We have a LOT of catching up to do! I like to try to stay current, more or less, with where we are on the blog, but when we are moving every day as we have been for the last week it can get hard. Or maybe I am just lazy...yes, that is probably it.
We wanted to take a short boat ride from the old harbor in Antayla, as that was the done thing there. First though, we planned to sit by the water and have a nice lunch, which we did. As we finished, however, the clouds were beginning to gather, looking more ominous.
We went down to the boat we hoped to take, but they were clearly not leaving soon. They directed us to another boat, and we bargained for a lower price and climbed aboard. We sat there- the only passengers, for about 15 minutes and the sky grew darker. They came to bring us to another boat that was supposedly leaving right away, but when we arrived, our fixer looked out to sea and said" oh god, oh god" and gave us our money back" from my heart", as he said. Big black clouds were right overhead, and even the boats that had recently left were turning back! We scooted back to our hotel, just as the thunder crashed and rain began to fall. No boat ride for us that day!
We were still anxious to go on the boat so we started off the first thing in the morning to find our boat- well, 10:00, actually.
We found a boat that was actually leaving soon, and it was twice the price as the day before, but I told jim that a boat that actually leaves at the time scheduled was worth the difference in money.
It was sunny, but still a bit chilly as we set off. It was a short trip - only about 45 minutes total, but we passed by a beautiful grotto that would be perfect for swimming in warmer weather.
There were just 8 of us aboard, two Canadians, two Americans ( us) and four Turks. They had started their party early, or maybe had just continued from the night before, but they were quite entertaining. There was an on board photographer and one couple, the woman in particular, gave him the most seductive poses imaginable. She didn't seem to be put off one bit by her boyfriends black and missing teeth!
We cruised along to place where, in warmer months they stop for swimming. Next thing we knew, one couple had stripped to their underwear and jumped in! It looked quite cold to us, but the guy with missing teeth gave me a big thumbs up as they climbed back onto the boat.
They seemed oblivious to the cold.
Finally they got dressed and turned up the music below deck for some fun dancing, which we, and the Canadians missed out on...they did make our short trip much more entertaining though!
On the way up the hill we passed the simit seller, and I had to buy one. They are sold on every other street corner in Turkey and are as ubiquitous as tea. They are a sort of harder bagel type bread covered in sesame seeds and are quite tasty.
But we needed to be on our way driving along the coast,so we reluctantly bade farewell to our lovely hotel and set off.
First stop- lunch!
We found a restaurant on the Main Street of the next town that seemed to have a lot of customers. Was it because of their famously long pida?? Jim seems to be contemplating if he can tackle this thing.
It was loooong! We managed to eat most of it.
Then there was the mandatory tea...you feel a bit rude when you refuse it.
And next a visit to the one and only tourist office we saw on the trip. They love Ataturk and have photos of him everywhere, as they also proudly display the Turkish flag. I found some useful information there.
My favorite cat photo, on the big E of Kemer, the town we were in.
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