“What… no time for tchotchkies?!?” shrieked the Dragon Lady. “I need my tchotchkies for my babies!”
“OOOOoooo look at that Pashimna!”
“Careful Honey, at that price it’s not Pashmina, probably synthetic”; which our guide confirms.
“But…But… I gotta have T-Shirts for the Babies!”
“We can get them at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul”
“But…But…” she whimpers with a quivering lower lip
“Your motors running… with the but…but… Get on the bus.”
Rocks and Ruins notwithstanding, Ephesus is a site not to be missed on any trip to Anatolia [Turkey]. The size and scope of the city, and its history is phenomenal. So much so that after much KODAK we had barely scratched the surface… but we were running up on time to get back to the ship and didn't have time for tchotchke shopping at the captive audience
“Last Resort” shops on the way to the bus.
Dragon Chic was not a happy camper about this but we had an hour plus ride back so we needed to get moving. Halfway there, we dropped our guide off in Selçuk to catch a train to his home so he can prepare for his Trip to Spain and we continued on to the ship.
With all the emphasis on Ephesus, we didn't get to have lunch so of course what do we now here from the back of the bus:
“FEED ME!” comes the chorus from the three ladies that were dubbed Chuck’s Angels by our guide.
And so the conversation revolved around the meals we’ve had so far, which only increased the hunger pangs.
Getting back to the ship, processing security and visa control was painless. The teachers needed to stop at the terminals Last Chance Liquor Store to pick up some more booze for their cabin so we made a pact to meet at the Pizza Station on the aft deck once we freshened up.
Up on the Lido deck we grabbed some passable pizza and settled by a window overlooking the aft cabins as Sara and Phyllis to show up, wine glasses in hand.
While enjoying the pizza and company, the ship embarked with loud rumbles and shakes of the side thrusters which just Excites the hell out of Sara, [she loves everything nautical] She was running from side to side to watch the mud they were kicking up. Midway through the departure, Phyllis decides she needs to run down to the cabin for more wine and of course forgets her glass. Soooooo here she comes with the contraband bottle of Turkish wine in her shore bag, which we polish off before heading down to grab a shower and change for dinner.
Dinner was a lively exchange about what everyone had planned for Istanbul the next day. The meal was around a 3+.
After a stroll around looking for a different distraction, we wound up in the Casino. Those that know Chuckie, know that he loves to shoot Craps, but only on a Hot, Lively table. Ship’s crap tables are notoriously cold and “not so Lively” and
this has been the case for the past couple days and just for grins we decided to see if the same deadpan dealers were still the loneliest dudes in town… Surprise… there was actually a crowd at the only crap table on board. After watching the action for awhile, Chuckie decided that it was worth a roll or two and bought in just in time to catch 2 wining passes before the shooter crapped out. Now it was Chuckie’s dice and after 5 straight 7 or 11 passes [winning roll’s] before crapping out, he continues to make money working the table and playing come bets as the dice circle the table back to him. The table is still loud so Chuckie rolls for 30 minutes making a little here… a little there and by the time he craps out for the last time, he’s made enough to pay for half the shore excursions they’ve booked. Note bad for a $50 buy in. And this from a guy that hates shipboard crap tables… nothing like being a little lucky on your birthday week.
Of course Dragon Lady blew her allowance on the one armed bandits [wellll… actually 5 button bandits] but the night was still a winner and off to the cabin to finish some NOWAT and crash for some well needed rest.
Istanbul in the Morning is gonna be a loooonnnggg day.
Ciao 4 Now
Chuck and the tchotchke denied and not happy about it, Dragon Lady
“OOOOoooo look at that Pashimna!”
“Careful Honey, at that price it’s not Pashmina, probably synthetic”; which our guide confirms.
“But…But… I gotta have T-Shirts for the Babies!”
“We can get them at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul”
“But…But…” she whimpers with a quivering lower lip
“Your motors running… with the but…but… Get on the bus.”
Rocks and Ruins notwithstanding, Ephesus is a site not to be missed on any trip to Anatolia [Turkey]. The size and scope of the city, and its history is phenomenal. So much so that after much KODAK we had barely scratched the surface… but we were running up on time to get back to the ship and didn't have time for tchotchke shopping at the captive audience
“Last Resort” shops on the way to the bus.Dragon Chic was not a happy camper about this but we had an hour plus ride back so we needed to get moving. Halfway there, we dropped our guide off in Selçuk to catch a train to his home so he can prepare for his Trip to Spain and we continued on to the ship.
With all the emphasis on Ephesus, we didn't get to have lunch so of course what do we now here from the back of the bus:
“FEED ME!” comes the chorus from the three ladies that were dubbed Chuck’s Angels by our guide.
And so the conversation revolved around the meals we’ve had so far, which only increased the hunger pangs.
Getting back to the ship, processing security and visa control was painless. The teachers needed to stop at the terminals Last Chance Liquor Store to pick up some more booze for their cabin so we made a pact to meet at the Pizza Station on the aft deck once we freshened up.
Up on the Lido deck we grabbed some passable pizza and settled by a window overlooking the aft cabins as Sara and Phyllis to show up, wine glasses in hand.
While enjoying the pizza and company, the ship embarked with loud rumbles and shakes of the side thrusters which just Excites the hell out of Sara, [she loves everything nautical] She was running from side to side to watch the mud they were kicking up. Midway through the departure, Phyllis decides she needs to run down to the cabin for more wine and of course forgets her glass. Soooooo here she comes with the contraband bottle of Turkish wine in her shore bag, which we polish off before heading down to grab a shower and change for dinner.
Dinner was a lively exchange about what everyone had planned for Istanbul the next day. The meal was around a 3+.
After a stroll around looking for a different distraction, we wound up in the Casino. Those that know Chuckie, know that he loves to shoot Craps, but only on a Hot, Lively table. Ship’s crap tables are notoriously cold and “not so Lively” and
this has been the case for the past couple days and just for grins we decided to see if the same deadpan dealers were still the loneliest dudes in town… Surprise… there was actually a crowd at the only crap table on board. After watching the action for awhile, Chuckie decided that it was worth a roll or two and bought in just in time to catch 2 wining passes before the shooter crapped out. Now it was Chuckie’s dice and after 5 straight 7 or 11 passes [winning roll’s] before crapping out, he continues to make money working the table and playing come bets as the dice circle the table back to him. The table is still loud so Chuckie rolls for 30 minutes making a little here… a little there and by the time he craps out for the last time, he’s made enough to pay for half the shore excursions they’ve booked. Note bad for a $50 buy in. And this from a guy that hates shipboard crap tables… nothing like being a little lucky on your birthday week.Of course Dragon Lady blew her allowance on the one armed bandits [wellll… actually 5 button bandits] but the night was still a winner and off to the cabin to finish some NOWAT and crash for some well needed rest.
Istanbul in the Morning is gonna be a loooonnnggg day.
Ciao 4 Now
Chuck and the tchotchke denied and not happy about it, Dragon Lady
No comments:
Post a Comment