Mrad & Inge's 60+ Lifestyle: 2010.06.24 - 29 #2 Turkey (Bodrum) with Gillian

#2 TURKEY

2010.06.24-28

Ons het die vorige nag laat vir Andy en Wieske "tot siens" gese^. Dis nogal vreemd om weer op ons eie te wees, maar dis ook lekker ...

Our overnight bus arrived at Bodrum at 8am. We decided to have a light breakfast and at 9am we caught a dolmus [s = sh] to Yalikavac. The area prides itself on its windmills.

However, we were more impressed with the view over the bay.

Yalikavac's dolmus otogar offers regular services to all villages in the area.

It was lovely to see Gillian an she made us feel welcome a her home.

We settled in and drove with our hostess to the lovely village where she plays tennis.

We walked to look at her Catamaran.

Saw the sun set over the bay.

And enjoyed the dinner to which Gillian treated us (as a pre-birthday dinner for Mrad). Can you see the amphora (in which the meat is presented) in the flames? Quite a dramatic experience!

2010.06.24 Mrad's birthday sunrise!

Mrad's birthday breakfast on the terrace overlooking Yalikavac's bay.

We drove to Gumusluk - a beautiful little village which was built on top of the ancient city Myndos.

Very little of ancient Myndos can be seen aas it sunk beneath the sea.

To reach the ruins of Myndos one walks through shallow water to Tavsan Island.

The day ended with a visit to the Thursday market in Yalikavac - would you like some cherries?

Or do you prefer strawberries?

What about some nuts?

And choosing cheese is a serious matter.

On the other hand, there are lovely clothes to choose from too!

We visited Bodrum city where the Friday noon prayers overflow from the mosque onto the pavement.

We found the Bodrum tourist information office very helpful.

We visited the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archeology.

It is housed in the Bodrum Castle / St Peter's Castle which was built on the site where the Dorians founded Bodrum 1000BC.

Here are some of the artifacts which are exhibited in Bodrum castle. An altar

Hundreds of amphoras. Some dated to the 14th century BC.

An interesting design carved into a rock - I'm so pleased that my ring reflects the same design!

Many sarcophagi.

And the headless statue of a Roman governor from the 1st century AD. Mrad took pity on him and "lent" him his head!

The Glass Hall in which glass items which were salvaged from a ship wrecked in 1025 are displayed.

Mosaic floor tiles from the Byzantine era (5th century AD).

A sphinx.

The view towards the English Tower.

A suite of armour from the St. John's Knights (they built the

Bodrum Castle from stones salvaged from Halikarnosses' Mausoleum).

And a display from Late Bronze Age shipwrecks!

Some exquisite jewellery.

The gold scarab of Nefertiti. the beetle has her name inscribed on its underside.

This is the Egyptian princess, Nefertiti.

Ingots - these are glass ingots (rare purple colour).

Bronze ingots - this shape is carried on the shoulder with the extensions used as handles.

We also visited the Snake House and the Torture Chambers - too dark for good photos, but quite an experience seeing Muslims as victims and Europeans as torturers.