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Published: October 6th 2008
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Sunrise vies from our Ferry
Our early morning ferry to the Asian side of Turkey to make our way to Troy & Selcuk DAY 2: Selcuk via TROY
I was attacked………by giant mosquitos!!!
I survived my first morning of camping. Groggily I woke up after a somewhat restless nights sleep for absolutely crazy 5am start. The first thing I noticed as I rubbed my face was all the lumpy bits around my eyes and forehead. I nearly died - There were 6 in total and they were all the size of 10 cent pieces covering my face. I was attacked by a troop of mosquitoes in my sleep, making me look like a giant toad covered in warts. (Not a pretty description I know - but what else can I think of when waking up in a tent covered in bites?)
I don’t remember much from the previous night other than the fact that I had spent a vast majority of my time trying desperately to stop wriggling around in my sleeping bag in an attempt to get a somewhat decent nights rest, conscious that my movements might wake up my tent partner, thereby probably making me move around even more.
Not surprisingly - I was running late as I madly tried to get my morning cleaning ritual underway, whilst
desperately trying to stuff my very large sleeping bag into its very small case. (I’m sure I will be an expert before this trip is out - but how do the makers of these things expect mere mortals to do this quickly without the aide of a vacuum is beyond me!!). Like a maniac I ran around trying to wolf down my breakfast of cold cereal and lukewarm coffee, wash my face & bush my teeth, pack up my tent and finally drop off my backpack to be stowed in the truck. It was my groups turn to do the washing up - but I was certainly not around to be of any assistance to anyone this morning - Oh well. Ce la vie….I’ll be better at this tomorrow.
Troy The only thing I knew about Troy was what I saw from the movie with Brad Pitt & Eric Bana...which goes to say not much about the real thing....We got to Troy sometime in the early morning. We didn't have a tour guide of the ruins - so we were essentially given free time to wander around. I knew it was a bad sign that the first thing I
saw upon entering the ruins was a giant trojan horse. You couldn't get any more kitsch - unless the souvenir stand started selling DVD's of the movie itself.
Without a guide book, location map or any prior knowledge of the area itself - other than the few commentary guide posts located in certain strategic points throughout the site, it was very difficult to get a true picture of how this area was used by the populations that built them. Additionally when you compare the ruins of Troy to that of other areas of Turkey and other countries in the Middle East - it hardly rates as a destination at all.
A tight squeeze Driving through Turkey is relatively straightforward (or so it seemed to me as a passenger). However halfway through our drive we seemed to deviate inwards towards a very residential part of some of Turkey's outer towns. We were all confident that Mike (our tour driver) knew what he was doing so instead we amused ourselves by waving at the very stunned locals as they sat out the front of their doorsteps or in cafes watching a big blue truck full of tourists drive through their
Reece our Tour Leader
Reece attempting a jump to the roof our our truck (whilst in motion) to save the overhead electrical cables very narrow streets.
It became obvious very quickly that we were not traveling as smoothly as we had hoped. Essentially we were stuck. The highway that we were traveling on seemed to disappear - it seemed that the local authorities had decided to undertake road works to both sides of the highway, leaving all traffic on either side to deviate through the local towns, without letting the town's people know to remove their cars to allow for buses and for us - large trucks.
As a result, Reece (our tour leader) was forced to sit on top of the truck to direct Mike through the narrow streets, at some points having to ensure that our antennae didn't get caught in the overhead electrical cables or having to apologise to the locals when sections of the truck bumped into the upper windows of the local residents.
It took some maneuvering on Mike's part to get us through without doing damage to any of the parked cars, local buildings or pedestrians keen to help out or sticky beak in our predicament but a little later than anticipated - we were finally on our way to our final rest stop
Eager school children
The kids during their lunch break - surprised and caught off guard by the arrival of the big blue truck for the night - the town of Selcuk, our base to visit the ruins of Ephesus.
DAY 3: The ruins of Ephesus & town of Selcuk
CCT...Our new group motto...Come Close Together!!
I didn't camp last night...Yippie!! Instead - true to form, I told Reece that anytime there was the option for an upgrade to an actual room, he could automatically count me in. So when we arrived at our destination - Attila's Getaway, I instantly put my hand up for one of the, optional upgrade rooms and settled in nicely for the night (with all the comforts of a bed, four walls, a window and NO mosquitoes).
We were picked up later that morning by our tour guide to be taken to the ruins of Ephesus. It was there that we met our tour guide - whom we later dubbed "CCT" for us continuous use of the phase "CCT please group. Come close together!!", whilst drooling and spitting at the same time. He was a funny old man who was eager to tell us his version of history - in some cases leaving us a little concerned about the historical accuracy of his details
and also amused by his constant reference to the lesbians & whore houses of Ephesus (something he obviously felt was of vital importance to our understanding of the area).
The city of Ephesus was founded sometime between 1500-1000 BC with all the trappings of a modern Roman and Greco city such as an amphitheatre, agora, public bath houses & toilets and numerous monuments to various emperors. Most of these ruins have been wonderfully preserved over a large area, especially the library dedicated to Celsus Polemeanus,
I couldn't miss out on providing some interesting facts for you all about Ephesus - so according to the internet here you go...
1. Ephesus is considered one of the greatest outdoor museums of turkey
2. Before rich people used the public toilets, their slaves sat & heated the toilet stone for their masters.
3. The facade of the Celsus Library has 2 stories - but the inside facade has 3 stories because of the original architecture.
4. The first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary is in Ephesus
5. The town of Ephesus was originally a seaport but is now over 6 miles away from the sea.
6. The Ancient city
Street of Columns
The main street of Ephesus of Ephesus was rebuilt 4 times throughout history. The Ephesus we walked around was the 3rd city.
7. The first advertisement of antiquity which shows the way to the brothel is on the marble street in Ephesus ie the footprint.
Attila's Getaway Retreat The groups are starting to form and everyone is now starting to let their hair down (some more than others..). We were going to be staying here for two nights. A perfect chance to do some washing and not have to think about packing up my backpack. We all gathered around the pool bar & lounge chairs later that night for a good getting to know you chat, combined with lots of alcohol & some nargileh (sisha pipe, hubbly bubbly - whatever you want to call it).
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Jules
non-member comment
Day 2 and you are in a room............
Dearest Chris I had higher hopes for you I really did, my fingers and toes were crossed. I envisaged you as a seasoned camper engaged in who can put up the tent fastest competitions and teaching others how to get the sleeping bag in the cover very fast tricks - just like putting together a Pickfords box in 20 seconds. Lets have a small wager I will buy you a cocktail of choice even 2.......... if can you do 15 days straight in a tent???? Love and kisses JB