Shotgun!

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Turkey went up another notch! Hello from Cesme, a small village known for windsurfing and gum trees on the Aegean Sea! I flew into Izmir, and had a really funny travel day - Bon and I had been up all night since we had to go to the airport at 6a, so I arrived in the new city bleary eyed, but excited! As soon as i got on the plane, I got out my two favorite travel accessories: my eye/sleeping mask and pillow! I slept the entire way there and woke up surrounded by mountains and another crazy town! Ufuk had hooked me up with the information and reservations, and sure enough, when I got to Izmir, the Havas bus was there for me! They dumped me at a random spot and told a taxi to take me to the otogar (bus stop) at least I was hoping that was the transaction. My Turkish is still a little rusty! 😊 I got there right as a bus was leaving for cesme, but there were no seats left! The bus driver looked at my smiling and hopeful face and said something crazy in turkish, popped down the flip out shotgun seat, and pointed to it! The whole 2 hour ride I was cracking up at my luck - what an amazing view out those huge bus windows! The windsheild wipers were as big as my arms and we went over many mountains covered with trees! Beautiful! We stopped at a few places and I'd look around like, um, is this it? How about this one? Finally the driver was like, ok here u go, beach down that way down the hill! I found a hotel right away - small romm but a view of the sea and only $32/nt! Again, no shower curtain though...what's up with that? Yep, that's me, just showering in my bathroom, la la la la!

First think, I of course set out to do what I do best, exploring! I wandered around the city smiling at all the locals, window shopping, and trying to get lost in a town that's about the size of Lena, Wisconsin. 😊 I spent two days eating more delicious meatballs and yougart (seriously, how do they make that? Its like a cheese its sooooo good) and climbing up big hills to get the best views of the sea! Again, everyone was so nice and friendly, but now with a small town feel, so everyone in the neighborhood knew me by the 2nd day! There were lots of guys fishing, though not with poles, just a spool of line! They would set up 5-7 of them, put a rock to hold it in place, and sit at the cafes playing backgammon and drinking tea! Nice work! Oh and loved my breakfasts here - hard boiled egg, cucumbers, tomato, olives, and piece of white cheese - like feta but not as sharp! Perfect display of colors and deliciousness! Leaving cesme was the same good-bus-luck...bus wasn't allowed to take anyone else, but my big smile and hopeful expression made them cave in to let on just one more!! Just one more advantage to being a single serving buddy!

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Photos

View from the top of the castle
The island across the water is Chios, my second Aegean destination!