This is the trip of a lifetime: Day 9

We're at the halfway point here on day nine- crazy to think! I miss everyone at home more now but it's been so nice getting to know our group better :) last night (which was actually the night of day nine, I'm just late in writing this!) all the girls of our group (there are six of us under twenty) got together and chatted for a couple hrs before bed. It was so nice- felt like our very own sleepover!

Our day was full of adventures- we went to Pergamum and within an hour of being there huge winds started up and caused almost a wind tunnel that literally blew me away! Once the wind started the rain picked up too- pretty soon we had sheets of icy rain blowing sideways. I think I forgot to mention that we had to take a big gondola ride to get up to this site, which was up on this huge mountain (gorgeous views!) but with the storm there was no way we could take the gondola (or cable car) down. So we crammed about fifty people on the little loading area 'waiting out the storm' that never held up.

Our amazing guide Macit called taxis for us though so we were the first group outta there- but taking a crowded taxi down a slippery muddy switchback mountain road in a storm is not my idea of fun :) We made it back to our bus though, and wrung out our hair and coats pretty quickly. Thankfully the rain let up later in the afternoon so we could visit the asclepion- an ancient healing center from Pergamum.

Our day was pretty uneventful after that- we had a long drive to get to the coast where our hotel for the night was. We took a long stop for lunch and then another shorter rest stop to use the WCs and I bought some of the most amazing ice cream :) our hotel was just about the cutest thing! A little seaside villa almost in the water it was so close- our room was tiny but so cute- with exposed brick on the wall and a little window opening onto the water :) I didn't want to leave! Our group was the only one there- we filled up the dinner room! The power went out after dinner for a few hours- which is why us girls got together to chat :) I fell asleep listening to the ocean, soooooo lovely!

Picture 1- our bed for the night
Picture2- exploring the pier!
Picture 3- there are so many funny signs here :)
Picture 4- my shopping score!
Picture 5- walking through a healing tunnel in the asclepion
Picture 6- cute bathrooms :)
Picture 7- pretty views
Picture 8- I lovvvved this town!
Picture 9- cute boats
Picture 10- lunch spot!
Picture 11- fishing boat
Picture 12- not sure if I can remember what this one is :)
Picture 13- the only sun of our day!
Picture 14- such pretty views
Picture 15- dinner
Picture 16- the cutest wall in the cutest room
Picture 17- pide with cheese and tomatoes- so good
Picture 18- more prettiness
Picture 19- and more :)
Picture 20- aaaand more!
Picture 21- Ice cream- so delicious
Picture 22- before the storm
Picture 23- watching the storm roll in off the mountain!
Picture 24- dinner :)
Picture 25- tiny showers!