In Izmir, I do a few basic things : cleaning, I go to an address I’ve found, nothing, I’m told another address, obviously I’m quickly lost, but as I’m walking around I come across a laundry. Then I buy an inner tube. Each time I get the tourist price, but never mind ^^ And a few other maintenance purchases.
Thursday morning I have an appointment with Orhan, who’s going to show me around the city. Orhan had been contacted by Hayati, my warmshowers contact in Ayvalik. But between his working hours and the difficulties of communicating through the translators on our phones, I end up going to the hotel and can’t take advantage of his hospitality.
But he offered to show me around the town. Great ! He met me at the hotel and we set off for a couple of hours to see the main squares of Izmir. We end up at the "Pizza Locale", sponsor of Orhan’s cycling club.
Then, left to my own devices again, I continued to wander. The next day I visited Smyrna’s agora, learned that it was Homer’s city, and climbed the narrow streets and staircases to the acropolis, which later became a fortified castle.
(The photos in the portfolio are a bit out of order)
Tomorrow I’ll be back on the road and staying in Selçuk, where I hope to arrive early enough to visit some of the monuments.