We were up bright and early, and downstairs on the cold street waiting for Ali's taxi-driver friend to pick us up and take us to the airport for the flight to Izmir. After half-an-hour we got tired of that, and wandered down to the main street of Bakirkoy where we found a taxi without any problem.
Keeping everyone safe
In Turkey there are security checks everywhere - you can't get into a shopping centre without one - so you would expect it to be the same at the airport. Except that here they must tune the machine to pick up the tiniest piece of metal or whatever. We joined the queue of people entering the airport, and like everyone were asked to remove our coats - and still the buzzer went off and we had to be checked with the wand.
After we had checked in we found we had to go through yet another security check, and this one seemed even tighter. No one "passed", everyone had to walk through at least twice and take off coats, belts, shoes etc ... as well as open and switch on laptops.
With all our coats back on and carry-on baggage repacked, we relaxed in the lounge to the background music of beeps and bells as other would-be passengers came through security.
Hotel Kalehan
We had arranged for a car to pick us up from Izmir airport, but after a long cold wait and no sign of anyone we tried unsuccessfully to call the hotel, and finally we caught a taxi for less than the hotel was charging us.
The hotel is only "three star"' - like most hotels in Selcuk - but charming enough. The foyer and lounge area are full of all sorts of interesting old stuff, like these old keys and locks.
We had a room on the third floor - they had promised us a "big bed", but when we got there it was really only two single beds pushed together. There was a tour group in the hotel, but when they left the following morning we complained about our room and were moved to a room with a proper big bed.
No comments:
Post a Comment