Sent on Oct. 11, 2004 from the Internet place at the
waterfront in Girne, about across from tourism office.
1. HATAY, TURKEY. Wıthın an hour of arrıval, I sıgned up
for the 3:45pm bus to the Medıterranean town of Tasucu and
the ferry to Cyprus. To pass the tıme I went to the
world-famous museum of Roman mosaıcs, busts, sculpture,
coıns, at thıs ancıent sıte of Antioch. Hatay ıs
surrounded by rugged very scenıc hılls and mountaıns. At
the foot of one ıs the St. Peter,s church. I took a cıty
bus to there, walked around a bıt, took some photos, and
came back.
2. CYPRUS. The bus left us about 1/2 km from the ferry
statıon ın the mıddle of nowhere ın the dark. Most
passengers were Turkısh men goıng to Cyprus to fınd work.
A tractor came and pıcked the luggage. Of all the ferrıes
I took around the world, I have never seen anythıng as
prımıtıve. The ferry boot was ancıent; ıt departed 3 hours
late for the 6-hour journey. We arrıved at 9am. Thıs was
even more prımıtıve. The ferry docked some 1/2 km from the
statıon and lıke sheep people began walkıng that dıstance
carryıng theır heavy loads. I refused and jumped on the
tractor brought ın for heavy boxes, etc. beıng shıpped.
After long lınes for passport, I offıcıally entered Cyprus.
By the way, although thıs ıs supposed to be Turkey, ıt ıs
not. I got an exıt stamp for Turkey before ferry; I got a
separate entry to Cyprus. There are no tourıst offıces at
the arrıval scene. I got hotel Atlantıs for 40 dollars a
nıght. The fıshıng vıllage and the waterfront part of the
vıllage Gırne ıs one of the most scenıc and ıdyllic I have
ever seen. BUT unless you go on an organızed tour, skıp
Cyprus. Also know that thıs place ıs one of the most
expensıve I have ever vısıted. I hope to return to
maınland wıth the 2-hour fast ferry at 9:30am.
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Sent on Oct. 15, 2004 from an Internet place near the hotel
in Kars.
1. HATAY to TASUCU. The bus ride from Hatay to Tasucu--where
I got on the ferry to Cyprus--was nice, especially the part thru
the city of Iskenderun on the same peninsula as Hatay.
Iskenderun too is scenic city surrounded on one side by mountains,
on the other by the Mediterranean. The cities of Adana (larger)
and Mersin took sometime to cross. I did not find them
particularly attractive, with endless apartment buildings
spread in every direction. This is how most people live
worldwide, from Hong Kong to Beirut to Rio; in condos,
the well-to-do in finer buildings in finer locations,
the less-well-off in corresponding setup. Single family homes
are reserved for the VERY-well-off, then in very elaborate
mansions and villas.
2. IN TASUCU, THE FERRY RIDE. For reasons of security, the
bus left us some distance from the ferry station. It was
nearly 10pm and we seemed to be in the middle of nowhere.
Then there appeared 3-wheel motorcycles with carts
attached behind them. The short ride to the station costs
about $2.25 which you can share with other passengers. The
ferry price is an outrageous $40, 13 which includes some
sort of tax. You get in line to get the ticket, in
another line for the exit stamp from Turkey.
(Although Turkish Cyprus is Turkish, it is considered
an independent entity.)
After you cross the platform to the ferry climb up the
steps to the lower lounge, get yourself one of those
seats in the middlele that do NOT have armrests.
There are only a few of these; the rest of the chairs are
separated by armrests. This is going to be your bed for
the night. The ferry was supposed to have taken off at 12;
it did at 2am. I woke up at about 7 and watched
the mountainous outlinen of Cyprus grow.
3. ARRIVAL AT GIRNE FERRY STATION, a) AS IS. Upon arrival
at 8am, we got into a long and disorderly line for
passport check, where I got my entry stamp to Cyprus, and
eventually stepped out to a small street witht taxis
waiting for passengers. There are no tourist
counters, just taxi drivers who
have their own agendas and/or also working for (for
example) the Mavi (Blue) Tour agency in the village.
