Syria and Turkey

Hi!

We have been quite slack in our blogging and have so many adventures that we couldn't possibly fit them all in, but I'll do my best...

Landing in Syria from Jordan our first stop was Damascus. We spent three nights there and had a really good time. We saw the alleged house where Annanais lived and had fun walking the streets that Saul/Paul would have walked. Other than that most of it was spent walking around the souq (a massive market a billion times bigger than Amidale's) and trying not to spend all our money. Some other excitements were watching an old story teller tell a story in Arabic, visiting an amazing mosque, Al went paintballing and many crazy and sometimes scary taxi rides. We left about half of our tour there and gained another 3 friends.

Next we visited some old Roman ruins and a had a bushcamp.

Now to the 17^th... Alex's birthday (although his silly wife forgot until about 10.30... oops!). We drove Krak de Chevalieres an old castle which was at one time occupied by Richard the Lionheart and his Crusaders. This was followed by a lovely all you can eat lunch.

From there we went to Allepo. We did a day tour of the city with a crazy little tour guide named Ahmed, who gave out bon bons (lollies) when we answered his questions correctly. He was a character and very insightful. Saw the inside of a bath house, old mental asylum and the citadel.

Al and I also accidental saw the inside of a brothel... I mistook it for our hostel and barged inside and I couldn't figure out why the man was so pushy and cranky at us for coming in... little did I know!

Onto Turkey, my favourite country of the tour! The instant change in landscape was amazing, from desserts and dry barren land to Mountains and green trees and rivers!

Our first stop was in Cappadoccia where we slept in caves. For the first night literally Al and I slept in a cave that we found and the two nights after that in a dorm room, still in a cave but nicely furnished. There are caves everywhere people just decided to build houses in the rocks and dug a few rooms out. Very cool.

We had a lovely dinner at a shop that sells carpets and spent an hour or so being walked through different types of carpets. Did you know that for a very fine carpet a lady can spend up to 2 years just on that one piece? Again we pushed away the urge to spend copious amounts of money and said no.

The next day we did a tour, highlights being funny rock formations that look a lot like penises (sorry but it's true) the an underground city which was amazing and exploring some of the caves.

That night was Turkish night, the bestest mostest funest night of the tour. We started out with dinner all you can eat and drink three courses, pretty much any drink you want and with amazing entertainment. Belly dancers, Turkish men dancers, story dances and a little dancing of our own, followed by more dancing and pool at a pub. The next day was very relaxed ready for a big drive to mount Olympus.

We stayed here in tree houses near the beach. The main reason for going was to see Mount Olympus, with its never ending fires that are always burning... very strange but cool.

Oludeniz was a relaxing few days at the beach. Volleyball, swimming, bowling, dancing, sitting and reading took up most of the time. Some of the group went paragliding which looked to be lot of fun.

Next was a big highlight... Ephesus. We stayed at a caravan park (lots of the older folk got their knickers in knot when they saw a big yellow truck full of young people pull up, but after they saw that we were very responsible they got over it) and explored the ruins of Ephesus the next day. By this time in the trip chess had become a major time consumer and there was always a game going on.

From here it was sadly our last bushcamp and then a drive to Gallipoli... An amazing experience and day. I never imagined I would feel so emotional being there. We had a great guide who knew a heap about it. The landscape was so beautiful it was hard to imagine the absolute horrors that went on there. It would have to be right up the top of trip highlights. I strongly recommend it to anyone who has the means.

To Istanbul where the tour officially finished. We had our last beers and dinners and dances and said our goodbyes. In amongst this was the saga of the camera lens which Alex can tell you in detail on request...

We saw the Blue Mosque which was definitely a highlight, beautiful interior.

We saw our first rainfall and 5 weeks and I shot my first ever gun... A hand gun. It was exhilarating and I'm considering giving up my idea of nursing to join the police force :-)

It was very sad to leave so many great friends, but promises of catching up later in the year made it easier.

So after that very long winded explanation (which probably left out half the things we did anyway) I will say that's all for now.

Al and I are doing as much of eastern Europe as we can before we meet Carly in two weeks and we are catching lots of trains and have lost a lot of sleep but are having a really nice time.

More on that next time...

Much love to all.

Alex shot and dead outside of the castle...


Allepo City tour... I got a bon bon for helping him hold the map :-)


Damascus Mosque


Mmmm.... So much Baklava


George and I in old olive oil vats


Ruben in the underground city


Turkish night


Beautiful Turkey


Ephasus, Al is in the middle of the stage


Mt Olympus