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Published: September 9th 2015
Arriving in Venice, in the morning we wasted no time in exploring the city, although the maps are useless, but you always seem to find your way eventually. 34+ years have been kind to Venice since I was last their the canals and waterways are pristine considering what they used to be like,we even saw large fish.
As always around every comer is a spectacular photo opportunity the Venezia city is so beautiful. Water taxis show the beautiful timber craftsmanship, and are busy toing and froing the tourists, handsome Italians manscaped, with their beards and well dressed in white linens and equipped with mobiles phones. Always having the time to check out the lady's. We loved just sitting on the sides of the Grand Canal just watching the world go by and observing, all that goes down. Gondolas punting the canals Gondoliers in their stripy shirts and straw boater hats, singing romantic songs for the loved up passengers. Expensive cafes on Piazza San Marko were the Italian parade like peacocks, they love to be seen. Sit chatting and sipping expressos and even indulging in high teas. Ah Venezia com ē sta bella . After a few days of parousing the fine
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Large vats of Chiantishops of glass and linens we press on and return to Millan and our flight to Athens Greece. Just a four day stop over as we really didn't know what to expect as of the financial problems, we didn't think we should stay long. Which was a shame as things had settled by the time we arrived. But only to find poor Athens suffering from the lack of tourists. Cutting prices in just about any shop just to get a cash sales, but still doesn't solve the problem as they are not giving out receipts so therefore not paying tax. But the Greeks by reputation will share with you their last, and hospitality and kindness always. The Greek people always go the extra mile and I have always loved the Greek people since living in Darwin, many of our friends were Greek and we have such fond memories of the traditional gatherings and mate ship that was offered us. We met a few gems in Athens and some quite unique ones too. One aged homeless man we saw each day sleeping on the street in what we called the students park, were the youth and the aged chatted about the
political events and day to day agendas. They drink cheap beer and wine. The air stank of Grass and everybody was chilled. Glen had sorted his back pack out and had jackets and shirts socks, asked the old man he he would like them. He was so happy,we saw him later wearing a shirt looking quite dapper. He had probably sold something's as we saw him out to lunch later. And Glen had put a couple of beers in the bag so he was as happy as Larry. We were told that nobody liked cameras in the student park so no photos. We took only one with permission that was of the eccentric couple in the 50s Louise and Apo short for Apostolic. Louise was from Manchester UK who's story was after working as a stock broker in London was burned out, she went to live in Lebanon and other various countries then arrived in Athens for Olympic Games 2004 and never left. She met Apo who "we weren't quite sure weather he was quite here or in the last century" But we chatted and learned their stories, we were invited to stay with them, but politely we declined said
that we were leaving the next day. But they were a couple of eccentrics , and we enjoyed their company even though not always in the moment, as to speak. We spent a day on one of the Islands before flying out of Athens and our journey on to Ismar Turkey. Arriving very late and so spent the night in a very lovely airport hotel. Collecting our rental car in the morning we drove to Selcuk a historical area, that the surrounding areas had a wealth of ruins and history. Selcuk were Saint John wrote the bible and later a Basilica was built and were his remains are Interred. Roman ruins along with UNESCO ancient wonder The Temple of Diana which basically has been destroyed thought the century's of wars. Also the city of Ephesus which is thousand of years old, different civilisation have left their mark on this ancient place. Turkish rugs and Jewellery, decorated painted pottery and lanterns can be purchased from the markets at Selcuk, restaurants line the streets selling Kababs and sweet delicacies.Onward to Pumbakkle the mineral site were you could bathe and sit in the water pools that cascade down calcium caked hills. Very touristy
