Learning

This morning I had my first real bath in that tub.  Sadiye decided that it would be best to get in the tub before filling it with water so that my body 'could learn'.  I decided to wear my Croc sandals so that I wouldn't be afraid of slipping.  I took the sandals off as soon as I was in (first step off bottom), and it was delightful as the water level rose.  I really didn't want to get out, but after 20 minutes I did.  Straight to bed wrapped up in a sheet and heavy quilt to sweat it out.  I just got up and feel wonderful.

All that nasty dead skin on my feet and shins from the last five months is gone.  My feet are a beautiful pink colour and as soft as a baby's bottom  :):):)

I got in and out without any assistance - A+ for me.

I have photos of this experience, but no one will see them, that's for sure.

I have just been informed that we are leaving at 3 pm today for our outing.  I am sure it is food related.

Impressions

Turkey, at least where I have been, is clean clean clean.  I haven't seen any garbage anywhere.  At home in Tire, one takes their garbage out to a community box (right on the corner) and it is picked up daily.

The people have been the friendliest I have ever encountered.  Granted I am not in large urban areas, so that may account for some of it.  The folks in the market, at shops, restaurants etc. go out of their way to assist in any way possible.  I am always offered a seat/stool wherever I am, be it in the market, or on the street (waiting for my ride). Maybe it is just that I look so old and decrepit that they are averting a medical emergency on their doorstep  :).

It would be redundant to say that I love the food.

I am very very comfortable here.  It doesn't feel foreign/strange at all.

Because I am still awake and have internet here there is a little story I would like to relate.

The other night Nihat's nephew, Omer, his wife and new three month old baby girl came to visit before they went to the village to see his mom and other family  I had heard about Omer for many years, and even talked with him on Skype once when he was at Nihat;s.  Well, Omer is doing his PhD in computer engineering now.  He told me that when he was about nine years old his uncle Nihat sent an Atari to him in the village,  and he knew then he wanted to be a computer engineer.  He also said that his uncle Nihat gave him financial support through university.

Nihat is a very special person to him.  How pleased his uncle must be to see his nephew doing so well.

Omer is a kind, caring young man with a lovely wife and new born daughter.  I wish him all the best that life has to offer.

Today we opted to forego having three meals a day.  It's just too much for me.  We each have breakfast in our own apartments, then do our bathing rituals.  Our tour manager, Sami, lets us know what time to be ready to go out to eat.

With no lunch we opted for an early dinner.  At 3:30 Sami was ready with the car and we drove into Simav where we picked up a few items.  Then a drive way into a deserted area about fifteen minutes away.

All we were told was that we were having fish with cheese???????

What followed was truly a memorable time.

Arriving at the restaurant there is a little waterfall from above where fish are in the pond.  Steps up two levels to the restaurant entrance.

from the parking area
 

The first level at the fish pond.

Large walls of
 windows bring nature right to your table.

Our cold table had a selection of about ten items, plus that ever present freshly baked bread and butter like you have never tasted before.

A very blurry photo of our fish with cheese cooked in a dark clay dish on a wood fired oven.
 

Another delicious dessert to share.

A big bottle of Yeni Raki which we brought with us.

FYI - this is what a chestnut looks like on the tree.  It is surrounded by a cover of needle like spikes.   They wait until it falls to the ground and the spikes die to reveal chestnuts!

Surprise - Sami had bought chestnuts the day before at the market and he had the check cook them on the wood fire for us.

It was almost 7 pm when we got home, satiated and happy people.  I was to host our after dinner tea in my apartment, but it seems as if everyone was in need of a nap.  It's almost 9pm now, so I don't imagine it will happen tonight.

Today was a day of firsts for me.
Yesterday I just couldn't find it in me to try to get into the tub.  I am so very afraid of slipping and falling.  So, I just used the little round marble bowl at the base of the shower for my feet and used the hand held shower to get used to the HOT water.  The whole apartment is very hot (thermal heating) and you cannot control it because one should not get a chill.  Today I got in the tub, with the aid of two people and a stick…still afraid of slipping.  My oh my what a delightful experience it is sitting in that water, after we adjusted the temperature down from the burning hot to extremely hot.

Across the street, three units.
 

Our three units.

Many many blocks of three unit buildings.

My main bath with the thermal water tub.

This is the hand held, thermal water shower with the marble bowl on the floor.   Sermin put the red lawn chair there for me so that I could sit in comfort with my feet in the "container" and use the sprayer - anytime I wished.  I really need someone here with me when I get in and out of that marble tub

Part of my living room. There are two couches a couple of side tables and a flat screen tv. 

