Muoversi coi mezzi pubblici in Turchia, è più divertente

Getting around by public transportation, in addition to sleeping in budget accommodations, is now one of the few ways to find something original and strange in a trip. Public transportation in Turkey works just fine. But some strangeness can be found and at least you mix a little with the population.

People with feet soaking in Pamukkale's natural pools composed of travertine — Here and featured Pamukkale

For example, the saying smoke like a Turk does not come about by accident. In stations, when people stop for breaks and changes, it is very noticeable. It is hard to find someone without a cigarette in his hand; in fact, I saw one who even had two. On one route, the gentleman who was providing assistance to passengers (occasionally they bring you a drink or snack included in the price), recommended that it was forbidden to take off your shoes. Too bad, however, that the driver occasionally had a cigarette!

Still on the subject of smoking, smoking in restaurants is, in my opinion, the biggest annoyance in a country that is otherwise, at least for a tourist, perfect. In one pizzeria, I even saw the pizza maker with a cigarette in his mouth while he was baking.

Expanse of white travertine at Pamukkale — It looks like snow, and it is very slippery

A colleague of mine traveled by public transportation in Turkey back in the ’80s—it really was a whole other world there. One thing that really stuck with her was that, in addition to soft drinks, the customer service attendant back then would also pass around a spittoon. How sweet of them. I decided to take two overnight trips so I could see everything in the time I had, and I didn’t regret it at all.

People walk barefoot in the natural pools of Pamukkale in Turkey — You walk there barefoot, being careful not to slip and getting into the puddles

Getting Around by Public Transportation in Turkey—Even While Sleeping

The first stop from Ankara was Pamukkale. It is reminiscent of Saturnia but remains an almost unique place in the world. This article explains more about how it was formed. But one important thing I must say is that the photos on the net are rather unreal. They are said to be from years ago when there was more water. It remains a beautiful experience. In the adjacent archaeological remains of Hierapolis there is a restored theater that looks new.

People walk in natural travertine pools in Pamukkale, Turkey — The site soon fills up; I was the first to enter that day

More and more often I get the urge to run away when I find myself in the midst of large crowds. They are all so busy taking pictures all the same that they don’t even see where they are. On this trip I read Jules Verne‘s Around the World in 80 Days. The story is known to anyone, but it deserves careful reading because it gives many insights. Technology, for better or worse, has brought ease to travel. Virtually all destinations are attainable, so much so that they are distorted by affluence.

Even the protagonist Phileas Fogg does not see the places, focused only on keeping to the schedule. He is reminiscent of today’s average tourist who thinks only of taking the selfie identical to that of his idol online. But at least Mr. Fogg eventually wins the bet and takes home his young Indian wife.

I was coming out of Pamukkale, to catch the local bus that would then take me back to Denzili and from there I would catch another one to Izmir, when I was stopped by a guy. I thought of the classic pain in the ass who wanted money, but instead the request was abnormal and amusing. There should still be a fake advertisement/advertisement on the net in which I say how great it is to visit Turkey by leaning on such-and-such agency.

Public transportation in Turkey, a nightmare in Izmir.

I who decry moving by public transportation, they work great in the more touristy cities. But in Izmir it was a nightmare. It took me a couple of hours to get to my hotel downtown from the bus station. First it seemed that no one was going downtown despite the fact that there were a thousand buses. After so much waiting the super crowded vehicle took forever to arrive. We walked the whole way at walking pace in the hyper-congested traffic.

View of the crowded library at Ephesus and the site's avenue from which you get there — Library of Ephesus, crowded

I had chosen the country’s third largest city as a base for excursions to the archaeological sites of Pergamum in the north and Ephesus in the south. The former had been on my mind since I first went to Berlin, where the Nazis had taken its ancient gate. Also concerned about the experience I had, I decided to forgo Pergamum and go only to Ephesus, not as I had assumed by public transportation but by tour.

This plan B did not go as planned either.I would have liked to go on a group tour: to spend the right amount, maybe make some acquaintances, and above all not be in the unpleasant situation for me of spending several hours in a car with a stranger in silence. So indeed it was, since I was the only participant and the driver did not speak a word in English.Still, better than being forced to talk, perhaps about soccer, with chatterboxes with whom you have nothing to say.

Ancient theater of Ephesus, interdicted to tourists — Theater of Ephesus

This misunderstanding occurred because both of the hotel’s two receptionists did not speak English and relied on the automatic translator. I point out that it was a high-end hotel, but evidently there is little tourism and few foreigners there. Wrong me this time, there are also cons when traveling alone, especially if you neglect itinerary planning a bit.