Turkey - Koycegiz

 

We hoped on the FEZ bus in Kasadasi at 9am

Our first stop was at a leather shop for a model show . . . .  and then they tried to sell us the modelled leather jackets.  These had prices of 600 Euro and up on them but they said “we do you special deal” and would 3rd this price.  Only one taker in the group.  We can’t get into the frame of mind to buy a winter leather jacket now when temperatures are well above 30degrees.

Our second stop was at a ceramic art place.  A man whom they call “superman” demonstrated how pottery was made.  He was very very cleaver.  Again we were told prices on items did not matter and he could do us a good deal, especially since we were the first group of the day and the first group always gets “good deal” so that the rest of their day goes well. . . . .

No purchases were made . . . . .

We then made our way to a small village where we walked around and did some wine tasting.  There were many flavours which we tried, peach, strawberry, kiwifruit, cranberry, blueberry . . .  the list goes on.

   

   

We had lunch at this village and then spent the next few hours on the bus.  We stopped at a view which overlooked a well known kitesurfing spot – mike’s eyes lit up!

After about an hour on the bus we finally reached our destination of Koycegiz, where we were to spend the night.

The view from our room terrace

 

We borrow bikes from our accommodation and road around the village of Koycegiz

After we had had dinner at the hostel we went out for a night tour with an Aussie couple from the FEZ bus.  This involved a boat ride (with a couple of cocktails), the famous mud baths and then a midnight swim in the lake.  Only 4 of us were keen so we had to pay a little more to get the driver keen, the boat seated about 60 odd people so it was a little odd just the four of us.  He said the view from the roof was the best and that it was a cooler temperature (it was 9pm when we got on but still bit 30s and humid) so we all climbed onto the roof of the drivers cabin and made ourselves comfortable. 

   

It took us about an hour to cross the Koycegiz lake to where the mud baths were.  We all jumped (Well Trace lowered herself) in the mud.  It was a very strange experience to be splashing about in mud.  The pool was about thigh deep with a good 15 centimetres of thick stodgy mud in the bottom. 

The thick density of the mud made you float which was a very strange feeling, no matter what you did you just floated on top of the muddy water.  Mike was in heaven, he was taken back to his childhood days of playing in the mud and absolutely loved it!!

After we had had enough of being covered in mud we washed ourselves off in the shower and proceeded to the thermal bath – this was just like the ones in Rotorua, we felt most at home – the poor Aussies though . . . .

Back on the boat and heading back across the lake to our hostel we stopped of a midnight swim in lake, this was like going for a bath, it was so warm (there are thermal springs).

 

That night we all sleep like logs. . . . which reminds us they are currently doing Rumadal which is when they do not eat or drink (even water) between the hours of 4.30am and 9.30pm.  At these times a drum is played to signals these times.  Mike has not heard this at all while in Turkey – he can sleep through anything!