where in the world is steph.... Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -- Mary Oliver

Greetings everyone!
 Turkey proved to be great. We left Selcuk on a night bus and headed north to Gallipoli, the site of a very important battle durring world war one. many aussies and kiwis died and it has since become somewhat of a mecca for twenty somethings from New Zealand and Australia. The history was facinating, and the scenery beautiful. After the tour Kim and I said goodbye to Glenn who was headed back to Greece, and we took another night bus to Istanbul. We convinced our shuttle driver to take us directly to the hostel we wanted to stay at and actually got to sleep in a bed for about half a night! Istanbul was amazing, we went to the Blue Mosque, Aysa Sophia, Grand Bizzare, Biscillica Cysterns (all under ground too cool). We had to spend a fare amount of time organizing our future travel plans but still managed to see and do a lot. Would love to go bacK! I left kim in Istanbul she was flying back to London, and I took yet another night bus to a place very far south called Mamaris. The bus got held up for over an hour at what turned out to be the ferry crossing, however I started to panic that I too got stuck in the bus strike that Glenn had the day before. Everything turned out all right. Somewhere in the 14hrs on the bus, this little girl decided she was fascinated with me. We played peek-a -boo for a about an hour. her dad tried talking to me, but I understand not one work of Turkish, despite my efforts. Next thing I know he pics up his daughter and hand her to me. I was speechless. Couldn't imagine that happening on the Greyhound bus at home. After they got off the bus driver made me sit up front so I could see better. He and the cunducter proceeded to point out things in Turkish, but I enjoyed myself regardless. The bus got pulled over by the police at one point and searched, stil don't know what that was about. Mamaris was touristy to the max. Although I did stay in a youth hostel located in the covered market.

The next day headed on a fast ferry to Rhodos (Rhodes). Am staying at this crazy place called Mike and Mamas. They have an amazing view from the roof, and run a restraunt along with the pension. It is located in Old Town so I am surrounded by a moat (dried up of corse) and fortified walls, can't beat that! When I arrived everyone was still in bed, so Mike told me to just go up sto room 2 and if I liked it he would get my name later. In the end I ended up filling out the register as he was busy in the kitchen and giving me directions through a wall. I am officially family!
 Yesterday I went for a walk in the moat and around old town. At dinner I might a women who was staying there by herself as well. She is a finish living in Germany as a housewife. She LOVES greece. She asked if I would like to join her that evening and I said sure. First we went to this place to listen to live Greek music. The drinks were awful but the amotsphere was fun, lots of dancing. Afterwards she asked if I wanted to go to this night club she knew of. It turned out to be the blue hair night club, where everyone was old enough to be my grandparents. But I went with it. It was hysterical, the evening including the trio of mole women who wore the tightest spandex pants I have ever seen, the school marm trying to dance disco, and my absolute favoret, the church lady dancing to get this sex bomb. I wish someone was there that could have laughed at these people with me.
 Today I went to the beach, walked around more of Rhodos and made some ferry arrangments. I am off to an island called Tilos. Suppose to be not very touristy, have decent beaches, and an abandonded village that is suppose to be interesting to walk around. Don't think I will have e-mail access for the next week, all the islands I am looking at going to are small and unpopular.After the mass amounts of people at the Olympics and Turkey I need some time to be a hermit.
I know there is tons more to tell, but time is low. Hope this finds everyone in excellent spirits. Take care and talk to you soon.
cheers~steph

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