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| baklava (this was good, but mine's still better...) |
we had the best time today! since we didn’t go out last night, we decided to get up this morning and head out for coffee and baklava. we window shopped close to the pier since i had to go back for a mandatory liferaft drill at 10:30… i did that and we met up with our pal, stojan (who had the same drill), who walked us to where the barber was. it was time for bob’s big turkish barber pampering day!
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| bob's day of handsome (check out vampire-y looking national hero attaturk pic) |
we got there, stojan introduced us to the barber, and we went in. they made us the turkish favorite, hot apple tea, and we explained not to touch his soul patch or his crazy, mad scientist eyebrows that i love except for the unibrow part in the middle… he said ok, and two guys got to work, with a third occasionally joining in. they washed, trimmed, clipped, shaved, waxed, oiled, toned, moisturized, brushed and powdered him to within an inch of his life until he was like a newborn baby! the barber started in this, his father’s shop, when he was seven, sweeping and learning the trade and has been there for more than 30 years, and is now training the next guy. what an experience! i felt pretty grubby next to him for the rest of the day, as he was positively polished!
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| 3 generations working on him all at once |
this is a primarily muslim nation, but a secular one, who has joined the european union, embraced tourism, granted women equal rights under the law, got rid of the burkhas and abayas, serves beer and wine in the cafes, and is not living in 500 year-ago conditions like most of the ones we have been to. it feels more european here, and is, indeed, quite charming and friendly. we enjoyed still hearing the calls to prayer from the top of the mosques, but many here are busy working and are like the catholics that just attend church on easter and christmas – they throw down a proper ramadan, and they are good to go since they have stuff to do to build a better life here… they are still sincere, just not fundamentalists.
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| blue eye (evil eye protection) is everywhere here... |
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| busy street market scene |
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| spice market |
we enjoyed the narrow alleys, cobblestone streets, turkish bazaar shops and the beauty and quaintness of the town. when we finally got hungry, we went to one restaurant near the water, didn’t like the looks and went to another one, which was just perfect. we picked out the fresh fish we wanted, ordered some fava bean puree (kind of like hummus), fresh calamari, salad, bread, lamb kebab and the local brew, and we were set. what a lovely lunch in a perfect setting, and we talked about how at approximately $750 a month for a very nice 3 bedroom apartment here, this would be an ideal vacation rental spot between contracts someday… with room for nino and papa even! he’d love to go fishing here… they fish right off the waterfront or in one of the many smaller skiffs and boats… i think this area will be the next riviera – you heard it here first! we walked and digested and shopped a little more and had some turkish coffee and apple tea on the way back to the ship. this place was one of those we could imagine really staying for awhile… someday we will come back, i know!
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| view from where we sat for lunch |
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| fresh catch... we had the snapper (pink fish) |
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| fava bean puree and local beer |
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| fresh produce here is all excellent |
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| mmm... |
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| lamb kebab... it's not shish kebab unless it's on a stick... |
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| view at lunch... i could see johnny and nino on this skiff... |
my theme tonight was a repeat, “piano bar legends,” featuring elton, billy and ray, of course. i had a good crowd and knocked off about 11:30 . tomorrow is greece, and i am going to dash out in the morning while bob does his drill, then i will come back and do in port manning while he goes and adventures! cheers, me
port song for kusadasi, turkey
(a cd commercial paying tribute to ephesus tour highlights - spoken word in italics)
it’s “the best of ephesus
w/ all your favorite turkish hits like this one, the home of mary (let it be)
when i find myself in kusadasi it’s mother mary i go to see
her house is in a nearby mountain greenery
you can also buy some holy water, maybe you can buy a rosary
and have a turkish coffee there or apple tea
and let’s not forget this timeless classic, ephesus
you must see ephesus
the vendors welcome dollars or euros, as you walk by
and how about this blast from the past? archaelogical museum (adams family theme)
the ruins you came to see them, the scenery was supreme
so stop by the museum, there’s lots more there to see - unique - mystique - greek
and everyone remembers hits like this one: diana’s temple (day-o, banana boat song)
they tore down the temple of old diana, nothing left but a column of stone
you have to picture in your mind, now, can ya? nothing left but a column of stone
no way, no way, oh, the only thing named after me and it’s gone (repeat)
keep those good times rockin’ with songs about rocks: basilica (gee whiz whillikers)
gee wiz whillikers golly gee, i saw st john’s
they built it back in 5th century ad, after a big earthquake nothing left to see
they built a new one in the 6th century, and they left the ruins to visit for you and me, gee
whiz the basilica’s swell, oo whee, it’s only 5 turkish lira, that’s practically free
hungry for good music? how about a song about lunch with a show (beyond the sea)
somewhere, beside the sea, some lunch for you and me
and whirling dancing boys and girls with live music and ocean breezes blowing
somewhere, beside the sea, in the lap of luxury
a 5 star hotel, it’s so swell, shish kebabs and much more, so sad we’re going
and you’ll be taken away by the show of rugs on a magic carpet ride: (magic carpet ride)
you don’t know how much you’ll buy –
if you go into a turkish rug shop, they’ll take you on a magic carpet ride
i can’t afford what they all weave
better hang on to your wallet and leave, or when your visa bill arrives you’ll grieve
close your eyes, girl, just walk by, girl, don’t let those rugs take you away
order “best of ephesus
spring flowers, birdsong, a knowledgeable tour guide who actually speaks english well and a group who is on time, very pleasant to be with and contains no cranky individuals!
please allow 4-6 weeks for it to sink in that you actually got to see stuff this cool. days this awesome are not always guaranteed – today was a small miracle, don’t forget to be grateful!
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