I was supposed to rent scooters and go driving with them but because of the yesterday people didn't feel like going with scooters. So the whole day I chilled with a turkish friend called Beril.
I thought that Antalya was nearly seen but this day taught me it was not. The morning we went to a perfect breakfest place next to the sea with every imaginable breakfest food. And it costed only 14 YTL. After that we went to a dessert place which had a whole booklet full of only different kinds of desserts from different countries. After the morning of delights for the stomach we orienteered towards the biggest archery range in Turkey to try out some professional (beginner's) bows. Very nice day! Thanks Beril!
The evening it was time to leave again and leave this all behind. The last of us - me, Katarina and Nick - we had my last dinner in Antalya drinking cay in a good but yet a bit empty atmosphere.
I packed my stuff which now had risen in size and weight and I went to the small dark busstop to wait for my servisbus to take me to the busstation for the bus to Ankara.
At 24:00 I departed for the 7,5 hours trip to Ankara.
1. 9. Packing up bags in the hotel and in the evening the last party together at the new house of Finnish girls.
Somehow it seems that lately I've been only celebrating last parties together. People leaving bit by bit. Now there's anymore 10 of us.
31.8. The language presentation, part of the EILC - course and the last party together.
We were supposed to have presentation abot our language skills by acting out a small act or singing or whatever. I was in a group with Nick, Giacomo and Antonio. Our presentation was quite shocking. It caused laughter, amazement and even a bit anger. After our presentation the whole class was silent - the elevator atmosphere.. Hehe... I really can't describe it here because it would sound really strange on paper. You should've seen it. But some dead fishes, baby and brains was involved.
The evening ended up in an Ibiza -like party after Ally's concert (Turkish singer) and a very nice rock bar. Thanks for the drinks Myge!
30. 8. Kaleici, Photographing and the last party together.
People Chilling at the hotel and we went to Atatürk park with Antonio, Mark, Markus and me.
29.8. The European A1 - language level test. Plus last party together at Sami's place and Beach park.
It consisted of listening part, word recognition part, writing part and speaking part. I had 98% correct. Everybody passed.
28.8. The Turkish culture presentation, part of our EILC-course.
The days before we've been mostly preparing the cultural projects for the course. These were presented to the class. Very interesting presentations: Ethnical minorities in Turkey, Women's position in Turkey, Keyf (Hard to describe, wide meaning; something like a personal good feeling had through various ways), Turkish fairytales, Turkish food, Famous persons in Turkey, Dolmuş and Mosque and life around it.
25.8. Köprulu Kanyon, Rafting and rock bar, somewhere in the small shady streets of Kaleici.
Yes, Antalya has it all. This saturday our university organizers had organized rafting for us. The river wasn't really really strong but because we had several boats for our group we had many attacks, counterattacks and dropping people to the water. After rafting we had a nice lunch next to the river. The landscapes were undescribable.
The evening one of our organizers, Tuna, showed us a rock bar in Kaleici (the old town). The place was like any small, atmospheric rock bar in London or Paris. It was small, a bit dirty and live band was playing there Pink Floyd, Metallica etc. Apart from the landscapes and it's face Antalya is really European city with it's own specialities like any European country. There I met Ceren. A new Turkish friend.
24.8. Bazar and hotel party..
I'm now writing this bloody blog 3:26 in the night after our hotel party. Yeah, we had to stop the party when somebody had called the police. It was a good party. The reception had also called to our organizer in university. Why didn't they come straight to us to say their sayings? Strange kind of procedures.
The day I went to a Bazar buying my second sunglasses and a good bag. And now I'm going to sleep... Finally. Iyi uykular!
23.8. Termessos, north (?) from Antalya.
Sofian posing on top of the theater's backwall in Termessos. Altitude: a lot.
Termessos is an ancient city that was in its time unconquerable. Alexander the Great nor the Romans could do much against its tough people. It is situated on top of a mountain about 50 kms from Antalya.
Termessos was really beautiful. Think about ancient ruins entangled with folies and wild flora. Ruins that have fought well against the time with its temples, walls and theater. Under these ruins you can find holes or passages leading to underground. Underground behind the protecting ironbars you can see more hallways and big semi-circle doors that lead into the darkness. Indeed the place was found in the middle of the 20th century and it is still said to have many unveiled secrets.
It is said that Termessos has still many unveiled secrets.
