Wrong Bus

I love it when I take the wrong bus, when I have time to kill and nothing to do. It's even better when it's a scenic route like a tour, winding through pine trees and wild flowers, periodically peeking out to the sea.

It's a free trip and I'm taken to the cafe bus stop where everyone is overly excited. I need to use the toilet, usually you have to pay some small pittance but this time it's free and the employee even hoses it down before I go in. They're the squat kind so this is easliy done. I also get a chai on the house.

Once back in Ayvalik I switch dolmas (small bus) and go on to Alibey Island again. I eat at Beybaba my only choice because every other place is packed with Turkish tour bus tourists. But it's good and I have a great view of the little island with some kind of ruin crumbling down.

This time my salad is made with lettuce, a little pickled red cabbage, cucumbers and tomato with that perfect dressing. I needed the vitamins because although I've lost weight the last few days I've been a lot of those delicious Turkish pastries and no veggies. I also got some thinly sliced abergine with herbed cheese on top, plus guess what? Grilled octopus.

I'm leaving in about an hour (5pm) to Lesbos. the ferry costs an outrageous $48 for a one way. It's only slightly more for a round trip. The Turks don't want you to leave and they want you to come back. But I'm not coming back until I island hop on down to Rhoades where I'll return to Turkey.

See you in Greece