M40間諜米格魯的秘密日誌

建於西元前七世紀, Side 位於 Antalya 東方大約一個小時車程的地方,是一個濱海小鎮,也是古希臘與古羅馬時代一個非常重要的港口城市,經手的貨品包括橄欖油和奴隸貿易. Side 這個名字的意思是石榴 (pomegranate). 歷經 Lycian, 波斯帝國,亞歷山大大帝, 羅馬帝國, 拜占庭等等朝代的統治, Side 的舊城區,處處充滿了古羅馬時代的大理石雕刻與建築.
大多數的景點都集中在 Antik Side 那一帶,最著名的就是靠海的Temple of Apollo 遺址.

Side is situated about an hour outside the city of Antalya. The town of Side is divided into two parts:modern Side and Antik Side. Most of the sights are located within the Antik Side district.
Although Side could get fairly touristy in the summer months, in winter it is a dainty quiet little town full of beautiful ancient ruins dated from the Hellenistic era and the Roman times.
One of the most famous landmarks of Side is the ruins of the Temple of Apollo right on the edge of the ancient town, just a few minutes' walk from the harbour. Built in the 2nd century A.D., the Temple is a fine example of Roman marble architecture. The remaining columns stand majestically against the backdrop of blue sea and blue sky. In the evening, the view of sunset across the vast ocean was stunning. Someone calls it 'the most romantic place' in Side, as lovers hang out after dark and adore the beautiful view of the moon over the Temple and its reflection on the sea.

Temple of Apollo 側面照:建於公元二世紀, Apollo 神廟的羅馬式建築廢墟靜立在海邊. 傍晚時分,這裡是情侶們最喜歡 '曬月亮' 的地點, 被當地居民稱為 Side 最浪漫的地方. 
Side's history dated from 7 century B.C., when it was founded by settlers from Cyme (modern day north-western Asia Minor). The town was prized for its harbour and became an important centre of olive oil trade. In the following centuries, the city came under Lycian, Persian, Greek and Roman rules. Alexander the Great conquered Side in 333 B.C. while on his way to the East. In 25 B.C., Side was incorporated into the Roman Province of Galatia by the first Roman Emperor, Augustus. Most of the ruins found within the confines of Antik Side were built during the periods of prosperity under the Roman rule.

When I visited Side for the first time in September 2004, there were so many visitors walking around the compound of the Temple, that it was next to impossible to take a photo without anyone walking right across. The best time to visit Side and this part of Turkey is actually in the pre-season (March - May, October - Decemeber) when many of the shops and hotels are already open for business but the plane loads of tourists from Europe and Russia have not yet touched down at Antalya Airport.



從 Antik Side (舊Side) 遠盼新Side: 那天的風非常大,海邊的樹全被風吹得晃來晃去.因為是三月初,遊客並不算多,
但是幾乎大多數的商店與餐廳已經開始營業. 拜訪土耳其最好的時刻是三月到六月,以及十月.這段時間,歐洲的
觀光客還沒大批降落在 Antalya 機場, 但是氣候已經相當暖和,物價比旺季便宜,也不像七八月那麼的熱,到處人
擠人.
Most modern developments in Side, including hotels, resorts and other tourist infrastructre, are located
on the outskirt of Side town. Taurus Mountains can be seen in the background.




After all the walk through the ruins and the old stones, it's time for a cup of coffee!
My favourite coffee: illy coffe from Trieste.
I first started to drink 'real' coffee while on a visit to the pretty Italian port city of Trieste, where the world famous expresso coffee powder manufacturer illy has its headquarters. The city is very well-known for its atmospheric coffee houses, James Joyce spent a lot of time hanging around the coffee houses while living and teaching English in Trieste.
Nowadays no matter where I go, it is almost imperative to find a decent cafe where they serve illy coffee. Maybe it's just my opinion, but I think Latte Macchiato tastes best when it is brewed with illy coffee beans. A good cup of Latte Macchiato, served in a pretty tall glass, costs 5 YTL (3 euro) and is a decent price for any illy cafe.

    

Some people wonder how a one-day boat trip on a traditional turkish gulet looks like. Before I had the chance to experience the sensation of sailing across the Aegean on a traditional gulet, I thought boat trips were all about swimming, sun bathing, fishing and lots of drinks and loud music en route.
But it is actually more than that, especially on a hot summer day. While it is steaming hot on land (it was more than 40 degrees Celsius in the shade in June!), on the sea you can feel the cooling effects of the sea breeze, wonderfully gentle and soothing. Of course, lots of sun lotion with a SPF of 30++ or more is am absolute must, otherwise your skin will get sunburnt within seconds due to the reflective effects of UV rays.

Even the sea looks more tempting and alluring than on the shore. After you have tried swimming in the sea while on a boat trip, you won't feel like swimming on a beach anymore. The quality and colour of the water in the sea is just much better than on a beach.
The fabulous Aegean Boat Trip starts here....

