Ok, you'd think from this photo (lack of patrons) that everyone is doing great over here. I'm guessing their motto doesn't cover gastrointestinal issues.

This is the hilltop village of Ildir (ancient Greek city of Erythe). Founded by the Ionians with Hellenistic and Byzantine ruins speckled around. It's so easy to take all the history here for granted because it's everywhere.


Church ruins on the hilltop.


Now who wouldn't want to pet the lonely donkey on top of the hill...


Ah, he's guarding the hill and we have a rental car that won't start. I went ahead and coined the phrase "don't pet the donkey" at this time. Be sure to click this photo for a close up - is that not the meanest looking donkey?

Ok, so back to the rental car issue. We didn't know at the time what was wrong with the car, it ran ok (with a little extra knocking) but would only start after sitting still for about an hour. It turned out later that the gas station attendant put gas in instead of diesel (yep, all stations here are Full Service). But we managed to drive the car back to Izmir without blowing it up. I read later that diesel is heavier than gas, so I think that's why it would start after sitting still a bit, because there was at least a 1/4 tank of diesel in it. I was expecting a hefty bill from the rental company, but they topped it off with diesel and it ran fine, whew!

This is the town of Alacati just inland from Cesme. We stayed in the Tas Otel pictured above. This was a wine region when the Greeks were here. When they left, the Turks and Eastern European immigrants didn't know viticulture so the vineyards were destroyed and replaced with tobacco plantations. Since then the vineyards have been restored (as has the town) and the area is also becoming popular with windsurfers.

http://www.tasotel.com/index.html

This is the seaside resort area of Cesme. Behind Anke is the Cesme Castle built by the Ottoman Empire in 1508. If she looks a little nervous, it's because the rental car doesn't want to start (later it turned out the gas station attendant put Gas in our Diesel car) nice!

Inside the Castle. Lots of torsos - heads, not so much.

If the ferry passengers only knew.

I forgot to ask why all the tombstones are lined up in here. Seems as good a place as any.

Photo Contest

This was the second entry that placed. I titled it Clock Tower Chaos. It was taken at the famous Izmir Clock Tower. I used a fast shutter setting while panning the camera with the flight path of the birds to get this shot.

Photo Contest

I recently decided to enter a local photo contest. I managed to finish in 3rd place in both categories. This was one of the winners. I call it Purring Pergamon (due to location, and well you get the rest). Not sure if you can see them all in this picture, but there are a total of 7 kitties. They look to be all related. I was surprised the shop keeper allowed them on top of his textiles, but business was slow that day.

Random Izmir Photos

1st Kordon at night. As you can see, the European "Cafe Life" is well in effect here. Canopies, windows, and heaters keep the patron sitting outside regardless of time or temperature. Too bad we don't have more of that stateside.


Night shot of the city I took while staying in the hotel when I arrived. You can just make out a castle on top of the hill - more on that later.


I have nothing to back this up, but I swear the ferry boats race at times. In this picture the inside ferry came in at speed only slowing after passing the other. Often, as a passenger or standing on the dock, you'd swear they are going to run aground but somehow they stop in time. Exhilarating. And yes you step straight from the moving boat onto a wheeled ramp positioned precariously at the bow - no OSHA here in Turkey.


Night shot of the Kordon from ferry.


On the weekends, especially Sunday, most ferries are given a rest.


One of the many Squares on the Kordon. More on the statue and meaning once I figure it out.

View from apartment

View North - You can barely see the district of Karshaka on the far side of the bay. Off to the right behind the palm trees is where the cruise ships dock once a week. I can tell when they arrive without even looking - I hear the horse drawn carriages taking the tourists up and down the Kordon’s cobblestone streets.


View South - As the Kordon fades off you can see one of the many monuments and public squares that line it.


Sunsets are amazing. Even the ships awaiting their turn in the port are nice to watch, unless their lights are aimed at your window (time to close the privacy curtains).


Nights on the Kordon range from mildly active with the typical dining crowd, to wild on football (soccer) nights, and extreme on evenings they have open-air events, concerts, etc. Luckily I have 4 doors I can close between the balcony and my bedroom. I enjoy all the commotion though when I’m home alone in an empty and quiet apartment.

Apartment - Living Room

My living room/dining room/den (taken from my desk). I pretty much live in this room to savor the view, departing only to cook and sleep. Yep, you guessed it, I’m paying a bit over my housing allowance for this location, but the view gives me some badly needed inspiration. I'll snap a few more pictures after I've cleaned up a bit.

1st Kordon, Izmir

This is the 1st Kordon (Ataturk Caddesi) where I live. The bottom floor of each apartment building has either a cafe, restaurant, or pub. The green area includes a rubberized walking/running path, bike path, promenade, and area for fishing (I work with one of the architects who designed it). The silver/black building on the left is one of the many Ferry Terminals. Ferries are cheap and a great way to get around the bay or to just take a mini cruise for lunch. Public transportation here is abundant, with Taxis used to fill the gaps. This is considered the most important street in Izmir and as such is named after Mustafa Ataturk, the founding father of the Turkish Republic. Most Embassies, Consulates, and big wigs of Izmir live within its 2 mile length.