Hi everyone!!
So Laura and I have realized that we are somewhat in fat camp!! So much has happened in the last few days so I will try to be unlike myself and recap in (relatively) few words! First of all, our group...
We met up in Istanbul on the 10th. Our tour guide's name is Koray (pronounced Core-eye).. Seemed like a bit of an odd character at first (for the multi-sport tour we were going on), but he has been awesome!! He has made every effort to make sure we get a local experience while we're here and has gone the extra mile to make special arrangements for us.
So what have we been doing exactly? Sweating.. a lot.. and drinking a lot - of water that is. Our days consist of some sort of grueling activity throughout the day, usually followed by salvation in the form of a body of water by around 3pm. For example, on the first day we went on a hike to a ghost town (3.5 km in 40 degree heat).. then we walked around the ghost town, had lunch (delicious Turkish pancakes btw) and then hiked for 5km to the Blue Lagoon beach. And when I say hike, think a slightly less grueling adventure than the grouse grind.. but not by much! The sights we have seen have been beautiful!! Gorgeous beaches, incredibly old ruins and beautiful veiws from atop of mountains we've spent a couple of hours climbing!! It is definitely the most physically demanding thing I can think of having done- although this wouldn't be nearly as challenging in a reasonable heat. Still, it makes you really appreciate everything we have been able to see - from the lookout points, to lying on the beach. I have never so appreciated sunbathing and swimming in the ocean as on this trip!!
Oh! Yesterday we went mountain biking... I have a new found respect for those of my friends that do this!! I mean I was pretty proud of how well I did, but the downhill part was intense!! So bumpy and steep - my whole back and shoulder muscles were completely tense the whole ride down and my hand muscles were cramping up so bad!!
The people in our tour are interesting, to say the least.. a Montreal-bred mountain-woman who complains about everything we do because there isn't ENOUGH physical activity (are you kidding me?!) and an MJ look-alike who we fondly refer to as Jacko. The first day Koray said to him (Sean is his real name): "You know, you really look like Michael Jackson!... Hey, be happy you're still alive!" It was hilarious, though we couldn't believe he would actually say that- not exactly a compliment. Still, it is rather amusing seeing as he wears his sunscreen during the day thick enough that his complexion is whiter than usual. Never a dull moment- literally!!
The meals have been fantastic too, although the heat kind of shrinks my appetite it seems. LAst night Koray arranged a trip back into the ghost town for a garden Turkish barbeque.. you order the meat and BBQ yourself. It was a beautiful setting!! And the food was incredible. Also, the first night we had dinner at a restaurant where you buy your fish from the market and they grill it up and serve it to you.. Koray even arranged a dinner with one of his 'sisters' (this is what they call good friends) who made us artichoke soup (I think the best soup I have ever had - sorry Mom!).. delicious!
This is the first time we have had a bit of free time.. and the only reason is because I was signed up to go paragliding tonight (I know!! So excited!!) but it got cancelled due to too much wind. We will hopefully go on Friday instead!
To those of you who have e-mailed/facebooked me, thanks SO much and I promise I will respond properly asap- but probably once the tour is done and Laura is gone and I have a bit more time.
Love to everyone back home!!
L xo
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