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<\/a> Our hostel in Istanbul was very ‘casual’ in its signage.\u00a0 That means that there WAS no sign, just a little sticker on the doorbell.<\/p>\nWe took three and a half days there to see the Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque, as well as some palaces and bazaars.\u00a0 Two highlights were the corn on the cob vendors that we found on every corner, and the chewy Turkish ice cream.\u00a0 Hard to describe, but we think it is due to the fact that the ice cream vendors stir and work the ice cream with big long sticks ALL day.\u00a0 It is kind of typical for our highlights to be edible…<\/p>\n
We also spent a lot of time wandering along the seaside, where Seth was fascinated by the life-size symbols designating the bike path.<\/p>\n Next we took an overnight bus to the beach town of Marmaris.\u00a0 We had heard that overnight bus trips in Turkey were no picnic, and we still have some bad memories from our bus trips in Laos and Thailand, but we didn’t really have a choice as they don’t have train lines to the south and air travel is either inconvenient or expensive.\u00a0 So we equipped ourselves with a travel pillow (Seth) and earplugs (Claire) as well as copious snack food, and set out.\u00a0 Even with these supports, it was still a trial.\u00a0 The bus was full, the trip lasted 13 hours, we discovered too late there was no bathroom on the bus, and the Turkish people were SO excited to practice their English, even at 3am.\u00a0 Claire tried to make a subtle hint that it was a lot harder to speak in another language when you are exhausted, but the Turkish man replied, ‘But I will try!’…<\/p>\n We arrived here, and immediately felt that it was all worthwhile.\u00a0 Our arrival coincided with the regional folk dancing festival, which was fun and educational, as neither of us knew what Turkish dancing was.\u00a0 It started with a big parade, and finished with the ‘dance off’ in an outdoor amphitheatre.\u00a0 The instruments were really cool, like a bagpipe that looked like it was recently a sheep, and the dancing was at times boring military marching, but at other times exciting, knife-wielding, river dance stomping extravagance.<\/p>\n Other than the festival, we have spent the time on scooters or bikes exploring the coast, swimming, and relaxing in the sun.\u00a0 It is lucky that we have the bikes, because we have had to travel a distance to find beaches with room to put a towel.\u00a0 Of course, any beach is public and free to use, so feel free to put your towel wherever you want, however if you want to use a sunbed you will have to pay!<\/p>\n The highlight in Marmaris is, for once, not edible.\u00a0 However, it eats a lot.\u00a0 I think the picture will suffice.\u00a0 Fat Cat.\u00a0 The favoured pet at our guesthouse here.\u00a0 It is worth mentioning that all the other 10 cats that hang around here have a combined weight that may be less than this one cat.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> One nearby beach…I guess you could put your towel under the chairs…<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n