Izmir Bay contrasts
The bustle at the ferry terminal
The sun sets on the ferry terminal
 
A seller of simit
Here comes a ferry
Sunset on Izmir Bay
Izmir Bay traffic at night
 
Ferry rushing across the Izmir Bay
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Later, the return to Izmir is less of a cruise, as we get caught up in the end of day traffic. Still, we eventually make it back to the ferry crossing, for which we patiently wait. The sun sets on Izmir Bay, we watch the daily routine unfold in front of us: the commuters, the seller of simit and his bicycle, the expected yet stunning variety of people. On board, I tap into the rhythm of the ferry and connect to its beat as if it were techno music, a strange tune in the silence of the thoughts our group is lost in. The city has hidden its concrete and urban scars beneath a veil of darkness and reveals itself in a different light, criss-crossed by the never-ending to and fro of boats and cars. For our last dinner in town, we arrange to meet our hosts Bilgin and Özgür. We begin our quest for food along the Kordon and Konak Pier, but decide to go further for proper Turkish food rather than that served in these trendy European-style places. For starters, we choose from a wide range presented on a platter, and then order grilled meats for main course. As always, there is more food than we can eat (Topgu), yet I strive to taste it all and finish as much as possible, Bilgin not missing the chance to tease me wittingly. Right until the end, the hospitality and friendliness I have witnessed amazes me, yet we must part late in the night at the bus station, as Rusen and I head off to Edirne at the border of Greece and Bulgaria.
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Izmir 