Plymouth and Antalya - historic tourist towns, or shopping meccas?

• In February we escaped the cold Turkish winter and flew to warmer climes, to visit Mike's (and my) family in .... Cornwall. Yes, I know it was winter there too, but we'd be sleeping in a room with four walls, heating would be available, and a normal hot shower.  It was bliss in many ways. And our sister-in-law Denise is an excellent baker - "I've just made some cinnamon rolls", or, "cheese scones would nice for lunch wouldn't it?"  Not to mention Alex and Denise's brilliant knowledge of where to get a good lunch/cake just down the road. Or a good pub meal at the local King's Arms in Luxulyan. Pronounced Lux-il-yan, not Lukes-a-Lion, as the GPS would have us believe.

Alex planting Snow Drops. One by one..

Men discussing menly things

A private stream marks the The Cairns boundary

We also took advantage of online shopping, local shops and chandleries at Plymouth, picking up things we had been unable to get in Turkey, such as a personal locator beacons to attach to our lifejackets, vegemite, and pick up our lettering for the boat. 

Don't  ask ....

Replica of the Mayflower

I had never been to Plymouth, whereas Mike spent some of his wayward youth there while in the Royal Navy, so we both enjoyed our brief look around The Barbican and the small museum dedicated to the Mayflower ship (and I have to say, the attention given to the dire consequences this had on the Indigenous American people, including to present times was both impressive and well presented). Then a stroll up to Plymouth Hoe (high ground) overlooking Plymouth Sound. This as where, in 1588, when advised that the Spanish Armada was approaching, Sir Francis Drake replied "We have time for another game of bowls...."

It was cold. Very cold.

Anyone for bowls?

After 2 weeks of warm luxury and with tightening trousers, we hugged Mike's mum Ruth one more time and flew back to Antalya where we had arranged to stay two nights so we could visit the most important place in town - Ikea. Mike normally hates Ikea. He HATES flat pack. But even he wanted to visit Ikea, a icon of western civilization. A major challenge of living on a boat is space utilisation and organisation, and there's no better place to sort your life out than Ikea. In reality we didn't find much of what we wanted, and tried to console ourselves with the Ikea meat balls. But alas, even that was a modified version, and no Lingonberry sauce!

Fortunately Antalya does have more to offer than Ikea. About 2 hours drive from Finike, Antalya is the 5th largest city in Turkey, with a population over over 1 million, set right on the Turkish coast framed by the snow-capped Taurus mountains. Founded by King Pergamon in 200 B.C, give or take, the city was originally called Attaleia, and like all places in Turkey has since many civilizations come and go. Having a natural harbour, it developed as a major port city. In present times, the location close to the sea, ancient sites such as Perge and Aspendos, the city's Old Town and the climate have made Antalya a huge tourist town. 

Our Accomodation. 

  We stayed an extra night to explore Old Town, or more     correctly known to the locals as Kaleici, which is "inside the   city's walls". Kaleici is a district next to the harbour, and is   surrounded by huge stone walls and fortifications. The main   entrance is through Hadrian's Gate, 150m from our   accommodation.

 The gate was built in honour of Hadrian when he visited the   city in 130AD. At night it is beautifully lit up, and like the   Sirens of ancient times, lures tourists and locals alike - come   inside and buy a carpet, rest a while and spend some lira, v   Euros or American dollarssssss...

Mike and I wandered throught the beautiful streets, exploring the back lanes and alleys as well as the main drag. Kaleici is home to many quirky shops, bars and restaurants. Overlooking everyone is the minaret of the Tekel Mehmet Pasa Mosque, relatively new, built in the 17th century. Glad to say, the dulcet tones of the call to prayer were much more in tune than that of Finike. 

The Walls of Old Town near the Harbour. The steps on the left were brutal.

As it was still winter, everything was open but not filled with tourists; in summer it will have a great vibe, but will be heaving with people. We did look briefly at very small carpets for the boat, but remembering the upcoming long walk from the Finike bus depot to the marina with our bags, we gave it a miss.

Before catching the bus home we explored the ups and downs, aka there's always steps, of the old harbour. Filled with pirate gullets and fishing boats, and surrounded by eateries with spectacular views, we declared we have to return to see the many other attractions of Antalya and regions - the ancient sites of Aspendos and Perge, the archaeological museum, plus there's waterfalls, beaches and canyons to visit. Why on earth would we go sailing?

But no doubt we will go back to shop.  This week in fact, to Bauhaus, The Bunnings of Turkey....

We may have indulged in a drinkie poo here