“Cathedrals of the Flesh” her ebook in progress was inspired in Bath, England, home to a lovely Cathedral on the site of one of the sacred mineral water/spas built by the Romans as they cut a trail across Europe.
Hydrotherapy has a myriad of obvious health benefits like treatment of sore muscles, back pain, insomnia, and arthritis, to surprising health benefits like treatment of diabetes, stress, weight loss, and heart failure. Hydrotherapy also promotes circulation ridding your body of toxins and stimulating your immune system, and is an alternative for people who have joint pain or obesity making exercising unfeasible.
Maya Hotel
Traveling across Turkey from Ankara, I arrived late afternoon expecting a few comfortable days to myself in Bodrum. Thanks again to Enver Anczak, who arranged my stay at the Maja Hotel and organized a meet and greet with two very popular, clever Turkish culinary experts, who happen to be gorgeous women.
The room was nice and had a fridge. Unfortunately, the internet connection only really worked in the lobby, but the hotel was on a rather quiet, residential road, about a block away from all the action. The pool sparkled for my morning laps. It was comfortable. I met many people at breakfast, who returned yearly.
Confirming that English is spoken at this family inn. Feel free to call and send Emails www.bodrummaja.com
It was here, at the Maja, after a nice Turkish breakfast that I experienced the magical healing powers of pomegranate juice. Within less than an hour, I could feel the fruit’s detoxification working on my kidneys. Pomegranate trees are everywhere in Turkey, and the juice can be found in the simplest markets – sometimes paired with anti-inflammatory cherry juice, for about $1.00. In Cesme, Masut Saygi, my sainted tour guide at AKTIF Travel told me that his grandmother always claimed, “Pomegranates are the cure for “42” different diseases”.
The Harbor is filled with beautiful boats available for charter, and people enjoying the sunsets at bars and cafes. Magic hour, gave me just enough time to map-out the magnificent castle and its brand new, equally magnificent Maritime Museum, nestled within.
At dusk, I decided on a small restaurant on the main street, past the town square, next to a farmers market. Luckily I’ve become a new fan of “Marius” who posted this video. It’s a visual description of exactly what I saw my first night in Bodrum. I’ve requested permission to share. Enjoy! http://youtu.be/-yHoqYMsljQ
The next day, I made sure I walked the entire town, starting with the castle that sits out onto the water. It has a colorful history of the invasion of many nations. The forts from each country were built to offer a strategic vantage point facing in the direction of various probable marauders.
Before I began the climb up, I stopped in one of the most unique art galleries ever visited, right there on the property.
The Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology is located in the Bodrum Castle of The Knights of St.John. It is not just a rusty collection of lifeless relics, it’s a treat for anyone interested in what treasures lie beneath the deep blue sea. Well done! For more info: http://www.bodrum-museum.com/
Managed to connect with Enver’s contacts Selen and Pelin for tea in the Bodrum “Marina”. I didn’t know the Marina was on the other side of the Bodrum Harbor. There was no way of letting them know I was running because I had outlived the two week limit on my sim card. Fortunately, it was a beautiful day and they had faith that I would show. Thank goodness! It was meant to be. And, that’s not all!
These adorable Turkish goddesses established a cooking school in Bodrum. Their walking/sailing – culinary tours are trez unique! Trust me on this, take the time to check out their very cool, very inviting website for more: www.culinarybodrum.com
It was a long day, but also my last night, so I stopped in a popular spot on the strip. I never imagined I’d be listening to a group of musicians, directly from … Cuba!
Kusadasi – Ephesus was meant to be my next stop, but it was not to be. Euphesus is at the top of my list when I return to Turkey. If you’d like to know more about what we missed: http://youtu.be/w96kNceE3n4
The rain wasn’t the only reason I asked the owner of the Maya Hotel to order a taxi for me. It sounded like a great solution to have help purchasing the ticket and ensure that I would be standing on the right corner for the right bus. Bodrum has a very big, busy, bus station. On my way into Bodrum, the bus driver dropped a few of us on the side of the highway, instead of the bus station in town. Looking back, it may have been because the overpass was packed with goats… Sometimes goats happen in Turkey.
When my taxi driver/helper, asked my final destination, not knowing the difference, I told him Alacate, in Izmir, instead of Ephesus. Alacate is which is where my bus finally unloaded me – in the town square – more than seven hours later.