Views from Termessos. Alexander the Great's son, who lost the war against his brother when dividing Alexander's empire, was trying to find shelter from unconquerable Termessos. He ended up making a suicide because the towns elders were going to give him up to his brother. After the picture I can breathe again.. pfff..
Nice place to see even with the 40 degrees heat and walking up to the city following a mountain path.
An old Artemis' Temple near our bus stop under the last sommit.
20.-22.8 Antalya, mostly studying.
19.8. Kemer, Windsurfing.
Finally I found a place to do windsurfing! Kemer.
In Antalya there isn't good places to do windsurfing. I heard rumours that in Kemer there would be windsurfing places and a shallower beach. Shallow beach means small waves even with higher winds. So off we go and I went to Kemer to see the place out for myself.
Kemer is a touristique city located on a very beautiful part of mediterranean coast. A perfect place for tourists looking out for tourist activities and tourist prices. To the spot it takes about 40 mins from Antalya with a comfortable bus that costs 4 YTL.
I finally found the only place to do windsurfing in Kemer, beach no. 30 (or something like that). The place was quite good I think and the owners very nice. Here I had my 2nd summer job offer. Before I was offered a place as a dancer in night clubs and also in private parties. "Full monty" is the word! This time it was as a windsurf instructor for next summer after learning turkish.
How was it again... Is the way how to do it..?
18.8. Mediterranean sea and an atmospheric boat trip with the Erasmus group and some international staff from Akdeniz University.
The boat trip was fantastic! It lasted the whole day until late evening. With the boat we travelled to different places along the southern coast of Turkey near the areas of Fethiye and Patara. This region was said to be the most beautiful region and worthfull of seeing. We travelled with the boat to different locations. One location was near a ruined city that was partly under water. Or so they said but there really wasn't that much to see as you could have expected.
17.8. Duden Selalesi and Darbuka. (The turkish words are incorrectly spelled because I lack the letters)
On friday I bought my first drum ever "Darbuka". I don't know how to play it but practice makes the master...
Friday, the conquerors of the waterfalls. In fact outside the picture there was lots of people having picnic or doing whatever. Sofian, Joonas, Mark, Toomas, Xanthi and Malciek.
After buying the drum I went to "Duden Selalesi" to tease people having picnic with my new drum. Duden Selalesi is a place with Tarzan-movie-like waterfalls and caves. There it's also possible to have a glimpse of other side of Turkey. Women in some families had scarves but mostly they were older people.
We were offered twice food from the families picnic-foods and we had some friends from there (which in Turkey isn't really hard). We were singing and dancing on top of the waterfalls with one Turkish family that was there on a holiday.
Cool, refreshing and bright water..
..I wonder what did that mean? Xanthi heard later that a French tourist had seen a snake in the pit..
14.8.-16.8. Antalya. Exploring the city, partying and studying Turkish.
Days go by studying, dinnering with friends, having small collisions with our Hotel and occasionally spending time at the beach.
Joonas, Toomas and Antonio. I found a way to the roof of our hotel with my dear roommates.
Night party on top of the roof of our hotel. Playing guitar, drumming chairs and singing.
Baddies on top of stairs to Ataturk park. Playing guitar while watching our Turkish friends having a debate under the stairs with Ataturk park's security. The reception didn't appreciate us being on the roof so went next to sea to Ataturk park. We weren't welcome guests there either. Little tension only made the evening better!
13.8. Antalya, Suite Laguna Hotel, Bed.
....Sleeping... And Dinnering with Helena, Xanthi, Antonio, Toomas and two Syrian guys from the hotel. I got more Arabian music and invitation to Dubai. Let's see if our plan of meeting up in Istanbul sometime works out.
11.8.- 12.8. 4 hrs North-west from Antalya, Pamukkale.
Stepping into another planet and strange binding of totally different histories and cultures.
In front of mineral formations in Pamukkale. Jerzi, Toomas, Nick, Joonas and Xanthi.
4 am in the morning I decided to go to Pamukkale for the weekend with my roommate Toomas, a greek girl Xanthi, Czeck Jerzi and British Nick. Palmukkale is famous for its "white water" and mineral formations. The water is white because of the minerals dissolved into the water. In the area there are also many well preserved ruins and ancient cities from the Roman times.
