We're headed into Antalya again, this time less bewildered than we were two days ago at the seemingly complicated system of picking up tourists from the resorts, then taking them to a staging area for redistribution amongst buses to different destinations. In fact, it works quite smoothly and efficiently and ensures that full buses take people where they meant to go. This involves a lot of head counting, note- taking, waving and pointing from the multilingual director. But the first language is conspicuously German.
Antalya is a beautiful city and last time we walked into the old city, then took the tram out to the Museum, which was absolutely fantastic. The walk back along the clifftop promenade was warm, breezy and scenic as it overlooked Antalya gulf, the Bey mountains, Konyaalti beach and the old Roman harbor. We didn't, however have time to explore the old city of Kaleici, so we're going today.
Like Istanbul and Izmir, perhaps even more so, Antalya is a terrific walking city and full of interesting sights and shops. Last Saturday it also seemed to be market day of sorts, with vendors spreading out blankets to sit on the sidewalk with their bags of farm produce.
Today is perhaps our last chance to pick up some souvenirs and apple tea, and maybe try some foods not available at the hotel. I'm not sure we are prepared for another alarming encounter with the ice cream vendors again, with their teasing, slight-of-hand service.
As it was last day, the bus is full of German tourists hoping to pick up bargains on genuine fake designer clothes at the modern bazaar. We aren't going there with them.
From that first day:
The Antalya museum was fantastic. You can take an oldfashioned tram from the old town to the museum, and the collection of marble sculptures, most excavated from old cities in Antalya province, are awe-inspiring.
Also: socks!!
More pictures at the Flickr set: Antalya
No comments:
Post a Comment