Winter Wanderlust

I look forward to my 15-day vacation in Turkey - where Europe meets Asia:) I have wanted to go there for a long, long time. Now that I have annual leaves to clear, this is the best time. I have never experienced Winter before, so I thought why not. And I consulted blogger Simah, she loves the Winter there.

It is quite a tedious affair as I don't want to take a full travel-agent guided trip, just a free and easy package. Those trips are too hectic, and moving in a large group annoys me. So now, I'm almost done, the airline and accommodation part at least, and cultural dinner show. Domestic transportation (bus/train) and daily tours are still somewhere in the middle. I can arrange daily tours when I get there, but searching online and booking in advance means I can at least get the lowest deals.

I shall start with Istanbul, maybe Bursa, Canakkale (Galiopoli & Troy), Selcuk (Ephesus, Didyma, Priene, Miletus, Pergamum) and finally Pamukkale (Hierapolis, Aphrodisias). My Austrian hotelier ex-colleague invited me to Antakya, he can take me to visit the project sites of the millionaire that he is working for. We see how it goes, the cost is not much, but I have to fly there for a day trip, it may be too tiring. I'd rather go to Bursa, I think.

Oh ya, I'm going alone. Again, why not. I'm quite nervous but to get a partner means it may never happen, like I said, it's a tedious arrangement. My friends either can't take leave at the same time, cant afford it or may have a different idea altogether. I can't be consulting another person on top of all this complexity. Going alone also means I have to be very prepared and avoid leaving things to chance.

Luckily, Mr Designer offers to send me to the airport. As always, he doesn't like the idea of me taking a cab. He even delayed his programme with his kids on Friday evening to send me home & have a quick dinner together near my place - I had to bring back my new winter jacket, thermal underwear, wool socks, etc,etc that I bought at a shop near my office, so he helped carry my bags to his car. He advised me in detail on what to pack and to travel light. He would have made a good travel companion, too bad he can't afford it. Anyway, lately, his actions show that he cares a lot about me, though it may not be romantically. I haven't gotten a chance to write about this yet, but a lot has happened since he parted with his partner, for the better too. Later ya, long story.

Enjoy the photos of the places I will be staying - 50% four-star hotels and 50% pensions/quirky inns, they are in reversed order. Yeah, my hotel in Istanbul has its own Hamam:)