   A Traditional Gulet with Sun Deck and Sleeping Cabin, ready for the legendary Blue Voyage
Every day the one-day boat trip starts at 11:00 from the pier at a luxury hotel near Turgutreis, Turkey, on the Aegean Sea. The gulet is big enough to accommodate up to 18 people. Those who are interested can also charter the gulet (together with a captain, crews and a cook) and embark on a private trip on the Aegean.
In 2007, the average price for chartering a gulet is 200-250 euro per boat per day, depending on the number of passengers on board. The price includes captain, crews, lunch and service. It is very easy to organise a private 3-day or 5-day Blue Voyage on a chartered gulet and discover the pretty Gokova Bay or sail all the way up to Marmaris or Fethiye.
For those who are interested in one-day excursions, it is also possible to purchase tickets for such one-day boat trips on a random basis - prices vary depending on the region. Being the most expensive resort areas in the whole of Turkey, boat trips in the eastern tip of the Bodrum Peninsula costs about 20 euro per person, including lunch. Starting at 11:00, the gulet will take you across the beautiful waters to the various small turkish islets located between Greece and Turkey.

The boat trip includes several designated stops at scenic places, where you will have enough time to swim in the sea, enjoy the sun on the sun deck, admire the views or simply walk around on the shore.

This is Pirates of the Eastern Aegean - Ibo the tour guide standing at the front of the gulet. By the way this guy is still single. He is Turkish but not the usual turkish love-rats you get to meet on the internet. I can vouch for his nice personality and decent character. Any girls aged between 18 and 23 who is interested  in this guy, please email me 

These turkish gentlemen are the crews of the boat 'Turkaz': Ibo the tour guide, Captain Hoca, and the seaman, who is also a cook.
 
The boat parks at the pier of a luxury 5 star resort on the Aegean. There are many such luxury establishments on the Aegean offering great service and wonderful view of the sea. The food prepared by expert chefs in their restaurants are excellent too. Every moring you will wake up to enjoy freshly prepared breakfast on the terrace of the hotel with a view like that in the photo. Seaside pavillions are available for those who want to rest and relax. In the evening, freshly grilled meat and seafood are on offer. Outdoor dinings are also available. Hotel guests can join the boat excursion from the hotel's private pier.

This is one of the designated swimming stops near Gumusluk, on the eastern tip of the Bodrum Peninsula. This place is extremely windy in the winter, but the strong wind provides a welcoming relief in the long hot summer months, Nothing is better than a splash into the water at 4pm on a hot summer day. The town of Gumusluk is well-known for its seafood restauants but the atmosphere is getting more and more touristy every year.
Opposite the little fishing harbour of Gumusluk is the Rabbit Island, on which hundreds of wild rabbits reside. Children love playing with rabbits on the island and feed them with vegetables and food - the rabbits are also used to tourists bringing them food every afternoon. When a boat approaches, the rabbits will appear from their hiding places in the bushes and jump around the visitors.
During low tide, it is possible to walk between the Rabbit Island and Gumusluk. However, beware of sea lilies. There are so many of them in the shallow waters, on the rocks, that if you walk barefoot onto them, you will have a very painful time pulling out all the long, sharp needles that stick mercilessly onto your feet and hands. They might look cute, but never try to handle them unless you really know what you are doing.

