Adventure Stage 7 - Ephesus

Jerry and I arrived in Selchuk (near the ancient city of Ephesus).  We checked into a cheap hostel.  We met Andrea (a Danish lady) who was checking out.  Within a few minutes, we had all jumped on the bus together (with a bunch of foreigners) to go tour Ephesus.  Andrea, Jerry, and I became travel buddies for the day.  During the Ephesus tour, we got to know each other a bit better.  

Let me tell you a bit more about Jerry for a minute.  He's of Asian descent, but he's never been to Asia.  He gets a little stressed with uncertainty (uncertainty is what adventure travel is all about!), but he seems to check himself.....and deals with the stress ok.  He's a good traveler....always plans ahead.  He had checked his 'Lonely Planet' guides before coming on this leg of a trip and he knew where he wanted to go and what to do.  He had read about some of the history of Ephesus before coming.  

Andrea....(along with about 199 other tourists) all had their 'Lonely Planet - Turkey' travel guides with them.  She seemed to have most of the book memorized.....and she read large portions to us as we went from site to site.

I'm ok with history......but honestly.....I don't need all the detail.  I'm not sure she appreciated my comments of 'What's Lonely Planet got to say about this trash can here??' or 'What's lonely planet say about those airplanes over there???'

A few more details on Andrea.  Turns out, Andrea works as a journalist for a ladies magazine similar to 'Cosmpolitan' in Denmark.  She writes the weekly gossip column in this magazine (as she says, all the latest trash on celebrities, politicians, etc.).  A recent article she wrote was about the actor Orlando Bloom (he's been in Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean).  Bloom had some problems as they were filming his recent movie 'Troy' (that's also located here in Turkey, by the way).  Seems that Orlando doesn't have much chest hair, so that had to make him a big ol' chest wig for the film.....in an effort to make him more 'manly'.  (I can't believe people would read this stuff.....but apparently many do, because Andrea is paid well enough to travel the world - she's been in 43 countries).  

Between sites of ruins (and still reading 'Lonely Planet'), Andrea told us more about herself, her job, her world travels, and the fact that she is on the pill (birth control) and those cause big hormonal changes which alter her mood.  Jerry and I nodded solemnly in agreement with her as though we fully understood this.  Though, secretly, we really had no clue.

After Ephesus, my new travel companions and I headed to the beach.  I'm not a great swimmer, but I'm getting better.  I let Andrea and Jerry take the first dip in the sea (while I stayed behind and kept an eye on our stuff).  They returned after a while with reports of how great the water was, so I decided to head in.  I arrived at the shoreline just in time to see some naked little kid take a dump where I was about to enter the water.  His father quickly removed the evidence, but I had witnessed the crime.  I decided to enter the water at another location.    

We swam more in the Aegean sea, watched Para gliders fly behind boats out over the water, chatted more, and just took in the sun.  Andrea was reading some trashy romance novel.....possibly generating ideas for her next gossip column.  She also brought us up to date on the lives of gay politicians in Denmark.  Jerry and I again nodded as we listened.....not really knowing how to respond.

I made 2 important decisions today:

1)  I bought the tickets....I'm going to brave the masses in Athens.

2)  I like having travel companions (they sure make life interesting sometimes). 

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We had all parted ways by the time I was leaving for the boat the next day.  Remember how I said I'd met some Australians in Istanbul?  Well.....they are all over the place.  I met three more groups of them (six people) before 9 a.m.  The Aussies and I all get on a ferry headed to the Greek island of Samos.  A guy wearing a t-shirt that said 'I AM THE TASMANIAN DEVIL!!' checked our passports, and we boarded.  

I crossed paths with 2 of the Australian ladies again later on the island, and we had lunch together.  Let me tell you....the world is full of interesting people.  These 2 ladies are jewelry makers in Melbourne.  They both own their own businesses and they love to travel the world together.  Claire is tall and a very 'chit-chatty' extravert.  Joanne is quiet but willingly answered whatever stupid questions this American asked about Australia.  All these Australians I'm meeting continue to impress me.....they are warm and sociable.  They headed for the beach.....I headed for my next ferry.....I was on the way to Athens.  

For the first time on the trip, I had no bed to sleep in.  I was wishing I'd brought my sleep mat.  But, I found a place on the floor....bedded down best I could.....then went to sleep....with visions of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' in my head as I drifted off to sleep.

He came at 12:00.....awakening me from a DEEP sleep.  He actually looked (and acted) a bit like the father in 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'.  I think he must have been with the 'Sleep Police'.  He was prowling around....barking out orders to people both in English and in Greek.  For some reason, he didn't like the position I was in on the floor.  He yelled at me first in Greek....then switched over to English. 

He seemed to think I should be sleeping on the seats, and not the floor (like at least 50 other people were doing).  If you've ever seen me awakened unexpectedly.....you know I'm not a happy camper when it happens.  He came back 5 minutes later, ranting and raving again about me not being in the seats.  Somehow - I managed not to mouth off or give him the finger.  I didn't want grouchy Greek Grandpa to wake me again.....so I crawled up into the seats and went to sleep.  He disappeared.....to go torment some other un-knowing souls.

Woke up early to see bright stars, a rough sea (the boat was rocking quite a bit) and the sun beginning to peek over the mountains on the Greek mainland.  A beautiful sunrise as we pulled in a few minutes later to dock in Athens.  We passed the largest boat I've ever seen......the 'Queen Mary 2' from England.  300+ passengers scurried out....eager looks on their faces.  We had arrived at the Olympics.

Stay tuned next for a crazy day in Athens.........