Breakfast at 9:00, we had our bags downstairs ready to go at 10:00. The hotel organised the taxi which was prompt (and negotiated a price of (950TKL - about $50AUD) and we arrived at Sabiha Gocken International Airport to collect our rental car at 11:00. Everything was going fairly smoothly.
Presented ourselves to the RentGo counter at the airport, the car was there and ready, it was small, automatic and suited us just fine (A Renault Clio). We negotiated our way to level -3 (yes minus 3) of the car park and started packing our luggage into the car. First stop had to be a petrol station as the fuel tank was empty and the low fuel light on. Apparently they don't provide a full tank, or require a full tank on return. The nice rental car guy put the location of the nearest petrol station into our Google Maps and off we went. Petrol station has attendants serving and cost is 38.83 TKL per litre, well over $2.00 AUD !!
After filling up for $90 AUD, we set the GPS for Bergama and off we go ! First impressions of the roadways is that Turkey does it well, we were on a 3 lane (each way) highway and smooth surfaces, so easy driving really, apart from the fact that Turkish drivers don't use indicators, and the very left lane is the go fast lane. Most highways are upper limit of 120 km/hr but some have a 140 km/hr limit. The drive was estimated to be 3.5 hours, but we extended that for another hour as we stopped for a coffee break and Tania was trying to sort out a mobile roaming pack add on for her Telstra phone.
We arrived in Bergama around 17:00, we had been pre-warned that Google will try to take us over a bridge into a narrow street that cars could not traverse. Graeme had convinced Tania that he had this completely under control right up until we turned right and ended up in the narrow street and couldn't turn a corner or reverse easily. Both outside reversing mirrors were only centimetres away from either side walls. A very nice local resident jumped into the driver's seat and reversed our car back for us. We are sure the locals pull there hair out with tourists trying to traverse this street which is only suitable for pedestrians and motor bikes. It provides entertainment for them at the very least.
We checked into the Hera Guest House, a quaint 200-300 year old building run by a mother / son family. We had time to walk into town and see the Red Hall / Basillica - first constructed in the 2nd centrury as a Roman temple worshipping Egyptian deities, thought to have been initated by Emporer Hadrian and latter converted into a Byzantine Basillica in the 5th century.
Just across the raod was Tarla Basillica, a traditional bistro had pasta and a meatballs dish.
Bergama is a really old town and has a great traditional feel to it.
You two appear to be having a ball! Safe travels!
Are you going to be back for the referrendum on 14/10? Will it be like hitting the road running when you get home, working for the AEC?
Not back until Nov 6 so AEC will have to cope without us!!
Admire you guys driving in Europe.
Our recent 10 day holiday to Norfolk island sounds positively boring compared to your exploits! However, we loved the island – it’s a perfect place for retirees who are into Australia’s early history. They do tourism really well over there.
Did you happen to drive up to the roman theatre /acropolis pergamon just before bergama
No – decided not to visit Pergamom – as Ephasus was going to give us more !
Gotta love Google!
Loving the photos. Everything looks so interestingly different.