My messy bed.  I had had my bath earlier and then one needs to wrap up and sleep - sweat it out.
 

Kitchen with a table, chairs, fridge, and four burner gas cooktop.  

My feet and legs feel soooo good.  I can't wait until tomorrow to go down one more level and have that glorious water right up to my neck.  

We are staying at a Thermal Apartment Hotel for four nights.  It is very nice, quiet, and extremely relaxing with nature all around. I couldn't find a website in English, but  I have taken a few photos to show you.  Unfortunately it was drizzling today so the photos are even poorer than most I take.

On the property there are areas where the steam rises from the ground, but I didn't want to open the car windows in the rain.  Also, there is an area where a building was destroyed during the earthquake of 2011.  There is a large restaurant and a very big building with a Turkish Bath, which I might gather the courage to go to tomorrow on ladies day.

Last night we had dinner on site at the restaurant.  It was very satisfactory, but quite institutional.

 This is a serious place for health and wellness, and not some chic spa to pamper the idle rich - ha ha.

The name of the Hotel is the Enyal Ege Termal Hotel

I has lamb shish kebap. 

An interesting different dessert (don't remember the name).
 

After dinner we went back to Sami's apartment where Sermin made tea and served a variety of nuts and sweets.  Sami and I had a little Raki!




The internet connection is a little slow right now.  Will be back a little later when it speeds up.

Tuesday evening saw even more guests arrive to visit.  More about all the people later in this blog.

At 8:15 this morning we left Tire and drove to Torbali (near Izmir) to Sami and Sermin's place.  Sami had the car ready out front of his shop and the fellows loaded the trunk.  As planned, we were on the road at 9:30 headed to our destination for the next four nights.

Sami planned this entire trip.  He goes there twice a year and claims that it is what keeps him young, healthy, and fit.  What a tour manager he is, too.  About an hour and a half after we hit the road he pulled into a rest area and said that we were taking ten minutes for a tea, cigarette, and WC break.

A little outside the town of Kula we made tiny detour off the highway to view the rock formations (fairy chimneys) that are like those of Cappadocia, but in a much smaller area.  This area has been nicknamed Kuladocia and give a sense of what their more famous cousins may have looked like

thousands of years ago.

About 3pm we stopped for a late lunch.  The most delicious rotisserie chicken done outdoors on a fire tempted me so quickly that once again I forgot to take photos.  This is turning out to be an Eat Your Way Through Turkey tour.

The cook and waitress in this tiny hole in the wall restaurant wanted to get in on the photo, too.

Before we got to our destination we made a stop in a small town to buy fruit to have in each of our units because there would be no other food than what we brought with us except for going out for dinner each night. 

When we arrived we got set up in our units and Sami informed me that at 7pm we would be leaving to go our for dinner.  It is now 5:15, so I must get on with my duties so that I can report on exactly how much I accomplished these few hours - ha ha.  

I will show and tell more tomorrow.

OMG, my boyfriend is here again.  Guess it's time to back to the house  :)

Last night, Monday, was the first night we didn't have any company.  It was early to bed for all.

Today we got up early and wen to the famous Tuesday, Tire market.  I shopped until I dropped, or rather until Nihat dropped me at the cafe to use the WIFI.

Tonight we have company coming again.  Early tomorrow morning Sadyie, Nihat, Sami, Sermin, and I are heading off for a week of adventure, and I'll have internet.

The old Mosque where we entered the market.

GIANT cabbages.  The large sized tomatoes look like miniatures next to the cabbages.

Tons of clothing to buy.

Pomegranates everywhere.


On our way to Selcuk in the morning we stopped at Nihat's village and promised we would return after our day out…..

Entering the village.
 

On the way from Sirince to the village we pulled off the road and there  a row of sprinklers awaited.

Drive forward for an open air, free car wash.

We stopped at a pomegranate stand for some freshly squeezed juice.  Poms were abundant everywhere.

 

The road sign to the village of Buyukkale.

This dear lady really surprised me.  She was dressed in traditional village clothing,  but my mouth hung open when she greeted me with a hi, how are you and continued to talk in English.  She had lived about 30 years in Australia before returning to her village.  She had yet another surprise for me when she pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one up.  I had a new buddy.

It may be a village, but kids love technology wherever they live.

Nihat and his brother.

Entering the village.

Sadiye with a bunch of pomegranates.  This man is here from Australia visiting his mom.  Wow, it seemed so unreal to be sitting in a small Turkish village talking to a Turkish man with a perfect Aussie accent.