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Fethiye

District 6060-Missouri with District 2440-Southwestern Turkey

Feithiye    May 16 thru May 20 We met at the hello kiosk.  All of us had been cramped in a car for 5 hours so we were so happy to be out of the car… Everyone paired with their families for an evening of dinner and getting acquainted.   The next day Nikki and Cindy’s host family, Veysel and Rana Cingoz, took us out on their yacht for the day.  It started with a wonderful ride to an incredible cliff encircled cove, and then brisk swims for those brave enough to face the cool waters of early summer.  After the ship’s crew prepared an incredible lunch, we swam a little more, and then had a gentle ride back into the dock.  Everyone returned to their host families’ house for dinner and then out for a night of dancing with some of our host families.  The group stumbled on a little bar called “Car Cemetery Bar”.  We made friends with the staff and locals and of course we were invited back…. May 18th The group visited Saklikent today.  It is a gorge caused by a constant flow of COLD water through canyon.  We hiked through the canyon a bit and then signed up for a trip down the river in inner tubes.   It was so beautiful, until you would hit a large rock on the bottom of you inner tube, then it really sank in why they kept yelling bottoms up. We stopped halfway through for a nice little mud bath, which of course turned into a mud fight.   Unfortunately we didn’t have any cameras but if we had all you would see would be the whites of our eyes. All good things must end so we had to try to hose off and have some lunch.  We returned home to our host families for some rest, and visiting some friends.  Later that night we went to a Haman.  It was very interesting, it seems this traditional Turkish bath did not keep the tradition of privacy.  They herded the women on a big slab of marble and scrubbed us down together.  We are quite close now. Of course after the Haman we had to visit our friends at the Car Cemetery for a bit. May 19th  Today the group visited an abandoned village called Kaya village.  Laura’s host daughter, Denize, who in turn got to practice her English, gave us a tour.   We also visited Ugur Training Center, which was owned Ted and Carol’s host family.  It is similar to a Kumon Learning Center and it was very impressive.  The Turkish educational system is a little more rigorous than ours, so Ugur Training system helps students pass their exam that is needed to go to college here.  Turkey’s public colleges are free, and the entrance/application process is very difficult.  Finally we gave our presentation and we got to meet the other GSE team from New Zealand and watch their presentation.  It was wonderful to hear a different perspective on the “GSE Tour De Turkey” and we shared some great stories. Then it was time to see a local, authentic Turkish rock group.  Cindy got on stage and sang Hit The Road Jack by Ray Charles.  Keith particularly enjoyed the band and we all enjoyed watching Keith…