Ephesus

A couple of weeks ago I visit the ancient Greek city of Ephesus.  I've been to Turkey so many times but this was my first visit to this popular tourist attraction.

I took a dolmus from Izmir's otogar (bus station), which only cost 10TL and just under an hour later we arrived in Selcuk.  The dolmus was located on the top floor of the otogar and you paid when you got on the bus.  The bus station in Selcuk is small, and very easy to navigate, and it was easy to catch another dolmus to the lower gate of Ephesus and only cost a few lira.

On arrival at Ephesus there were the usual tourist stalls selling overpriced goods, and through the hustle was the entrance gate to Ephesus.  A ticket cost 30TL.

Although I'm not a history fanatic, this place certainly has the wow factor.  So many pieces of history in one area.

Ephesus covers a large area, and there is so much to see.  If you are visiting in the height of the summer I'd advise against being there during the midday sun as there is very little shade.  I was there at the end of April and it was hot!  It was also very busy as the day trippers from the nearby resorts and cruise ships had arrived.  Also one mistake I made was just carrying a small amount of water.  There are shops at both gates, and there is some distance between them, so make sure you have enough water!!!

Sirince

On a recent trip to Ephesus I stayed in the beautiful village of Sirince.  This village is a short dolmus ride from Selcuk along some twisting hilly roads, surrounded by fruit crops.

The fruit is put to good use in Sirince, as they make wine.  I visited one of the local wine sellers and had the opportunity to try a number of flavours including pomegranate, melon, sour cherry, strawberry, grape and peach and I have to say they were all pretty good, but I love all things pomegranate so that was my obvious choice to accompany my evening meal.

The village has around 600 inhabitants, but during the day it is very busy with busloads of tourists wanting to try the wine and also buy local products from the many shops.  Unfortunately the church was closed, and as you may be able to see from my photographs it was surrounded with scaffolding.

First thing in the morning the village awakens with the first tourists, and is buzzing throughout the day, until around 6.30pm when the last dolmus leaves.  The village then becomes a very quiet village again.  I stayed overnight and was amazed how quiet the village was in the evening, but I'd wanted somewhere peaceful and I certainly got it.

My pension (B&B) was a little way up the hill along a track.  I was woken up by the cockerels outside my bedroom window and a donkey braying across the fields.

I think the photos speak for themselves.  A stunning, peaceful and traditional village.

Not a bad view to enjoy breakfast from

Sirince High Street 

Izmir - Konak Pier

Konak Pier in Izmir was designed by Gustave Eiffel in the late 1800s and was originally a warehouse and customs office.  It's located near Konak Square where the famous clock tower can be found.

It has undergone some recent renovations and is now an upmarket shopping centre, with cinema and restaurants and coffee shops, but a lot of the original features are still visible.

There is a lovely cafe at the end of the pier, where you can sit outside, right at the water's edge.

A quiet day at the Konak Pier shops 

The Great Sweet Potato Hunt

Sometimes when you live abroad you miss things from home.  It's to be expected I guess.  A few home comforts, a reminder of home.

You can sometimes find a close alternative, something that 'will do'.  Somethings you can have sent from home.  I miss Fruit Pastilles, so I get them sent over on occasion and recently a Creme Egg made it's way to me without any damage (Thanks Mum and Dad).  These little things mean a lot when you are so far away from home.

But there are somethings that can't be sent and these items are what I'm starting to miss the most, it's almost becoming an obsession!

So when we hear through a Facebook group that these items are available there is a rush of excitement, the anticipation that we are going to get a taste of home......

I have developed an obsession to find sweet potatoes!  Something very simple and it's 'almost' impossible to find them here.  I say 'almost' as I hear of people locating them, so off I go to the supermarket where they have been spotted only to find they have sold out.  Of course they have, someone has announced on Facebook that they are in Izmir, so all the foreigners rush to the supermarket and get there before me.  I feel so disappointed when I can't find any, after I have checked all around the fruit and veg at least three times!

The sweet potato hunt is becoming quite expensive, as I don't usually go to these supermarkets and they always have something a little bit different (and quite expensive), but I feel I need to buy something from there, a little taste of home.

