Thursday 9 & Friday 10 May 2024

We set off from the hospital at midday on Thursday, in a very comfortable van. It rather resembles a hearse, but we’re both very pleased it’s not. Our driver, Arun, speaks no English and Cherrie and I hardly speak for the 8 hour drive of leg one. We are both exhausted, but our intrepid photographer never ceases

It was a beautiful drive (841kms), with just one quick wee stops. We each felt a relief at being out of caves and hospitals. We arrive in Denizli early evening and the first thing I do when I get into the hotel room is shower. Heaven. We order room service, a pasta and salad each. But our order loses something in translation, and we receive one pasta, one salad and one fork. It’s enough for us, and I quaff down my portion, wash the fork so Cherrie can consume the other half.

There are more public pets here, but more like public pests tonight. They bark all night, I bark all night and altogether a most unsuccessful sleep for us both.

The next morning we set off on the 4 hour drive to Bodrum. Over the range and down to the Aegean coast

Arriving at 1.30pm we sleep for a couple of hours in a comfortable room on a hill above the town. Although we’re frankly not sure where the town is, but intend to rest and not tour.

Bodrum is hilly, and I mean hilly, and the driveway to the hotel is steep. The wind is blowing fiercely, note the tree.