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Piazza San Marko and not our cup of tea, but it is what it is, in my opinion tourism gone wrong and very much spoilt. The next day on the way to Konya we called at a historical site the ancient city Aphrodisias. Which was named after the goddess of Love Aphrodite. Konya a large modern city filled with busy markets and very large Mosques beautifully decorated and carved. Walking around the city people went about their daily business. Streets set out in a familiar pattern of all jewellers shops being together and all hardware shops each competing with one another. And grave stone shops with etched Mabel slabs propped up out side the shops waiting for purchase and inscription. A Central Park were people were taking sweet Turkish tea and children playing. Busy streets and the tea boys delivering ordered teas on a silver trays that are carried by a hook that suspends and supports the tray. When we left Konya and drove out of the city we saw even more apartment blocks that were being built for the expanding city.Industries that we could see as we have traveled through Turkey have been on the coast, tourism while traveling through the wheat
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St Marks Square belt and the orchards and massive marvel quarry's Turkey infrastructure is growing, and large road seem to be being built everywhere and new university's in every city it seems that Turkey is very much investing in its future.We seldom ever take motorways we stick to the back roads and travel as always through villages and small towns it probably takes twice as long but you see so much more, and people are more open to you. They ask were are you from, when you tell them they look very curious, and tell you no Australians ever came here before. Muslim women can be quite unsure but if they have children. I have found if you make friends with their children they are happy and respond to you, great ice breaker. As all mothers love you to be kind to their children and make a fuss.I love to take pictures of people but find it hard to ask, but if they are cooking I say do you mind me taking a photo. The response will be yes and somtime they will modestly cover their faces. We pass old people who work the fields and still ride cattle and donkeys and old
tractors.Their faces tell a million tales we wave and smile. The children wave and cheer while playing with old items they find. Climbing and running. They also help to pick fruit with the rest of the family. We have found wild Donkeys too.We visit Sultan Han Caravanserai which is as large stone building.The road that we have been traveling has been the ancient Silk Road which starts in Antalya on the north coast, and travels right the way through to Beijing in China. We have follow the road for most parts and the Caravanseri was a place were they stop to rest for a few days, beautiful stone carved building with a massive courtyard that surrounds a square of rooms and storage and protected like a fort amazing building with its eastern design carved stone arches.Landscapes change so much and no sooner you drive over a hill you greeted to different terrain. From vast plains of agriculture to orchards and hills of marble rocked quarry's.We started to travel into the gorges and hill side villages and closer to our next stop Cappadocia, this place is famous for its cone shape monumental rocks not unlike the Australian Bungle Bungles.We spent a
three days here enjoyed quad bike riding in the desert, Glen was in his element and we spent hours exploring the gorges and rock houses even saw a wedding, we had great fun and were covered head to toe in white dust. Our next adventure as we woke at 4am was to take a hot air balloon along with approx 150 other hot air balloons. And greet the sunrise of Cappadocia what a wonderful experience it was, a memory we shall never forget. And on landing greeted with champagne, and chocolate coated strawberries and a medal of our survival,sort of.North to the Black Sea and Inebolu 8 hours of driving and greeted with a thunder storm and rain that we hadn't seen in quite some time. And to the sad news of our Newcastle friend Bruce passing away. RIP Bruce.We traveled along the coast of the Black Sea up to Amasra a Turkish holiday port. Since we had hit the coast line of the Black Sea, we were so amazed at the lush pine forests and mountainous terrine also ski fields who would have thought it a compleat a surprise to us. We have also noticed the autumn leaves appearing
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Grand Canal on the trees and a chill in the mornings and evenings. Winter is coming me thinks, better find a warmer country?Today we travel into Istanbul for a week and what delights will be waiting for us?We shall tell in our next blog. To our friends and family In Newcastle our thoughts are with you in this sad time. All our love to you all Stay safe everyone and to all who are on your own adventure have a wonderful experience. Love The Cherries xxxxx
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Jane and Joe Walsh
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Hello from Newfoundland!
Hello Suzanne and Glen: we are still following you guys on your great adventure. We are in Newfoundland, Canada on another trip since the last time we met in Belfast. We will be in Canada for a while, driving down to Halifax, then on to Quebec City and Montreal. Then back to Athens, Ga. Always good to follow your blog. Take care, Joe and Jane