Livin' in Paradise

Thursday Julia, Martina, Saili, Lore, Jana, Fabian and I began our three hour bus journey to the airport to head to MARMARIS!!!! I learned a great skill in those three hours, how to eat sunflower seeds! I've become quite a pro if I do say so myself. After an hour flight with turbulence we finally made it...almost another two hour shuttle bus ride to the hotel. Everywhere you go in Turkey is at least a two or more hour bus ride. We were a little nervous to see our hotel since we only paid one pound each per night but it turned out to be perfect! Our first night we just hung around our hotel saving up our energy for our busy week ahead.

Our rooms 

Friday we spent the day lounging by the pool and beach. Buying a ball was the best idea, volleyball anyone? On our way to the beach we bargained for our first adventure a lazy day boat trip. Friday night we went out to VIP club for 'Lore's birthday' Nothing like celebrating a birthday while on vacation!

Just relaxing in the pool  

Beach time 

Birthday girl and her favorite bartender 

Who's ready to go out?!

We spent all day Saturday laying around on boat, Mr. Boat Trip. Even though it was quite cloudy it was a great day! We were even allowed to jump off the top of the boat and beer was included. I don't think the guy that sold us the trip thought we could have drank that much. When we were almost to the port the sun finally came out to stay! So once we got off the boat we headed to our pool and got ready for our trip to Ephesus and PamuKkale!!

Break on an island 

Our own private part

Jumping from the top of the boat

6am came way to quickly Sunday morning and we were off to Ephesus 4 hours away. Once we got there they took us a Turkish delight shop and then we had a choice to go to either a museum or the House of the Virgin Mary. We decided against the museum considering we have enough of those in Istanbul. The House of the Virgin Mary was on top of Mount Nightingale. The house was only located after a Catholic nun, Anne Catherine Emmerich received visions of it's location. This house was built for Mary by Saint John and she resided here until her assumption. This site is venerated by Muslims and Christians. Underneath the house there is a spring that you are allowed to drink from and the water is said to have healing powers. There are three different taps and they're each said to bring something else. The first for wealth, second for health and the final one for fertility. Next to the springs there is a wall where you can make a wish after dipping it in the spring water and placing it in the wall.

The House of the Virgin Mary 

Putting our wishes on the wall 

The springs 

Next we were on our way to the Ancient city of Ephesus. Once the forth largest city in the Eastern Roman Empire during the 2nd century, now it lay only in ruins. The city was known for it's focus on fertility. Near this ancient city is the last remaining pillar from the temple of Artemis (goddess of fertility) which is one of the Seven wonders of the Ancient world. Much of the city is still well preserved. The most well preserved site is Celsus Library built in 117A.D. This library could hold up to 12,000 scrolls which were kept inside the walls. The statues outside symbolize wisdom (Sohpia), knowledge (Episteme), intelligence (Ennoia) and valor (Arete).

The main street of the city

Celsus Library 

Lovin' the colosseum  

It was then on the bus again to head to PamuKkale! Although we had a minor (hour) bus compilation we finally made it there after dark. You would think after 4 months of being abroad and traveling places I would have learned how to pack, but no. I managed to forget my swimsuit top and I only brought enough clothes to wear for 1 day and nothing extra. (packing light I guess) Since the suits in the shop were ugly and expensive I improvised. Inside the hotel we found the thermal pool (essentially a giant hot tub) that we enjoyed relaxing in. Once it got too hot it was off to the outdoor pool for a chilly swim. Then we decided it was time to see PamuKkale at night. We hiked (without shoes because they're forbidden) up the side of the "cotton castle" wading through the warm pools that average about 95 degrees. Calcium carbonate created the white travertines. Inside the water it is a soft jelly (which smells like eggs) but makes your skin extremely soft. Once we got up high enough it started to downpour so we headed back down to our hotel soaking wet.

PamuKkale at night 

Climbing to the top!

My new love 

The aftermath 

Julia, Fabian, Jana and I braved the early morning that came the next day after 3 hours to sleep to see it at sunrise. We hiked back up to the top and found the best place in all of PamuKkale, the very top where the water begins before it flows down. We could have stayed here all day but it was time for breakfast before heading back to see the Cleopatra pool and the other side of PammuKkale. Once we got to the top we went straight for the pool. The water temperature is a steamy 90 degrees and can reach over 115. Inside of the pool there are many fallen columns that fell into the pool after an earthquake in the seventh century. The water is made up of bicarbonate, sulphate, carbon dioxide, partly with iron and radioactive combination. The water in the pool is said to help any disease possible from heart disease to digestive disorders. There is a deep part, 16 feet, which Julia and I managed to touch the bottom, that has little bubbles coming from the bottom. The story is that these bubbles are fairies. Lore said it best when she said she felt like she was in a giant bottle of coke. After we felt like we had spent enough time with Cleopatra we headed back to the travertines for mud fights and mud baths. Can't wait to see what the pictures on the underwater camera! Even though I managed to squeeze as much time as I could on the cotton castle (9 hours) I could definitely have spent the rest of the day there.

What a great way to start the day! 

Lake at the bottom 

Getting ready for Cleopatra pool! 

Disinfecting our feet before going in

We could stay here all day

Playing in the travertines 

Once we got back in Marmaris we planned our last adventure, a horse safari. After it was planned we enjoyed some games of flip cup with the staff of our hotel (they definitely missed us while we were away) and then headed to the club were we lasted until four in the morning. I tried to go for being up for 24 hours, but I couldn't do it. Just short an hour!