View of Gumusluk from the Rabbit Island
Water temperature near Gumusluk could reach about 20 degrees in the summer. Depending on the wind, most boats choose to stop at Gumusluk for about an hour in order to benefit from the south-easterly wind, which starts in the afternoon and blow towards the Peninsula.
There are several different routes for boat trips departing from various ports on the Bodrum Peninsula. The cheapest and most convenient route is the one departing from Bodrum centre, although in terms of the beauty of the landscape en route, this is probably the least desirable one. The swimming stop at Karaadasi (Black Island) in the Bay of Bodrum offers a good opportunity to swim in the coves and a good view of the Crusader Castle of St. Peter.
For better sceneries and better water quality, join boat trips that depart from Turgutreis or Yalikavak. These routes are slightly more expensive but the route offers splendid view of both Greek and some small Turkish islands.
From Turgutreis, the 'South Tour' is more suitable for people who enjoy swimming and snorkelling, whereas the 'North Tour' is for those who are looking for spectacular sceneries, crystal clear waters and lots of photo opportunities. Only 'North Tour' offers the opportunity to visit some uninhabited Turkish islands in the middle of Aegean, close to the Greek territorial water. You will have the unique opportunity to swim between Greece and Turkey.
How to Go:
By AIR: Nearest Airport is Bodrum - Milas Airport (BJV)
All major airlines in Turkey fly from Istanbul and Ankara to Bodrum all year round. From Bodrum Airport, take Havas shuttle bus to Bodrum bus station. (Price: 15YTL, January 2008) From there, you can travel onward to any destinations around the Bodrum Peninsula by dolmus. Turgutreis is about 40 minutes away by mini-bus.
By BUS: Many major bus companies have services that connect Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Izmir and other major cities in Turkey with Bodrum.
From Izmir: Pamukkale and Karadeveci both operate direct services all year round from Izmir to Bodrum, stopping at Kusadasi, Soeke, and Milas. In the summer, Aydin Turizm, Truva Turizm also operate direct service from Izmir and/or Kusadasi. Price: 20 YTL from/to Izmir; 15 YTL from/to Kusadasi, 13 YTL from Soeke.
From Istanbul and Ankara: the choice is endless. Ulusoy, Kamil Koc, Varan, Metro, Anadolu etc. all offer direct services to and from Istanbul and Ankara.
From Antalya, Fethiye and anywhere in between: Pamukkale and Kamil Koc have direct service between Bodrum and Antalya, stopping en route at Fethiye, Dalaman, Mugla and Milas. Fethiye Coop as well as Ege Coop also have services using smaller buses (and stop more frequently than the big bus companies). Price: 25 YTL from/to Fethiye, 28-32YTL from/to Antalya.
From Marmaris: Marmaris Coop have frequent buses between Marmaris and Bodrum. Price (Feb 2008): 15YTL
By FERRY: Bodrum's international harbour is located right next to the St. Peter's Castle. Between April and October, Bodrum Ferryboat operates a morning ferry to the Greek island of Kos everyday at 0930, returning from Kos at 1730. Ticket price (2008): 28 euro per person for same day return.
In the winter, the ferry to Kos operates on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, weather permitting.
Between the first week of June and the last week of September, Bodrum Express Lines operates a direct hydrofoil service from Bodrum to the Greek island of Rhodes every Monday and Friday, departing Bodrum at 08:00. The price is 60 euro per person for same day return/one way.
Twice a week a hydrofoil connects Bodrum with Marmaris. A conventional ferry connects Bodrum with the port of Datca (2 hours from Marmaris) twice a week.
Turgutreis is located at the tip of Bodrum Peninsula, about 40 minutes by mini bus from Bodrum. Between May and October, Bodrum Ferryboat also a daily ferry service from Turgutreis (departs 10;00) to Kos, Greece. The price for 2008 is 28 euro for same day return.
Bodrum Ferryboat also provides daily ferry service from Yalikavak to Kos, Greece.
Copyrights 2008. All Texts and Photos by YC Cheng. All Rights Reserved. Alle Rechte Vorbehalten.

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有許多棧友對購買希臘船票,查詢船班時間表等等事務, 有一些程序上的疑問.
以下是我根據自己在希臘不同的地區,不同的月份,購買船票的經驗,針對一些買票訂票時較常見的問題,提供一些建議:

                             土耳其到希臘:歐亞之間只隔了區區的幾公里 Where on earth is the island of Kastelorizo? Most people have never heard of this place before. It is about 100km northeast of Rhodes and is part of the Greek Dodecanese Islands. In addition, Kastelorizo is also credited with being the eastern-most island in the whole of Greece.

Some up-market hotels offer in-house massage service with great view of the Aegean Sea, where you can rest and relax, enjoy the sea breeze, sip a glass of cocktail and have a massage in one of the private huts.

This is how it looks like from another side of the hut..... it feels tropical but this is somewhere in Europe, near the Greek island of Pserimos.
You can rest in the shade or splash into the inviting sea ....

Or go on a boat trip and sail amongst the islands like Odyssey once did thousands of years ago on a traditional wooden gulet.
Copyrights 2007/2008. All Texts and Photos by YC Cheng. All Rights Reserved. Alle Rechte Vorbehalten.

Symi, a small Greek island off the coast of Turkey, is relatively unknown outside Greece. About half an hour away from the more famous and tourist-oriented island of Rhodes, Symi has one of the most picturesque harbours among all Greek islands.
It is easy to get to Symi - in the summer, numerous private companies run daily excursion boats which depart from Rhodes Town's ancient harbour in the morning. The boats will take you right up to some secluded coves around Symi Island where you can swim and enjoy the crystal clear blue waters of the Aegean.
Once a week, a caique takes passengers from Datca, Turkey, to Symi, offering spectacular views of the Aegean Sea en route. However, passengers are required to submit their passports at least one day in advance to the boat operators in Datca for registration purposes.
The harbourfront is lined with colourful houses and little cafes with great view overlooking the Bay. You can take a leisurely stroll along the harbour or enjoy a cup of strong Greek-style Nescafe Frappe on a hot, sunny summer afternoon after a swim in the sea.
From the island of Kos, there are two regular sailings from Kos Town to Symi, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. The high-speed catamarans operated by Dodecanisos Seaways are fast, realiable and comfortable means to travel between the islands.
For further information on schedules and price, see their website: http://www.12ne.gr
Copyrights 2007/08. All Texts and Photos by YC Cheng. All Rights Reserved. Alle Rechte Vorbehalten.