Hotel A Side, Manavgat, Turkey (day 4)

Today we decided to become a little more adventurous and take one of the small local buses, a dolmus ( pronounced dalmoosh), to a small pine forest just along the coast at Sorgun. Asking for advice at our hotel reception which bus we needed to catch and where from resulted in us and the receptionist both baffled. So we walked up to the main road and Angela decided we'd ask for help at the reception of the five star, (our hotel is only three), Side Prensis Hotel. They could only tell us to sling our hook! But no, the security lady, who no way was letting us in the hotel fetched another member of staff who despite speaking about as much English as we do Turkish flagged a dolmus down for us. Our adventure had begun.

Arriving at the local bus station we had the choice of a camel or a bus, but decided on the bus. Now we only had to board the second dolmus to reach our destination.

Arriving at the pine forest we were on our own, none of the paths were clearly marked so we just set off. It was nice to leave the noisy busy seafront and old town of Side.

It was also nice to breath fresh air. A packet of cigarettes is around two pounds here, and everyone seems to smoke. In amongst the pine trees a few families barbecued. Evidence of previous barbecues were everywhere.

(tidy littering)

The amount of rubbish strewn amongst the trees was terrible. Including metal skewers used for cooking meat. We couldn't get our head around why the local people would spoil one of the few green spaces in the area like this. With no real plan we walked, and walked. It was hot, very hot and Angela was flagging. Eventually we reached the beach area, bought cold drinks and set off walking along the beach back towards the pick up point for our return dolmus. All along the seafront huge hotel complexes towered. All had private beaches. At one point we were asked to leave the beach by a security man. Eventually we found our way back leaving the private beaches to men in swimming trunks stretched tightly over stomachs full of 'all inclusive', and woman who whose itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikinis slipped into crevices they should have been covering.

An early night tonight after yet another Chinese meal, as tomorrow we have an early start. We are excited about our trip out. It will be nice to leave the coast and venture into the nearby Taurus mountains where hopefully there will be no minimalist swimwear to offend our eyes!

Hotel A Side, Manavgat, Turkey (day 3)

Superb meal out last night at the nearby Chinese restaurant. Of course we're returning there again this evening!

Once again this morning we made a complaint at reception about the noise from the room next to us, only to be given the joyful news that the couple checked out at 2 am to catch an early flight. Thank God.

(In the Side language, "Side" means "pomegranate." The pomegranate has always been depicted as the city's symbol and emblem on coins and monuments throughout various periods.) 

(Marble Balustrade Panel with Ixion's Punishment. In Greek mythology, Ixion was king of the Lapiths. After his marriage he did not pay the bride's price, so his father-in-law stole some of Ixion's horses in retaliation. Ixion concealed his resentment and invited his father-in-law to a feast where he murdered him. Everyone refused to perform the rituals that would cleanse Ixion of his guilt (catharsis), however, Zeus had pity on Ixion and brought him to Olympus and introduced him at the table of the gods. There, Ixion grew lustful for Hera. Zeus found out about his intentions and made a cloud in the shape of Hera, and tricked Ixion into coupling with it. From the union of Ixion and the false-Hera cloud came the race of Centaurs. Ixion himself was blasted with a thunderbolt and thrown from Olympus. Zeus ordered Hermes to bind Ixion to a winged fiery wheel that was always spinning; only when Orpheus played his lyre did it stop for a while. Later, he was transferred to Tartarus.) 

(The frieze blocks featuring Medusa were used in the Corinthian-style temple built for Apollo, one of the main gods of the city, in the 2nd century AD. Similar blocks can still be seen in their original positions in the partially restored temple structure today. Medusa, believed to turn people to stone with her gaze, is a mythological figure sometimes used as a protective element in temple and tomb structures.) 

With more to see over in Side old town we headed back to the ancient city to visit Side museum which is located in a well preserved Roman bathhouse opposite the imposing amphitheatre built in 9,000 AD.

Sadly the amphitheatre is closed to visitors as it is undergoing an extensive renovation. The museum however was both interesting and amazing and we spent quite a while there before we were sucked into the throngs of Germans who seem to dominate here.

All the restaurant staff and stall holders touting for business just assume we are sausage eating and beer drinking Europeans. Having been in Side now for a few days we are ready to venture a little further out, so we've booked a couple of excursions, one includes lunch out. Hopefully there won't be a sausage in sight!

Hotel A Side, Manavgat, Turkey (day 2)

The high light of yesterday's flight to Turkey was the spectacular view of the alps as we flew over them. It was amazing!  Today our first 'proper day' in Turkey meant we needed to walk out locally, source a supermarket, meet our travel rep, and complain about the very noisy couple in the room next to us who we have to suffer for another night until we can be moved to another room.

A long walk out took us along the seafront to the old town. We were surprised at just how busy it was.

Melting into the crowd we made our way to the site of the ancient Roman ruins which bizarely sat amongst modern day shops and flats. There was lots for us to see, but as the heat of the day built we began to flag a little deciding to return tomorrow to continue exploring. Why did we decide to visit Turkey you may ask. Purely because it is one of the destinations we can fly to from our local airport and we fancied some warm sunny weather. Oh, and they do nice kebabs here! 

Hotel A Side, Manavgat, Turkey

We're on our travels again. Margery isn't with us, but we've plans to take her somewhere soon.

An early start this morning, and as always with an early drive to the airport we didn't sleep well last night.

So this evening we're whacked, and even though it's only eight forty five in the evening at home, to us it feels later, which of course it is here, three hours later.

So here we are in Turkey, it's very warm, which of course is why we're here. After our shuttle bus dropped us in the dark at our hotel, our hearts sank. Where had we booked? The faces of our fellow travellers didn't reassure us. But no worries, once inside we were happy, it is a very nice hotel.

A walk into town this evening for some food and we soon felt settled. After hopefully a good night's sleep we are very much looking to walking out and exploring the area tomorrow.

Poole, Dorset

We couldn't go home without stopping for another walk out and more coffee and cake. So we took the short drive from our campsite down the coast to Hengisbury Head.

Autumn has well and truly established itself now, and as we walked among the trees the leaves of fiery orange, reds and purple looked beautiful. Sadly though our walk over, it was time to return home. Time to plan another holiday we think!