Day 20 - Izmir, Turkey

Today we were in Izmir, Turkey. Wiki: Izmir is a city on Turkey’s Aegean coast. Known as Smyrna in antiquity, it was founded by the Greeks, taken over by the Romans and rebuilt by Alexander the Great before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Our friends Cat and Jo did a different tour today and went way up on the hill.

The Factory of Culture and Arts Museum used to be a cigarette factory. Izmir Culture and Arts Factory is one of the windows to the cultural and art world of our country and Izmir and an original and innovative cultural and art center.

According to the museum, at the beginning of the second millennium, writing entered Anatolian (Indo-European speaking people), using both Cuneiform (is a logo-syllabic writing system that was used to write several languages of the Ancient Near East) and Heiroglyphic script.

The story teller.

Porcelain

Sarcophagi

A small mosque built in 1748 and retired in 1964.

We went to another bazaar. Hot, hot, hot. However, Jason got five dress shirts for $60. So that’s a win, he says even if they are disposable.

We went to the ruins of a basilica, but not a church basilica. And I’m sure Asli, the guide, told us what it was but frankly, it’s hot and I’m over this tour. I found a sign, and read it - this area is called The Agora of Smyrna. This was an administrative, judicial, and commercial center of the ancient city (3rd century BC).

And we did it all with Linda, Jerry, Jason, and Dave. There are no ceremonial toasting pictures as there is very little alcohol here. And I’m sure women drinking would be frowned upon. So, we have marked Turkey off on the Been app, never to return.

Martha’s add: please no grief about wearing a Yankees hat. It was 99 degrees in the shade, 5 euros, and pink. And Maggie has to see it for the next 4 weeks. The perfect storm!

We went to a new bar on the ship Soleil. The wine is on tap. I could move in here.

Our new dinner tradition, toasting and a picture.