i had a four day weekend – the last of my medical school career, so found a super cheap flight to turkey! on the flight was my friend sakal and his wife and five kids, who i hung out with the first day. antalya is the largest city on turkey’s mediterranean riviera. it is a major holiday destination for package tourists from europe and from within turkey. most of them stay in luxurious five star resorts that line the coastline. i stayed in a nice little hotel close to the old city that only cost $25/night and included an amazing turkish buffet breakfast! turkey is arguably the best place in the world for breakfast, which includes bread, many types of spreads, numerous cheeses, eggs, cucumber, tomato, olives, pickles, fruit and tea. the old city of antalya is very picturesque, and there were no less than five huge new shopping malls spread about the city. turkey is really modern and cheap and amazing. antalya is flanked by snow-covered mountains that are quite impressive when juxtaposed with the azure mediterranean sea. one day i rented a motorcycle and set out 40 km along the coastal freeway to see aspendos, the best-preserved roman amphitheater in the world! i also drove to karian cave, within which is the most ancient evidence of civilization in anatolia.
beyond driving the motorcycle the best part of the weekend was going to a hammam (turkish sauna). there are many of these in turkey which are in ancient buildings and cater to tourists. i went to one out in the suburbs which was in a new building, and catered to locals. you get naked, and then enter a large domed room where you pour hot water over yourself while leisurely lounging on a large central platform. then, you get a big, hairy turkish guy to give you a “peel.” this involves him wearing a glove made of steel wool and aggressively rubbing every aspect of your body with it to remove all dead skin. he slaps you on the ass when its time to turn over. you can also get a rigorous massage but i was too cheap. then you continue lounging around in a steam room infused with eucalyptus, a sauna, and an ice-cold jacuzzi. this was a very nice, luxurious hammam, but every town in turkey has some variation. a must do!
