just another blog

Today we have a change of plan and head off to Egidir, an inland lake on route to Cappadocia, we decide to avoid the touristy spots for a while and try and get to experience the local culture a bit more. We are loving turkey, especially the people - they really are friendly and helpful and if you don't want their help, they respect that. We have learnt a few very difficult Turkish words - like thank you :) (which took us three days) which makes a huge difference when it comes to them accepting you as something more than just pink fleshy tourists. They smile a lot more here than anywhere we've been.

We've just stayed at the most amazing backpackers/hotel at Pammukale close to Hierapolis, we will post a blog on that - another AWESOME ancient sight built ontop of these huge calcium carbonate springs (cotton castle), it's just mind blowing....there's a lot of mind blowing happening on this trip :)

Anyways - breakfasts here are amazing - i have to write about them....2 dishes of olives - black and stuffed green ones, yogurt, honey, delicious tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese and other cheese and meat slices with heaps of light bread...also watermellon and turkish tea and elma cay (apple tea). All this included in the room price for R 165 for both of us a night...it's just madness compared to greece - which was massively expensive in comparison.

Our budget is
R150/n/p/p accomodation
R100 transport/d/p/p
R60 food / d/p/p
so far so good, but greece gave us a bit of a knock with the price of accomodation and food/drink - interestingly enough Scottland was easy to stick within the budget, we even saved some on the outer hebrides- good place to backpack.

a few statistics, so we can remember when we're 80 and reading this to our grandkids, or grand puppies....
we have been to 14 islands,
been on 18 ferry transfers,
travelled by car, scooter, underground, fast train, slow train, local bus, fancy bus, ferries (big - ones with escalators and tiny - nauseating little ones), hitchhiking, taxi's, walked miles (luckily without our overweight backpacks - now filled with greek blankets, souveniers for you all, a hubbly with ingredients and the damn tent) and soon by bicycle and kayak.

We'll we miss you all and look forward to sharing our 1000 + photos with you (runnnnnnn now while you have the chance) when we're back.... just under a month to go :)
lots of love
J