Girls were champions at flip cup  

Last night out 

VIPs 

:)

Since our safari wasn't until four we hung around the pool all day relaxing and enjoying the sunny weather. Of course being the albino that I am I got fried. A shuttle bus took us to the stables were we got our horse. Mine was named Zino and he/she didn't like any other horse (especially not Michael) and didn't want to be on this safari at all. They took us through the wooded area and to a place with a bridge (just like on survivor) where we jumped in. We continued through the trailed and ended up going to water (guess that's what makes it a safari).

I've missed doing this 

After our water fight

Next contestant on Turkish surviver right here! 

Our last day we enjoyed a cheap meal before Julia and I headed back home to Istanbul. We managed to make it home in 2 hours! There are no words to describe how amazing our trip was. With awesome people and beautiful places how could you go wrong! But unfortunately now I have less than two weeks left. In those two weeks I have to take four exams, do one project, pack, last minute gift shopping and go to a turkish wedding. Where has all the time gone! Well it's off to go study!

A Greek Adventure

Welcome to Greece!

After leaving Em at the gate we boarding the plan toward Athens, Greece! So excited :) Once we landed we were off to Santorini...little did we know the only way to get there is a boat that takes 12 hours or a plane that was leaving in 20 minutes. After talking with the travel agent we booked a flight to the island at 5pm that night. So what can you do for 4 hours in an airport. Well we got our nails done, got something to eat and tried our first Greek beer. We finally boarded a tiny propeller plane that would take us to the island. It was a quick ride and the view was beautiful!

Alpha, my first Greek beer 

The plane that would take us to Santorini  

The view from the plane 

After landing we were taken to our apartment that we were renting for the weekend. AMAZING. Since we weren't going to be on the island very long we headed straight to our first place to visit, Ioa. It is at the northern part of the island and is known for a spectacular view of the sunset. After the sunset everyone watching clapped, guess it's a pretty big deal there. We ate dinner at a traditional restaurant that over looked the water and the white houses on the hill.  On our way home we finally found bacon for breakfast!! It's been a long 4 months without it. 

Our home for the weekend :) 

Living in a dream

Sunset at Ioa 

Actually saw a donkey!

First Greek Restaurant 

I could eat this stuff all the time

The next day we got up early so we could enjoy the whole day traveling the island. We rented a four-wheeler to get around, which turned out to be the best way to see the island. We went to the black sand beach at Kamari, the prehistoric city Akorotini and the red sand beach near Akrotiri. 

Mojitos on the beach 

black sand beach 

So happy to be on the four-wheeler 

lunch at Dolphins

red sand beach 

Favorite thing to see on trips

After a long day on the four wheeler we decided to go to Firo for a night out. Happy hour specials were just what we needed. We enjoyed a Irish pub, Scottish bar, learned a few bar tricks and realized how great rugby is.

Happy hour

The Irish pub, my favorite

We lived in a post card for these two day unfortunately we had to leave but we were headed to Athens!! Once we got to Athens quite a few plans fell through but we made it and found a cheap place to stay (the name Easy Access had to be a dead give away). We threw down our bags and headed to the sights!

First stop was the Acropolis. At the top you could see the Parthanon, Athena's temple, a panoramic view of the city and Socratics' jail in the distance. Currently both sites are under restoration so there was quite a bit of construction but they were still amazing! Be careful when taking pictures of the Parthenon because the guards are pretty particular about the ones you take. (they'll actually come up and have you delete them!)

Going into the Acropolis 

Holding up the Parthenon

Looking down on the Herodes Atticus Theatre

We then walked around the city exploring. As we walked towards the first Olympic Stadium we had a little follower. A local dog ended up walking us all the way to the Stadium, even through the traffic. The Stadium was huge! It is the only one built completely out of white marble and is the oldest in the world. It can hold 80,000 people and has 50 rows (that's a lot of steep steps) but we climbed all the way to the top for a spectacular view of the entire stadium. We were able to walk down the victor's tunnel as well and experience what it would be like to come out of it before a race. I did a little reenactment and of course I got first. I was pretty beat after my race so we got a bite to eat (another meal involving my favorite thing Tzatziki).

Our tour guide 

King and Queen at the Olympics 

View from the top!

Warming up.. 

Here I go..

First place! 

Tzatziki, I could eat this everyday 

That night we just walked around the city and ended up around the parliament building. Most government building were covered with graffiti but not this one. Guard in tradition uniforms guard the entrance. WE got lucky and as we were passing they were changing guards. (it involves a lot of marching, stomping and kicking). We were shocked by the nightlife that appeared once the sun went down. Every street was filled with music and people enjoying dinner and drinks. We sat down for some appetizers at a restaurant where we could see the Acropolis lit up at night.

Graffiti everywhere 

He was just a little scary 

Changing of the guards

The view

The next morning we had to get up early to see one last thing before we left. We made it to the oldest theater and first built of marble, Theatre of Dionysus on the southwest side of the Acropolis. In the theater play writes, such as Sophocles had their plays performed here and it was the birthplace of the 'Greek Tragedy'. The seat go all the way up the side of the hill to the Acropolis allowing it to hold 17,000 spectators. We did some last minute gift shopping on our way to the airport and then it was back to Istanbul.

This week we're leaving for Marmaris and once I get back I only have a couple of weeks left here I can't believe it!! It's gone too fast!