Greek island cruising

1.10.18

When we disembarked in April last year I think we both knew we would book again next year. So in February we booked our 3rd trip with Celestyal Cruises.

Friends wanted to join us, sadly 2 couldn’t make it after all so its the 4 of us.

Whilst booking, my old school friend Jane popped up saying she was looking at flights to Turkey to visit us but wasn’t sure of dates. Anyway, we went ahead and booked and a few days later Jane had booked her flights which coincide with our trip so having had a fab few days with Jane and Paul they are now house sitting for us but we will still have time with them when we get back. Sounds like they’re already spoiling Honey Dog.

Most of my blogs start with a last minute drama, this time the first Mediterranean hurricane, Medicane, was arriving, due to hit our destination Greece very hard and parts of western Turkey. We had torrential rain, thunder and lightening all Sunday night and saw horrible photos and videos online of parts of Greece.

We set off with Tina and Tony the next morning, very overcast, a bit of rain, determined spirits and a lovely Turkish breakfast at Toprakana in Ortaca on the way.

We arrived at our 4 star overnight all inclusive hotel in Kuşadası, the My Aegean Star Hotel. It was an absolute bargain at the equivalent of less than £20 a couple. The reviews weren’t great but how bad could it be really and it saves getting up at the crack of dawn for the 3 hour or more drive to Kuşadası port. Reception was a pleasant surprise, spacious rooms with balcony sea view, great !

Wouldn’t advise anyone to pick anything up if they dropped it on the corridor carpet though. Ewww.

First stop, the snack bar. The thinnest dry old burgers you ever did see and stone cold chips. And flies, in fact the flies probably would contain more protein. Passed on these delicacies.

Next stop the bar. Not the most well stocked !

No white wine. Ok, shandy? No Sprite. Ended up with beer in plastic cups and vodka cola for Tina. They told John they would go and buy wine as soon as possible.

Set off to find the town. Tina suggested the castle, I put castle in maps and we drove a few km and found Kadi Kale castle in the midst of the housing estates, no other tourists would have ever visited. Deciding that the real castle was by the port we made our way there, parked and strolled in the drizzle before eagerly awaiting our evening meal.

We decided to get to the dining room early and were first in the queue to get the food while still hot. Stone cold potato wedges, cold spaghetti, lukewarm casserole, fish, a selection of the weirdest tasting mezes and soup. Oh and lots of cakes which I’m assured didn’t taste as good as they looked.

On the plus side Tina tracked down the white wine. On the minus side it was undrinkable.

Tony was thinking of reading a book but his Russian isn’t good enough. The library must have been stocked by the same person that stocked the bar.

A few plastic cups of drinks and lots of laughs around the filthy reception table and it was time for bed.

So looking forward to breakfast!