Because of road construction, the driver left me 20 meters
from Mavi Tour, charging me 4 Dollars for the short ride.
I thought this was all to the village. Mavi Tour helps
out with hotels, but only the more expensive
hotels starting at $40 a night. Once you are dropped off
at that location, the taxis at the stand near Mavi Tour do
NOT take you to the hotels at the waterfront. As luck
would have it, I got a room with Hotel Atlantis at perhaps
the most beautiful location in the entire village, for which
I had to drag my bags about 1/4 km thru narrow streets.
b) RECOMMENDED SHORTCUT IN GIRNE. Instead, as soon as
you exit the ferry station, ask a taxi to take you to
HOTEL ATLANTIS, for about the same price. Facing the
hotel, you'll have behind you a few steps leading to the
most beautiful setup for a fishing village you'll ever
see, with fishing boats of all sizes neatly lined to
each other along a curving alcove facing right next to them
the tables and chairs of the many cafes and restaurants,
with the castle to your right, the quaint walkway to
your left hugging the shore. Yes, by God, they even have
tourist desk about 50 meters to your left, an Internet
cafe right across from it below the PILOT CASINO. This is
an ideal setting for browsing, strolling, and picturesque
daydreaming... (The best kebab restaurant is NIYAZI, about
1 km on the road to the left. Ask for it.)
Leave your bags at Hotel Atlantıs entry and, and look for
the 2 HOSTELs right next to each other, very near around
one corner, the exact location of which, alas, I
forgot. Facing the hotel, take a walk (I think) along the
road to the left and away from the waterfront. By all
means, if you see local, ask. Hotel Atlantıs charges $40
off-season, the hostels half that amount. Treat
yourself to a wonderful supper at Niyazizi for
the difference.
There are buses to the nearby villages on the Turkish side,
or you can rent a car and, if a foreigner, you can enter the
Greek side too, whichh the Turks cannot. Rental cars are
for minimumm 3 days. I think Girnee waterfront is so perfect
that any other scene will just dilute it. Do your
browsingg elsewhere, for you are already at a paradise.
Be sure to catch the 9:30 am fast ferry boats when you are
ready to leave the island. Call a taxi at 8 am. You will
be in linee for the ticket, then to pay some sort of tax,
then get an exit stamp, and then walk about 50 meters to one
of the ferry boats. Upon arrival in Tasucu, again, get on
one of those 3-wheel bikes with carts. It willl take you
to a bus to your destination, or connect you to the otogar.
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Sent on Oct. 21, 2004 from an Internet place next to the
Bergama Restaurant in the Closed Bazaar at the waterfront
in Marmaris.
5. TO RHODES ISL. The owner of the hotel Karaaslan in Marmaris
will tell you to go to the YESIL (Green) MARMARIS tour agency
near the hotel. From the taxi stand in front of the hotel, face
the water, walk the sidewalk along the water to your left. The
agency is about 20 meters on your left. The ticket to
Rhodes costs 69 million TL, or about 45 Dollars, including
all fees. Be in front of the ATATURK Statue at 8 in the
morn for pick-up by a large bus. It will take you to the
commercial pier just out of town. After exit stamp from
Turkey, you enter the catamaran to Rhodes, the ride about
an hour. You get entry stamp to Greece. Follow that road
to the walls of the Old City and enter there. Right at the
wall, there is a moped rental place for daily rate of 15
Euros. They do not rent by the hour. You dont need to.
Most people go to Rhodes to walk around the shops and cafes
and restaurants in the old city. The setting is beautiful.
Whereas Marmaris is situated along a bay, the Old Town of
Rhodes is in a very pretty historical setting, with all
kinds of interesting structures besides. I rate it 10. It
is almost as pretty as the PLAKA (Old City) in Athens. To
get back to Marmaris be back at the pier by 3:30pm--so that
you have about 5.5 hours in Rhodes, unless you came for
several days, in which case do rent a moped. Better have a
travel book with you for hostels, etc. as the hotels are
expensive. The same bus that picked you up at the Ataturk
Statue will bring you back there from the pier.
Sirman