Falling for Antalya

Turkey — you had me at Istanbul; you don’t have to keep winning me over, city after city after city…

Okay, fine, keep trying. I’ll just fall harder.

I take an afternoon bus from Kas to Antalya. Unlike the past few towns I’ve visited, Antalya is much larger. It also has an Old City section with cobblestone streets winding alleyways. I’m smitten the moment I step off the bus in front of this gate:

I settle in at my pension and grab dinner at a nearby cafe.

The next morning I wake up and admire the water views, just a few minutes from my accommodation. I spend the morning taking it all in with my camera.

Here’s the gate where I entered the Old City last night, near where the bus dropped me off.

Soon enough I find myself at the main wharf. A man on a boat approaches me; he’s about to take a family of four out on a 45-minute cruise of the harbor and would I want to join? Since they already have a few people it won’t cost too much — maybe around $20 USD.

I think about it for five seconds and say yes. A boat trip may not have been on my initial agenda, but why not? Let’s do this.

I spy the Old City where I spent the previous evening:

The cruise is simply up the coast and back, and I enjoy every minute on the water. It’s relaxing just to sit down and take it all in.

Afterwards, I walk a bit more around the wharf.

On my way back to the pension, I pass this tea service glued to a wall…

And here’s a newlywed couple! The bride’s dress is stunning.

Tonight I’ll take an overnight bus to Cappadocia. In the meantime, I have a few hours to kill so I grab dinner at this intriguing-looking restaurant I passed by the night before.

They kindly let me sit and work for a few hours while I linger over dinner and a glass of wine. This place is called Hotel Alp Pasa (restaurant, cafe, and bar) and I’d go back in a heartbeat. Great decor and food.