Bus w*****s

Good morning from a bus travelling somewhere in Turkey. (Vanessa’s in charge of all the logistics, I’m just here to pull the cases).

Actually, not for the first time on this trip, Vanessa just saved the day. We were told our KamilKoc (no tittering at the back) service was leaving from stand 18, but it was leaving from somewhere else - which Mrs W spotted with about a minute to go. TFFT.

Mustafa is our genial onboard steward and in the first half hour has served up water, fizzy drinks, biscuits and salty snacks. Thankfully there are five stops along the way, one for every hour, so our bladders shouldn’t be under too much stress.

Yesterday, Vanessa and Jamie went to that place that’s a bit like Pompeii but I’m not sure how it’s spelt and I’m running out of data so you can look it up yourself. Meanwhile, accompanied by me, Charlotte, tried to do some shopping but wasn’t “feeling it” so we gave up after a short while.

Our next task was to buy stuff for tea in preparation for the other two’s arrival back in Izmir. Unfortunately and despite Vanessa giving me clear instructions on where the supermarket was, we got lost and had to abandon the mission after 40 sweltering minutes. With Charlotte safely deposited back at the apartment, I had no option but to have another go aided by Google Maps - and made it there in five minutes flat. Perhaps I should’ve tried that the first time. On the return journey, I paid a second and final visit to my new friend in the local alcohol dispensary who didn’t let me down.

I’ll bet he could tell a few tales. Then it was time for some fading Izmir rays….

…and an underwhelming meal on the wanderers’ return (principally because I managed to buy salsa which I discovered doesn’t work quite as well with pasta as pasta sauce does).

So, that’s Izmir done. We reach our next destination at an estimated 1515 Turkish time which could mean anything.