Weather: cool to cold with wind
Photo: Showing the numbered levels - very helpful!
Photo: Where Schliemann dug through many levels of Troy searching for treasure (which he found nearby).
Temperature: lowest 13 degrees to a high of 19 degrees
We set off on time at 8am ready for a big day of driving. We only had one visit planned today and this was to visit Troy which was only half an hour from our destination.
We followed the Aegean coastline for some time with large olive groves leading down to the lower areas to the sea and high on the hills. Passing through Izmir and learned it was the third largest city in Turkey. Generally, we pass apartment block after apartment block coming into these huge cities.
A little further on our guide pointed out the Ida Mountains where there are many modern hotels which cater for tourists who visit the mountains to enjoy the thermal springs.
We made several stops along the way (the general rule is every two hours) including lunch at a café in Akcay where we enjoyed tasty kebap meals of chicken of lamb.
We then made our way up the mountains and the coastline vegetation gave way to brilliant green fir trees. The weather had turned bleaker and there was some rain. The temperature was falling……
…….and the Troy visit was cold and windy! Apparently Troy valued the wind and its advantage over its enemies in the nearby sea. Today we could have done without it! Our guide gave us a preliminary talk to set the scene and explain the story of Troy, Schliemann’s excavations in the 1800’s and the many civilisations of this old city (nine altogether!). Knowing that there were so many layers of Troy can be confusing however the layers are numbered and the variance in building stones is reasonably evident. Nevertheless, without all the explanations by Ergun (where we stood under a roof trying to keep warm) we would have ruled this site as a heap of rubble……archaeological heresy probably!!
Although the site was an interesting visit we were pleased to retreat to the bus for warmth and even better a couple of minutes up the road we stopped for hot drinks…..they sold hot chocolate and I washed this down with a Mars bar….you know you are near civilisation when you can do this!
Our hotel was half an hour away and the weather didn’t improve and we alit to 14 degrees and grey weather.
We had a two hours before meeting for dinner and we took the time to shower and get organised for our very early start tomorrow – 6.45am to catch the ferry to Gallipoli.
Dinner was a lovely affair and we knew it was probably our last time as a group. Three of our travellers, as per usual, did their own thing but the rest of us enjoyed a set menu at a seaside restaurant that our guide had organised. It included mezes (entrees), choice of whole fish or meatballs and fresh fruit.
Desley had organised the tips for our guide and driver and we took the opportunity to thank our driver who would finish tomorrow after we reach Istanbul. Cameron did a great job thanking Muzo on behalf of the group. Each couple contributed towards his tip and wrote comments which Ergun translated. It was obvious Muzo enjoyed us on the trip – as much as we appreciated a thoughtful caring driver!
It was home to bed…..but not before we checked out a jewellery shop on the way. Shopping is addictive!!
Tomorrow’s weather looks like it will be cold. I’m sure our visit to the Dardanelles will be a sombre reminder of the futility of war.
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