Four hours into the journey, I knew something was lost in the translation when the bus stopped in busy Euphuses, the bus driver shook his head, “no”. If I wasn’t unloading here, I could only hope we weren’t far from my destination. Wrong. It was uphill and down again, hours away.
I wouldn’t want to repeat it, but I’m not sorry. This 71/2 bus trip was a great opportunity to experience more of Turkey’s beautiful, rich countryside up close: mountains of marble, ancient ruins, great roads and transportation by land and by sea, Unesco sites and natural wonders. And, many, many newly built mosques, along with their familiar and by now, welcome call to prayer.
This could have been planned better with a proper internet connection in my room and a cell phone that worked. Communication in Turkey is complicated. Visitors are granted cell phone use for two weeks. Any longer, there’s a bunch of fees and registration with the gov… I know better now and try to remember it’s all part of the journey.
About six hours in, we took a road a fair distance off the beaten path to drop off a local, closer to home. Another hour and a half, we arrived in charming Alacate…
Alacate, Turkey
Iceland
Spent a delightful week in little Iceland, where I am happy to report, I soaked with the locals on a daily basis…in different places, all over town.
One can’t help but notice being surrounded by beautiful people, in spirit, as well as in person.
There’s an active nightlife that starts lining up around midnight, where we partied till dawn…
Better than I imagined in so many ways, I found an Airbnb in an excellent location. My Colorado friends found a package deal at the Hilton, which when I booked at the last minute, was up to $178. 00, a night, which was about a total of 3 lovely days in Konni’s residential neighborhood. I found a shortcut to the Hilton, which was basically across the street. We met at the bus stop nearby, for a sightseeing loop around Reykjavik.
Just down the street, I discovered a wonderful sculpture garden and Art gallery.
Along with the room, Konni included tickets for complimentary visits to one of the nearby public thermal pools, requiring a commitment to join him and his daughter for a soak the first night. Perfect! I had no idea about the Icelandic custom of daily bathing. Coincidentally, I found myself reading about Hitler’s man in the area during the war in a local newspaper. Seems he was looking for more of the uber race but decided these people were useless as their only passion was water, drinking it, and soaking in it.
Iceland United in Health
My host had me feeling like I was part of his Reykjavik family. The atmosphere in the house is lay-back and easy. He and his friend, a local organic farmer, joined my friends and me for a delicious meal at a fabulous Icelandic Tapas restaurant. It’s a favorite for both. The food is yummy. I never ran into the famous stinky fish everyone talks about. I did try a taste of puffin but passed on the whale.
On another evening, while I planned tours for the next day, the two of us cooked a meal together and watched some Icelandic TV, mostly the Olympics, but plenty of Hollywood’s current fare with Icelandic Sub-titles.
We used www.Sternatravel.com for our tour of the countryside and geysers which was fine. My only regret is that I booked a big guns bus tour for the Northern Lights sighting. I should have guessed we’d be joining at least 20 other bega busses at a tourist trap. I wish I had known about the boat tour and getting out to sea. https://specialtours.is/tour/northern-lights-by-boat/
I suggest you take time to study travel guides to Iceland before you get there. My host, Konni emailed a bunch of great information, including picking up alcohol at the airport when arriving in Iceland.
It’s much cheaper and gave me a chance to taste, before bringing home the local brew, – Brennivin, – which tastes of caraway, and a lot like the Danish Akvavit.
He also told me where to catch the bus to his place. I never felt threatened, only welcomed every step of the way.. Icelanders are truly Vikings. Expect to be struck by the Scandinavian beauty of these men and women as well as by their total presence when they speak with you. There’s great respect for women in Iceland by both genders. It’s nice to be in a country where women are equal to men.
The local pools, especially on a Saturday night are an experience not to be missed. Yes, there is someone in the shower supervising your scrub in all the right places while you are nude.
Afterward, grab an Icelandic hot dog, in your flavor of choice.
Don’t expect a Chicago Dog!
And oh, by the way, I did visit the Penis Museum one afternoon. Depending on how you look at the view from Uptown to Downtown Reykjavik
it, it wasn’t all that surprising, unless you’re talking about the Soccer team penises…
Reykjavik Penis Museum