...remember that I have been roughing it for almost a year now! I was lucky enough to be able to make a fabulous trip to Antalya in Turkey this past week. It was a much needed diversion and one of the most relaxing vacations that I have ever been on. Liza, Andrea and I flew to Antalya to start on our adventure. We stayed in a great little pension in the old town area of Antalya. We had just enough time for a morning walk around the old town and the harbor before we headed for the boat.
Relaxing breakfast at the pension Sabiyah in old town Antalya.
Interesting statue in the harbor park. You know how I love hands!!!!!
Some pre-Roman ruins in old town Antalya.
The amazing harbor of Antalya.
Look, in our defense, it was after 12:00 in Turkey before we broke out the wine. This is what most of our days on the boat looked like. Sun, cool breezes, wine and beautiful scenery. Just what I needed! There were about 10 passengers on the boat, (all but one of which spoke German!), so I had a lot of fun practicing my increasingly rusty German!!!!!
When we told Liza "down the hatch!" she took it a bit literally!
One of the amazing views of the coastline of western Turkey.
Liza showing off her amazing card-playing skills.
We did get off the boat one day to explore the ruins of a pre Roman ampitheater. It was a beautiful day and definitely time to get off the boat and walk around a bit.
In conjunction with the ampitheater were these Lycean rock tombs. They were tombs that were carved into the volcanic rock on the hillsides. It was really beautiful and very interesting!
Some of the friezes from the tombs just laying out in the gravel in front of the ampitheater. It was interesting that they were just out on the ground and people could touch them, sit on them, etc.
Last day of the boat trip was a side trip into Demre (conveniently the town where our Villa was located!) The statue is the statue of St. Nickolaus, the real priest that the modern day Santa Claus was patterned after. He was the bishop of Myra and well known for his good deeds in the area (especially in caring for the children). This is the church where he was buried. It is a very popular tourist attraction for many people in the Orthodox faith.
The tomb of St. Nicholaus. Many visitors were buying icons and then pressing them to the outside of his tomb to bless them.
Back on the boat for our last evening, it was nap time for the girls! Close quarters, but very comfortable.
After we left the boat, we were brought to Fezay's restaurant to wait for our car to the villa. We lounged on the pillows and rugs like a bunch of harem girls while they brought us wine and food. Not a bad life at all...
This is villa we rented for the last few days we were in Turkey. We cooked, drank wine and layed out in the sun some more!
The rock beach and access to the see a few hundred meters from our front door....
Our last day in Antalya trying to soak up our last rays and drink in a little more ocean air. It was a fabulous vacation, and I came back refreshed and ready to finish out my school year (just a little over one more week to go!) I hope everyone is doing well and that plans are underway for an amazing summer of your own!
9 comments:
A well deserved break! Glad you had what looks like a lovely time. MISS YOU....
Happy Mother's Day Jennifer!
All our colleagues from Turkey and Romania rave about the beauty in thier part of the world. We enjoy your pictures. They lend credence to thier words.
Your colleagues in former PV HIgh are probably salivating over your photos: they're knee deep in AP exams, senior shows, senior-itis, graduation, more exams, and then finally on June 6th SUMMER break.
3 more weeks until graduation for our household. No one told me the last month of their schooling would be so emotionally intense.
I feel proud and nostalgic at the same time as my babies get ready to fly the coop. Hmmm...maybe you did the right thing...joining Peace Corps; there will 2 less in my very large household next year... and then short years after that, another 2 less. They are all welcome to bring as many friends home from college....you too, you can bring home as many friends too!!!
Love, Maria
hey girl,
seems like you had some fun down in turkey! I am glad you went on this trip, you deserved it! Still love and miss you quite a bit Jen!
Big hug, ich hab dich gern!! Andi
Andi, Are you getting ready to take care of two of my favorite people in the world? Have you and Markus figured out when you are going to come and see me you big chicken shits!?!?!?
Maria, I can't believe that you are already graduating one of yours! I highly recommend the Peace Corps as a solution to the empty nest syndrome. They encourage couples in the over 20 range to apply together or you could do it by yourself. You get to something great for the world and see a bit of it as well. Not a bad deal...
Well Jen,
I just came back from Dublin, Ireland, and I must say that this is the place you and I need to go to as soon as possible. I have never met a happier people on any of my journeys. They actually celebrate and drink all day long, 24/7/365 - it is unreal!!!!
As for my personal trip to Europe's East side, that does not depend as much on me as it does on Markus. Can you provide a healthy vegetarian diet for him? When we passed the feed lots in Arizona and southern California, he turned into a vegetarian and he has practieced that ever since. That is also unreal!!!
As for Jeremy and Margie, yes, we are prepared. Margie wants a big July 4 party and she is bringing "lots of stuff in red-white-blue" (end of quote). You know what she will do to our genuine German castle ....
I need to go back to Dublin ASAP, I am just waiting for Jermey to be here and tell me when he can come, because I want him to go there with us!
Well that was quite an update - hope you're fine down there and getting ready for one of those fantastic mediterranean-like Moldovan summers. Someone once told me they might get pretty hot at times ...
Love you big time,
Andi (A Newly Dublin-Intoxicated)
If you guys come in the summer or early Fall, I can definitely promise Markus a delicious vegetarian diet. It is a bit harder in the winter, so no promises then. You guys need to come and see me! I will definitely go to Dublin with you some time. Sounds like the place for me!!!!! Take good care of Margie and Jeremy while they are there with you. I can't wait to see them!!!!
Sheeeeeitttttt!!!!! that Dublin place sounds preety goood!!!!!!!
Not that alcohol has anything to do with it ..... could be just everybody over there is just real mellow that's all..........I mean, really, who would want to be in a place where drinking was taking place 24/7/365........................
Well OK, we would..... Ireland huh?
Interesting......................
OHHH!!! Dublin is first on my list after Rome..and of course Rome will be crossed off after August...Deno you have to wait for me.....I'm dying to do one of those pub crawls I have heard so much about...
Jenn....the pictures are fabulous....miss you and cannot wait to see you in August
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