Today after our breakfast, at Homeros Pension and Guesthouse in Selcuk, we said our goodbyes and were given yet another key ring size Evil Eye to protect us on on travels from Saziye (Dervis’ Sister)……very kind.
We soon had the ANIMAL packed and loaded to go and we stopped off at the Travel Agency (initially told 5-10 min) we had to wait at least 20 min for Albi to arrive….life seems very casual in Turkey….even when we order food etc….it takes a long time to arrive….nothing is hurried. We wanted to check the name of the balloon company we are booked with (Skyways or Sultan …same company as changes to the government laws mean only 2 balloons per day per company…so companies are diversifying!). To make best use of our time, Vince went to get fuel whist I waited for Albi, it cost him 125TL for 26 Litres at 4.79 TL per litre (approx A$2.40). Upon his return a Danish couple approached him admiring the ANIMAL and he shared our plans with them before joining me inside the agency. After his arrival Albi was held up on the phone, a when he got to us we had a long explanation about something that should have been a few minutes answer…..we are in Turkey!
We thanked him for his help and were soon on our way for our short 175km ride (around 2 hours plus 30 min in the back streets of Bodrum, to find our cheap hotel (30 Euros per night). We did have a brief stop by traffic police in a routine checkpoint just before arrival in Bodrum but once we showed our rego/insurance papers and he realised we were Aussies we were waved through without any need for searching.
It was so HOT I thought I might pass out ( the hot flushes I get these days don’t help either – Menopause on a Motorbike sucks!). When the bike is moving I can cope in this heat which is extreme making my dermatitis unbearable at times……even Vince is having problems with the heat. We noticed what looked to be gigantic showers positioned at the entrance to car parks….we saw them all along the road for the past few days….sometimes with a car under it. So we tried it out today for ourselves on the motorbike and it was very cooling! A bit wet of course….but very cooling….bring it on!
We had cold showers and cranked up the air conditioning…..something we will need to screen accommodation for from now on! After we cooled down we attempted a walk in town….but it was too hot and we ended up turning back and just going to a nearby restaurant for a late lunch…..uninspiring and uneventful! Back to our hotel to cool off again and do some internet surfing to sort out some upcoming stuff….visas, accommodation etc…..it’s all in the timing!
We checked out a near by Turkish Bath which we thought we might try tomorrow, but changed our minds….tomorrow we are off for a visit to the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Then we again attempted a walk to the Harbour for dinner this time…..but my legs are really sore from the heat of the last few days, where my trousers rubbed them raw…very uncomfortable and makes walking painful….when Vince realised we had been going in the wrong direction we again headed back to our hotel area for dinner instead. I stopped into an upholstery shop along the way and tried to get a new industrial strength zip fitted to replace my broken adventure jacket zip….but no luck….but the Turkish owner and I had fun and games trying to communicate my needs…..all good fun!
At the Lemoon Restaurant we tried their home made lemonade but I could not eat my lamb…it was too tough and chewy…even Vince could not eat it…not what we have come to expect from Turkish food.
Back at our hotel we have a room right near the bar that is currently playing DOOF DOOF music….let’s hope it doesn’t go on too late…..but I don’t like our chances!