Pamukkale seems to be living of tourists. All the parts we saw were made for tourists apart from the "Bakkal" (small markets). But it wasn't a bad thing because it only boosted the friendliness of the people. Palmukkale really showed its smiling face under staggering sunlight reflected from the minerals.
Having slept 1,5 hrs I stepped onboard to the bus and the journey to inland and mountains began. After 4,5 hrs, 200 kms, small mountain roads and huge landscapes of dry green mountains we arrived to Denizli from where we took the Dolmus to Pamukkale. The trips in Turkey are really cheap. For example the Dolmus from Denizli to Pamukkale costed only 2 YTL (about 1€).
In Pamukkale I found a very nice Hotel: Hotel Turku. It was called hotel Turku after its first visitor. Finland is out in the world. Just nice to know because in fact we didn't take that hotel but an Australian one with a big pool. Price was huge 12,5 YTL/person (7€). This included breakfest and pool.
The first day was full of warmth and spontanity. We visited the Hieropolis (holy city) with the mineral formations, ancient Amphitheater, some more ruins and swimming pools with real pilars from Roman times.
When the others got tired we, me and Xanthi, continued exploring the further parts of the mountains. We encountered old women behind old Roman walls who were (maybe) illegally selling found artefacts from the region for example coins and little miniatures, we also found old tombs, st. Nicholaos' Church and lots of desert and small intriguing paths. By the way, St. Nicholaos is better known as Santa Claus today. After having ran out of water and managing our way back to this world we went to a really nice restaurant with a night view to the artistically lightened mineral formations. The restaurant was called Mehmet's heaven. A very atmospheric place with the coolest restaurant owner I've ever met - the "Papa".
A visit to unimaginable natural beauty: Just before leaving I fortunately had the urge to find out what lies behind the last place where my eyes couldn't see.
Long trek in acient world on the mountains without tourists, a visit to unimaginable natural beauty and then beer, Turkish food and good company under slightly ragged wooden roof sitting on big pillows. Then tasting some Nargile with Spanish chicas whom we met in the hotel. A perfect day ending into the pool.
Day ended into the hotel's pool. "Shhhhh... People are sleeping...." "Okay, now just we'll have a fight, okay? You try to hit my head, yeah, silently, okay?" "Hihihihi.."
Next day we visited Laodikya, another ancient Roman city and we encountered some "Ely" (Marihuana) when travelling back to Pamukkale from Laodikya.
To Laodikya we hitchiked, or in fact the guy came to ask from us if we needed a lift in the middle of the road, and we had a lift all the way to Laodikya through the entrance and past the ticket selling place. The guys were working as ticket salesmen. Free entrance. Good example of Turkish hospitality.
When walking back from the Laodikya we had beers in a bar next to road somewhere between Laodikya and Pamukkale. There the guys were apparently going to have big party and they were drying some odd leaves/flowers. We learnt that it was Marihuana. When we said we'd have to go to the bus for going back to Antalya and that we couldn't stay for the party they were disappointed. It felt like being in an old Spanish drug movie with dusty cars. Interesting encounters.
All in all a great trip!
5-12.8. Sunday, Suite Laguna Hotel.
The first week in some clauses.
I haven't had the time to write anything here on the blog so now on Sunday I'll write just a short description of happenings.
The first week has been awesome. It has got better and better all the time.
First of all the Language course is REALLY good and the 29 participants from all over Europe are really nice. We're having lessons of the language in the mornings and introductions to local habits and survival in Turkey on the afternoons until 15 or 16 O'clock and after that practising our learnt skills independently - or in other words free time to get to know Antalya. This is how language should be learnt!
The Turkish lessons are held by a very nice and professional Turkish woman, our "Hoca" (Teacher). Some in the course are feeling sometimes a bit hopeless with the fast speed and new Turkish words but because I studied them in advance I can also learn the new stuff faster. Way to go Joonas! Sometimes even the blind chicken finds a grain. (Finnish saying)
The survival course is my favorite. They are being held by a charmy British teacher who has of course been himself a foreigner in this country. He could be called the 008. He gives us advices how to be in Turkey and how to survive here. But the best thing is that he doesn't do it only theoretically. He gives us tasks. For example we have different kinds of trips around Antalya. First by foot and when being more comfortable with the surroundings using the local public transport and the way to travel in Turkish towns - the Dolmuþ. And also day trips and weekend trips to further away from Antalya.
Angry statue from the architectural museum of Antalya. The gigantic statue was found from Perge.
