Update from Antalya Busstation

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We're in a net cafe in the Antalya bus station... partially because we wanted to check our

emails to make sure we still have flights home (we do!) and partially because we cant seem

to leave the busstation or sit on the grass outside - both resulted in policemen firmly telling us

(well communicating to us, as they didnt speak english) that what we were doing was

wrong!! Have since figured out that we can leave out a different gate but lost the inclination

to do so... Also trying to figure out why they bother metal-detecting us as we come through

the doors but then letting us through despite having metal in our bags/on our persons!!



Anyway... back to the point - letting you know where we're at and what we're up to right...


Boat cruise from Fethiye to Olympus was a bitve a mixed bag but definately enjoyed it...

Two nights before we left, Turkey was lucky to experience its first rain in 8mnths... And it was

a big stormy kinda rain... this persisted on and off for the first two days (on and off) of the

boat trip, resulting in us covering 80%!o(MISSING)f the distance we had to cover by night 2... remaining

days we had delightful hot sun, lotsve intermittent swimming and soaking up the sun (did i

hear right that there was a 'stay-out-of-the-sun-high-uv-day warning a week or so ago in nz?)

Rest of time was spent eating good food (though strange eating proper meals from a plate at

first), and conversing with our boat-mates! Cabins were farrr to hot and didn't sleep too well

however - even out on the deck which was a lot better!

Quick Summary of our boat companions:

Bill & Caroline: Lovely Canadian couple, who filled in as our substitute Grand Parents, and

happen to have a daughter who lives in Le Bons Bay, Akaroa!!

Timo and Alyne (sp?): Really cool couple who live in Istanbull, he instructs windsurfing

and snowboarding, is an excellent haggler, she works in the bank...

David, Georgia, Dan and Ben: American family on their long journey home from

Mongolia, where they have lived for 7 years - David teaching pharmicutical english, volentraly,

and there through the church. Dan and Ben: 9 and 7 resectively just loved a big playmate

(Alex) and added some variety to the trip.... and a lotttttttttt of questions about Superman,

Batman and Spiderman!


As you can imagine it was a very mixed bunch and let to no end of interesting situations and

conversations (don't mention Harry Potter!) Few pics from the offical site can be found here



Last night we stayed in a 'treehouse' (more like a cabin really) in Olympus, got dissapointed

at the lack of the promised 24hour hot water (that seems to be a reoccuring theme!), enjoyed

a warm swim at the local beach, and a warmer dinner (part of the accom package), before

heading off to enjoy what I think was the definate hightlight of the evening! The Chrimera!

This amazing local feature is gas coming out of the side of a hill and combusting with upon

contact with oxygen!! Was truely breathtaking... we could have sat and watched them for a

long time!!

This morning was spent exploring the ruins of ancient olympus, a swim or 3, and then heading

here - Antayla... now waiting for bus that takes us to Istanbull!!



Lots of love to everyone!! Apoligies for dominating this entry... Lex is sitting beside me

entrapped in her latest book exchange book - Brigdet Jone's diary, i'll try to get her to say a

few words...actually its the second bridget book 'the edge of reason'!! last few days have

been fun...swimming heaps, hope ez doesnt tamper with my comment like he ALWAYS does,

its like reverse plagerism,love to everyone.... alex and ez

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Photos

Ez
Lining up his next dip

Lex
In water

Lex
On Sempatik

Together
On Sempatik

Sempatik Voyagers
Parting ways

Olympus ruins
Lex really likes Arches

Olympus ruins
Ez

Olympus ruins
Amazing Mosaics