April 13 Amasra eve

We started a pleasant walk near the hotel, noting the boats and grass crowned island in the late sun. We walked to the left, where Jim spent time checking out the boats, and Gail enjoyed the waves and views of Bozetepe Island. Strolling the other way, we admired the Roman (Byzantine c.700 CE) walls and Turkish (c.2100 CE) children, playing daresies with a skateboard and short slope. As we continued through the arches in the walls, a confusion of Byzantine, Genoan (1200's) and modern construction, we crossed the ancient arched bridge. Looking back toward our hotel, we had a good view of the Roman tower, perhaps the world's oldest standing lighthouse next to perhaps the bathing pool of an Amazon Queen, the town's first occupants (around the year zero), started the road up the hill, figuring to turn back when it got too dark, or we got tired, returning to the Camli Balik (balik = fish), the restaurant recommended by Voltan, the hotel manager in Ankara. As we rose higher and higher, with views of the lighthouse, the bridge, the walls and minarets became more and more stunning. As the road hairpinned it's way up the south slope, it became more and more narrow, then turned into a path. All at once, we realized that the tremendous view of the town had distracted us from the field itself, studded with irises, hyacinths and buttercups, all in full bloom.

We sat on the top of the island, just in wonder at the beauty.
Camli Balik was very fine, with a great view of the lighthouse and bathing pool (now grass).