiberious aligned himself with Aphrodesia here, thus elevating himself as the first emporer to be a god.  I think this must have been the beginning of where the devine right of the Emporers and Monarchy began.....all on a fable, the grand delusion of one (man) being elevated over the rest of us guided by the devine.  I could spout off about this, but it would be politically impolite.  

Tomorrow we visit the White Mountains.

We also heard from DIVERBO today, and have been accepted as volunteers at their language institute in the Black Forest from November 9-14.  Originally, we were going to be in UK from October 28 until we returned stateside in mid-November, but now we will travel back to Germany for a week before heading to Vermont.  Another exciting opportunity.  Life is so much fun!

Cheers!

All is Well with the Worrall Travel R's

Http://worrallwind.blogspot.com

Days 118-119, Rhodes, Greece and Day of Rest

Tuesday, October 7, 2014, Day of Rest

We are once again in Marmaris, Turkey after a day excursion yesterday to Rhodes, Greece.  Our plan today.....nothing...except a little laundry and lounging by the pool.  We leave again tomorrow morning, so we have a little travel planning to do as well.

Monday, October 8, 2014, Day 188 - Ancient Rhodes - A DETOUR TO GREECE

Rhodes is a Greek Island only an hour away on a fast ferry 18 kilometers southwest of Turkey, and 460 kilometers southeast of Athens.   Our plan was to visit the ruins of the Acropolis of Monte Smith and Apollo Temple on the Agean Sea side of the island and explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of the old walled city.

We arrived early enough at 10:00 am to accomplish our plan, but were thwarted by a long wait through passport control.  The ferry held several hundred people, most from the EU but about as many from Turkey, USA, Canada, and none EU countries.  There were three windows, 2 for EU, 1 for non-EU.  Once the EU folks were processed, the other windows opened for the rest of us.  By the time we got out of the terminal it was 11:45!  Ouch!  Our ferry would return to Mararmis at 4:30 and if the check in back to Turkey requiring Visa proof was anything like the check-out then we should return about 3:30, leaving less than 4 hours for exploration. Unfortunateley, we had to shave off a part of the plan.

Deciding to just explore the walled city of Rhodes, we set off, enjoying one of the most beautiful old cities in the world.  Many and different civilizations have all left their mark on the island.  "The imposing Medieval Castle, through which the life of the old City unfolds, the Byzantine temples, the Knights' buildings, the stone paved streets, the mosques, the Jewish synagogue, the orthodox churches, the squares, traditional shops, all come together with their different cultures and civilizations, forming a complex mosaic." Tourist Brochure

Rhodes Town is the Knights Capital.  The grand master's palace is starkly grand and beautiful with high arched ceilings, massive stone hearths, courtyard, and well preserved floor mosaics.

The streets of Rhodes are made of flat sided river rocks, but set in the sand tightly sideways, making walking a bit difficult.

Narrow alleys with buttressed arches keep the buildings from toppling during earthquakes.  All of it is intriguing and picturesque.

The town is a busy sea port, a crossroads between the Mediterranean, Aegean, and the coasts of the Middle East.  The water is clear blue green and the coastline spectacular.

The Mythical Sirens Called this Boat on the Rocks

 Our day, albeit short, was an appetizer for more, and we will definitely need to return here in the future, for more relaxation....maybe on a boat!

All is Well with Worrall Travel R's by the pool in Marmaris, Turkey.