Day 22 - Kuşadası, Turkey

I was looking forward to a night back in the tent. Due to the lack of campsites we haven't camped since Greece. Last night we arrived back at the site around 11.00 and the bar at the entrance to the site had some sort of live Turkish singer on stage, the place was packed. I told Angie not to worry about the noise as they have to turn the music down around midnight. Well at 12.30 it was still going strong even though the other bars had finished. In the end it went on until 3.00 am when it just instantly went quiet , all you could here were the crickets. Peace at last until the sun hit the tent at 8.00 and turned it into a sauna. I never want to hear another Turkish singer, again , ever.
We decided to stay another day and have a good luck round the town and the fortified island known as pigeon island.
Pigeon Island has become the image of Kusadasi. The eye-catching view of the island at sunset attract photographers by the dozen and is all over postcards. The island was visited by many birds during migrations, and so it was named as Bird Island. In the times of Ottomans, the name of the island was given to the town and the town started to be known as "Kusadasi" (Bird Island). Since then, the name of the island was changed into "Pigeon Island".
The island was used for military purposes during the Ottoman Era and before, as the location of the island
was strategic for securing the shores or preventing attacks from the sea. The Byzantine castle standing on the rocks was used against pirates and is known as "Pirate Castle". We had a good look around despite the heat. Only a small amount of the fortification remain but enough to give you an idea. It has now been turned into a park with a pathway leading around the wall of the battlements given great views of the town and harbour.
We had a nice salad lunch overlooking the harbour before returning to the camp site via the jewellery shops, Angie couldn't resist them!!
Although tonight is not going to be the last in Turkey it will be the last chance we get to eat out with a good choice of restaurants. We spotted a nice looking place earlier to day and checked it out. They served a dish that I have been wanting to try since getting into Turkey. Not sure of its name but it's a sort of spicy meat casserole served at the table in a metal dish heated underneath with a small candle thingy. It was , without doubt, the best Turkish meal I've had. It was a great end to a very enjoyable couple of days. Tomorrow we move on again.
Miles today 0
Hours in saddle 0