Vivaldi four seasons and the garbage truck

2013/09/21

Only in Antalya, does the garbage pickup truck come playing classical music while tourists sit at the breakfast table discussing circumcision.  :)  Maybe it is the sun or the company or the fresh Turkish air, but everyone is getting little more silly by the day.  The conversation started with the observation that there are many stray dogs and cats all over Turkey.  People here take care of them and actually like them hanging out. Our very talented guide is writing a book about the benefits of having animals hanging out in the towns but these animals are fixed, unlike India.

Antalya and the evil eye

Morning Walk

Today was a hard earned rest day. We walked around the old town looking for a laundry place and then Behlul showed us the Pagen Temple which became the Roman temple which became the Church which became the Mosque which became the ruins that are there now. Complete human history of over 4000 years, in one seemingly insignificant place. Turkey is like this:  no matter where you look and which civilization you talk about, they were here at some point or another.  And now, they are here as tourists.

Laundry Lady

Laundry

Antalya old town is very quaint and old. The gates and the wall goes back to Roman times and the homes inside are built by Ottomans and date back to 1700 to 1800.  Lots of them are gift shops and hotels but the charm of the old world is there and the Mediterranean with the warm water is right there.

Carpet Shopping

Bookstore owner

Old Town

Ruins and Church

The restaurants have an open court yard inside and our lunch place was run by a grandma, a mom, two cute kids and a turtle (it was just wandering around). Shopping was fun, we were always offered tea along with a taste of spices. The tourism is very low because of the Syria crises and it is a shame because Turkey is not Syria and is a secular country.

Restaurant Owner's kids

Roman Gates

Spices

Gourd art

Streets

Restaurant Turtle

It was hot and humid ( high 80’s) so after a little siesta, we went out again for shopping and dinner and the music, light, and water show at the main square.  A big crowd of local people was gathered and they were really enjoying the festivities which ended with the projections of Ataturk and patriotic music, everyone was clapping.

Nightlife

I should be sleeping now but a big group of drunk British tourists are singing , “three little ducks” and other nursery rhymes at the top of their voices :)  Still I will go in and try to sleep.  Good night…