KUSADASI~ TURKEY

Daria, our walking guide, provided us with essential facts about Turkey: population 87 million with 12 million in Istanbul, no specified national religion but predominantly moslem.  "We don't mind a drink though".

Two things I noticed while walking was the Turks are very patriotic with many Turkish flags flying, and that they are compulsive traders.  We spent considerable time defending our bank balances against a series of carpet salesmen's "very best offers", even adjusting their previous rock bottom price as they followed us out of their shops.  A Fred Perry polo shirt was my sole purchase and only time will tell whether my €25 was spent on the genuine article.

Barbershops are ubiquitous with an unusual service provided once the cut was completed, the barber closely waving a lit candle about the customer's head burning away the hair in his ears!  I doubt I'll tell Luigi about this practice upon return to my hairdresser in Belco.

"Would you like an ice cream", Daria asked Hal from Ohio.  "Sure" said Hal unsurely.  Grasping a long ice cream scoop, Omar served up an ice cream and handed it over leaving Hal grasping an empty cone.  A series of swift moves involving cones, ice creams and hands resulted in Hal's nose dabbed with pistachio.

Our cruise itinerary included an excursion to the 2000 year old amphitheatre the Ephesus Odeon.  In Roman times this was a male only study establishment, however in these enlightened times they let anyone in.  As we entered men were adorned with a garland of plastic laurel leaves and ladies with a coronet of colourful flowers.  Once the 500 guests were guided over the crumbling steps and stairs and seated, the musicians made their way into the orchestra pit.  Australian OH&S officers would have conniptions over the everyday practices we witnessed in Greece and Turkey. 

The Aegean Chamber Orchestra played a selection of orchestral pieces by Bach, Brahms and Dvorak etc with and without a flautist.  The depth of the orchestra pit amplified the music with the sound of the double bass and the use of pizzicato on violins particularly effective.  Once the concert was over and the amphitheatre cleared, we were guided back onto our buses by crew members clad in togas and gladiator outfits.

Kasadasi was pumping as we returned, the bus swerving around the world's first roundabout (circa 200BC), passing bars and restaurants filled with customers, many watching the football.  A live broadcast of the game clashed with loud music as shopkeepers continued to tempt returning passengers into wonderful deals "Get your pomegranate molasses here, I'm practically giving it away".