We are leaving the dust of Konya for the coast. It has warmed up now and a sea breeze would be welcome. I have made a last minute booking at a hotel at Side.

The 250 km drive turned out to be mountainous but beautiful. The road was relatively new, with deep cuttings through very tall mountains. We felt tiny amongst them all. We were surprised at just how long we travelled through mountains, almost all the way to the coast. And all the way was the same type of rock structure.

Gradually we started to see pine trees amongst the rocky cliffs. There was a lake with beautiful reflections, some lovely green valleys, and here and there the remains of the winter snow on the mountains.
 
 
 
We stopped to call our beautiful eldest grandchild Helena and wish her a happy 11th birthday. The wonders of technology.

Then to our hotel. A spacious room and swimming pool ($A33). Bliss!

Next morning we went to the central area of Side to see the Roman and Hellenistic ruins. We drove past endless hotels - some were huge. There are streets and streets of touristy shops selling shoes, clothes etc. 

But in the centre of the town by the sea are wonderful Roman and Hellenistic ruins. A huge theatre, remains of many buildings and some reconstructed pillars of the Temple of Athena can be seen in this glorious setting. 

Restaurants by the water, pebbly beaches, orange juice stalls - it is an amalgamation of Turkish history and modern day tourism.

Driving on we see the famous ruins at Aspendos, and drive by the Perge historic site. There are only so many sites one can see.

Dinner was under the stars. Every evening we sit outside somewhere in a perfect temperature after a hot day. We marvel at waiters who switch from German to Dutch or English even though they are Turkish. Many seem to come from the Eastern part of Turkey. They work here for 8 months of the year and then go home. By the end of dinner they tell us they love Australia/ns and we know where they are from. Nice.

Antalya is next.