Along these tasks we've got a glimpse from the cultural richesses and possibilities of different activities in Antalya and a bit also in Turkey. I have to thank all the previous generations for making the Europe and world smaller and thus giving us the possibility to experience something like this.
Some important events:
5.8. Sunday. First swim in the Akdeniz (mediterranean sea) and first "cay" (Turkish Tea). First Turkish beer "Efes".
6.8. Monday. First Dolmuþ trip and first battlewound.
7.8. Tuesday. First evening dinner in our flat with the Swedish girls. In fact they're from Finland... I'm just waiting Jerzi to read this text...
8.8. Wednesday. First lucky eye got as a present from a nice salesman in a huge modern shopping mall "Migros".
Wednesday. Sculpture in Antalya's archaeological museum. Most of the artefacts were found from Perge.
9.8. Thursday. First political and religeous conversations and first Turkish dances with some Turkish friends during dinner which carried on until early morning with a slight taste of "raký".raký is a very traditional Turkish strong alcohol drink that should be drank with tasting different cheeses and fruits. Cok Teþekkurler for the good company and nice evening guys!
10.8. Friday. First taste of the "Beach parc":s night parties and first night swim in the turquoise blue waters.
5.8. Sunday, Suite Laguna Hotel. Antalya, Turkey.
The arrival of the VIP
At 01:15 a.m. I left the hemlikt Sverige. After missing the first train and having some stressfull situations I made it to the check-in 40 mins before departure. But fortunately there was a really vacker tjej in other side of the desk. I shared the whole big Boeing with 15 other passengers. I just had to film the departure in secret... Sorry Teemu!
VIP? Yes, that's how it felt like arriving to the airport. I found my luggage after being led with smiles and personal signs saying "Joonas Uotinen". Even during the trip with the airport bus I was seated next to the driver and the airport worker went to stand with the other passengers.
In the hotel First day was spent sleeping, getting to know the hotel and visiting the beach. I met my other roommate when I entered the room Sunday morning at 10 am. After some getting to know each other we soon found out that Estonia and Finland really are quite close to each other. Painless and sleepy arriving.
4.8. Saturday, ferry. Turku Archipelago.
The impressions of Beginning, Vinho Sional Peiras White "Mateus" and Picnic-cookies on Titanic.
I love departing. It's like the short still moment when you're standing in front of the open aeroplane door with parachute on your back. You plan and prepare for the jump a long time but still the doorway always surprises you. It comes unexpected. And then you hear the signal: "MENE!" and all you can sense is the wind blowing and tossing your body.
Last sights from Turku archipelago.
The morning was strange. My train had arrived to Turku from Helsinki and our AWESOME summer university "Living by the lakes" the day before, Friday, at 20:58. I packed all night long with some small after-thoughts: "Damn, I should've come earlier!" After sleeping 5:30 am - 6:27 I had my third realisation of the long trip ahead: I am really going to Turkey for half a year! I've been taking care of the preparations for months but I never really had time to think about the trip really. Now it was ahead and I felt like it all would've been a surprise. It just came when you least expected it.
The ferry departed. So this is how it felt when there was no airplanes and people left from their homes on steamboats to unknown destinations.
It's easy to depict people waving back to you from the port and you're watching, twisted between the melancholic urge to stay and enthusiast of adventure.
The departing ship.
Nice weather. Hoolaa, not bad! The sun is shining from nearly a clear sky and the deck is drying up from the sun. I engage a conversation with a german girl.
They're a group from IASTE, if I got it right, and going to åland to cycle. When they founded a good spot to sleep open-air I thought: why wouldn't I? So I took 2 pillows from the cabin.
I covered them with the rain cover from my rugsack and moved to meeting point 1. Meeting with the cashier of Tax-Free. I returned to deck, took a place, put my MP3-player on and I opened a Mateus -white wine from Portugal.
After eating some Biscuit Crackers with different cheeses from a cheese-picnic pack I tested my pillow. And it was good. It's the small things of life that make it liveable :D
White wine and Cream Crackers.
The day is not over yet. The end of the day I fought with Swedish language. When in Sweden I ate at my friends place delicious Swedish pasta :P And afterwards we visited a drink bar somewhere near "Därmedpasta". Nougat Daiquiri is good.
Tack Pernilla!
The nougat Daiquiri with Josefin and Pernilla.
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