Thursday 3rd December – Afrodisias to Köycegiz

The forecast rain arrived last night just as we were going to bed; the first since leaving Greece so we can’t really complain (but as it’s due to last the weekend we’ve decided to have a few nights in pensions/guesthouses rather than camp).  It was still raining this morning and we weren’t looking forward to the prospect of putting the roof tent away wet, but the goddess Aphrodite must have been looking down favourably on us as it stopped raining and sun appeared long enough to dry things out before we departed for the drive back towards the coast.

Back roads all the way (but we made good time as Turkish roads seem much quicker than their Greek equivalents), down through the mountains and onto an extensive plain before hitting Mugla, where we restocked for lunch.  At Dia supermarkets I’ve found great little cakes for less than 10p each - vanilla, chocolate and mixed fruit - Anne’s not keen but I love them so bough a load for afternoon tea (John H. would understand)! 

It was pouring with rain by this point, so not the best time for the passenger side window winder to stop working, stuck in the 2/3 down position.  I managed to hold the glass up using bits of cardboard but will have to remove the door panel to investigate when the rain eases up.

 
We made it to the small lakeside town of Köycegiz and stopped for the night in a small pension where we were given a plate of mandarins on arrival, picked fresh from the garden.  Our first pide was consumed, which is the Turkish take on pizza, consisting of a long dough base, topped with cheese, spicy beef sausage, tomatoes and peppers.  Together with a salad it really hit the spot. SPOT

Back to our pension to fight the mosquitoes, the main downside of the beautiful lakeside location, but we eventually cleared the room for a bite free night.