On the bus from Izmir to Cesme (pronounced Cheshmay). Almost all of Arcom's emplyees went on this company trip
On the road to Cesme
Still in the Bus
Yes, we are driving on the highway with the doors open. Two of Arcom's employees are taking advantage of the open door at the back of the bus where I was sitting to have a smoke
The country side in the south of Turkey.
Still on the bus
Those pink flowers were all along the highway.
Windmills! See Turkey is not a third world country as many think it is.
Same windmills from a different angle.
Still windmills
Fish restaurant where we stopped for everyone to pee.
Heading out of the harbor.
Up on the top deck of the boat there were lots of cushions and mats for people to lay around on.
Ismael and his daughter. You may remember Ismael was in Hannover with us. He has been working in compressors since he was 10 years old and has no eduction past that point. Still he is Arcom's head technical guy. He does pretty much everything. Despite knowing almost no English, he and I can always seem to communicate.
Diving! Wooo! As it turned out, only Ismael and me had proper diving certifications.
Sakir, also from Hannover, arriving with drinks. I stayed with Sakir and he took me around all weekend.
Heading out of the harbor
Me at the head of the boat.
That's Ismael and his son and daughter. The guy in the orange is Ahmet, the owner of Arcom. He was also in Hannover with us.
Still heading out of the harbor.
My future boat.
He aske dto have his picture taken
One of the dive boat's crew explaining something in Turkish about diving.
The islands around Cesme
More islands
Where we stopped to dive. Above water it's not so intereesting, but below water was a series of caves known as the bedroom. It was very cool. This was my first time goin in caves.
Me with the Turkish Flag. I love Turkey!
Ismael setting the anchor.
Sakir suited up and ready to go.
Ismael, Ahmet and I. The arcom guys want to print a business card from their company with my name on it as their international sales director. Since Murat and I are selling their products abroad, I said why not.
P6230097.JPG
I finally squeezed into the biggest wetsuit they had. It was way too tight!
Ismael in the water
Me!
Ismael, myself and the dive master's son. Necat (c's are pronounced like j's in turkish), the dive master, is one of the most qualified divers in Turkey and in the mediterranean area. He only trains people to be dive teachers (as opposed to training to people for recreational diving)
Ready to go!
Everyone relaxing before the food is ready.
Napping in the sun. I put on sun screen every 90-120 minutes so I miraculously did not get burned except on the arm that was out the window everywhere we went.
Fishing
Ismael started floating away in the dinghy and had to paddle back with flippers.
Swimming
The beauty of Turkey
Waiting for the food.
A lone fisherman.
The compressor Sakir sold to the dive club.
Compressor with boat in background.
Compressor filling some tanks.
Ismael and the compressor.
The view from Sakir's appartment. Izmir is much nicer than Istanbul.
Sunday we went to Efes, a very ancient city in Turkey. My father pointed out that in this picture you can see one of the ancient cranes they used to build such great cities.
The main street through efes.
Some columns.
Sakir, with the now protected library at Efes.
Main road up to the library.
Cool trues! Like in Gladiator.
Cool building.
Me in front of the cool building
me in front of the cool building again.
Me on the main road. You can't tell, but the bar was on the left.
Me again.
Sakir and all the tourists.
More ruins
more ruins
the main road leading up the hill.
The setting of the city was incredible. Although not very green, the Turkish country side has some real charm too it.
A mosaic tiled street. Reminds me of my bathroom at home in New York.
Another beautiful shot of the country side.
There wer so many buses at Efes.
Buses at Efes Pan
The bathroom at Efes. Just read the caption. I didn't go in, but I can only imagine.
Read the sign.
After Efes we went to the Virgin Mary's house nearby. When Jesus died, he entrusted his mother to John the apostle (as the story goes). It is believed that John came to live in Efes to escape persecution and that he brough the Virgin Mary with him. The place is pretty old so it's possible I suppose.
Mass at the Virgin Mary's house.
The house (I think)
The holy fountain. Everyone wanted to drink from it.
Wishes
You write your wish on a piece of paper or cloth and tie it up. Most were very modest.
The resort we went to. We relaxed on the beach for quite some time until things cooled down.
The view from starbucks (it had AC so we went there). This town (i forget the name) was so charming. It was built around a very small harbor.
Me in that town I don't know the name of.
Still in that town.
A random fortress on the way back