I go into every supermarket and fruit and vegetable shop I pass, in the hope that I'll find the orange potato.  I asked in my local shop, as it seems to be quite well stocked with unusual vegetables, but they just looked at me as if I'm crazy!  I gave up looking for parsnips a while ago, but one day I will find the sweet potato.

Izmir - Asansor

Izmir really is a beautiful city, and there is one place where you are guaranteed a good view.

On a sunny day, after a walk along the seafront I used the 'Asansor' to get home. Asansor is a lift that links the area at sea level to one of the neighbourhoods on a higher level. It was built in 1907 by Nesim Levi Bayraklıoğlu, a wealthy banker and trader, as an aid to carry people and goods from the lower level. It is now mainly used as a tourist attraction with spectacular views from the top and a restaurant. Its is also still used by the local residents to get to their homes and workplaces. I used it to get back to my apartment, which is a little higher than where the Asansor takes you, but only a short walk away.

The Asansor

Stunning views of Izmir

Graffiti on the wall of the lift

The street below the Asansor is now called Dario Moreno Sokak (Dario Moreno Street), after a singer who lived in the street in the 1940s. You'll find small shops selling items for tourists and a small cafe here.

Dario Moreno lyrics

Dario Moreno Sokak

And then I had the steps back home to conquer...... This is the first flight......

It's a nice walk but not everyday. I'll still use the Metro everyday!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  Mutlu Yillar!  Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

Well 2015 has arrived and I just about made it home to watch the fireworks over the bay.  I spent Christmas in Wales, and travelled back to Izmir on 31st December and was due at home at around 9pm, but it didn't quite go to plan.  After snow storms in Istanbul, two delayed flights and a wrong transport choice from the airport, I finally made it home.  I hauled my 20kg suitcase and various other bags up the 70 stairs and opened my door to the sound of the first firework going off.  I grabbed a bottle of Bomonti beer from the fridge to toast the New Year, watched the fireworks and that was my New Year!

New Year's Day saw a cold and windy day and I can see some snow in the distance.

New Year gives us a chance to reflect on the past year and look forward to the next. So.....

2014 highlights were:

Spending New Year in Istanbul - an amazing city and I hope to pay it another visit soon.
Visiting Cappadocia - a stunning area in Turkey which I recommend to anyone visiting the country.
Anitkabir - Ataturk's Mausoleum - A must visit place in Ankara
The summer spent in the UK with family and friends, and of course making it back to the UK for Christmas.

I met some great people while living in Ankara, and made some great friends.

Moving to Izmir has also been a great opportunity for me.  I love the city but haven't really spent much time exploring, which brings me to looking forward to 2015.

There are so many places near Izmir that need exploring, but top of my list is Ephesus and Sirince (apparently the wine here is fantastic).  I still haven't visited Cesme and when the weather improves I will make the bus journey, and also get to visit some Greek islands.  I hope to get out and about more and take more photographs and blog a lot more.

My battle with the language is well known, and I will continue with it.  I don't know how long I will stay in Turkey but its important for me to be able to communicate.

My love for Turkish food grows every day, and I like to try new things.  I would love to learn how to cook some of my favourite dishes, but until then I will enjoy eating them.  Pass me the Baklava please.....

I hope 2015 brings you everything you wish for.

Learning Turkish

Last year I wrote about my problems with learning Turkish, and unfortunately this isn't getting much better.
I relied on mime a lot of the time in Ankara, and it has failed me in Izmir, after trying to explain a few things to my landlady (Hornets, washing machine breakdown), so I'm now studying Turkish.

Unfortunately because of work commitments it's difficult for me to attend classes, so I am going down the self study route, with a couple of books, and post it notes stuck all around my flat, with new vocabulary.
I can remember vocabulary quite easily, but I'm having a big problem with grammar.

Last week I needed to pay an electric bill, but I wasn't sure where I could pay.  I was due to pay my rent at the estate agents, so I took my bill along with me.

I was given the usual glass of tea on my arrival and I took my electric bill out, waved it at them, and said 'Electric, para, nerede?' 'Electric, money, where?'  I sounded like a Turkish cave-woman, but they were so happy with my efforts.  'Excellent Turkish' they complimented me!

I don't worry about making mistakes and I am studying the grammar, but I am finally (very slowly) getting understood!!