Turkey - Day 1 Izmir

We have booked a hotel just outside Selcuk, Turkey which is very near the ruins of Ephesus. The village is called Kusadasi.  We hear doves, dogs and lots of tractors driving by.  It is a very small resort.  It has a pool, a restaurant, lots of tables and places to hang out, and the rooms open up to a central area.  Unfortunately for us there is a lot of light at night.  Our host and hostess are a very recent couple - formerly business partners.  She does the guiding he does the driving.  He owns the property.   We drove to Izmir to a central square near the market.

I was surprised to see so many young people washing to purify themselves in the fountains.

This is a more secular region of Turkey.  I noticed the kids taking a group photo - only a few of the girls had an type of head scarves.

Lots of wedding stores - dresses not only for the brides but for others in the wedding party.

Market scenes.

Our first food stop.  Breakfast pastries.  All were just salty except for the one on the far right. Slightly Swede with thinnie flavor.

 Next stop was more sweets.  Too sweet for us - phi lo dough with nuts and honey.

 Lots of shops like this.  It is outfits for boys to celebrate their brisk.  They are circumcised at a very young age - but the celebration takes place several years later.  I asked out female guide what the female equivalent was - nothing.  This is still a very male dominated area.

Next stop - two styles of muscles.  These had rice and flavorings inside.  The other ones were fried with a yogurt sauce. 

Mike was searching for a handmade leather belt.

A interesting desert.  Milk based custard that is broiled in a large round pan.  The tradition is that the last piece is eaten out of the pan.  We saw someone who had ordered a piece receive the whole pan to eat that last piece.. She seemed quite proud.

Next stop was for braised intestines.  That lass enclosure above out heads shows a couple of skewers.  I did not taste it  Mike said it was OK.  After they cut it off the skewer they pan fry the strips to make them crispy.  Still did not entice me.

 Our host apparently is vegetarian - so he did not try it either.  She and Michael did eat it.

The two ladies at the table behind us reminded me of my grandmother Fast.  She used to wear a scarf like the lady on the right.

Our last stop was to a marzipan place.  His is the only shop like this.  He exports all over Europe.  He also decorate the boxes with ribbons and flowers using glue gun.  An unusual talent for a man.

He inherited the recipe from his father-in-law.  An he seems so happy with his life choices.  This is not one of my favorites, but you have to admire his enthusiasm.

He showed me the tiny kitchen behind the small shop.  And showed me all the fresh almond.

By that time we were pretty tired - it has been another hot day.  So we went back to the resort.  Here are a few pictures of what we enjoyed.

Dinner is served inside this restaurant.