May 27 Izmir (Day 243)
We woke with the sun streaming in the train windows. After washing up and dressing we were served cups of coffee in an empty sleeper car by our porter, then we went to the dining car to order a breakfast. We don’t think that’s a common thing on this train, no other passengers were in the car and it took over half an hour to prepare our simple omelets, but they were delicious!
Views of the countryside as we approached Izmir.
We arrived at the station in Izmir and took a taxi to our Airbnb in an older section of town, up on a hill, a small renovated stone/brick eclectic ‘townhouse’.
An entry with a kilim rug and colorful chairs around the table, a marble step up on the right into the main bedroom, opposite the bathroom, straight ahead the doorway opens to the small kitchen. A doorway to the right past the bedroom opens to a room with closets and a doorway out to the courtyard, opposite the steps that lead up to the second bedroom with red curtains.
We got settled in and since it was still early afternoon we headed out to explore. We’re on a narrow steep street, so steep some of it is stairs and cars cannot use it! We took the stairs down towards the waterfront and found the commercial street with shops, groceries, and restaurants. One more block and we were on the waterfront where a tram travels along the length of the city!
Our narrow street with pink and peach colored buildings. There are many old stone buildings, some falling down, and many steep stairway streets!
We used our credit cards to pay the .40 cents for a ride on the tram one stop away to Konak Square and iconic sites of Izmir! 
Sculpture on the promenade, Konak Pier (now a shopping mall) and a street in the spawling Kemeralti Market.
The famous Izmir Clock Tower in Konak Square!
We did some shopping in Kemeralti Market, then took the tram back to our area where we found some beers and groceries which we hauled back up the stairs and steep streets to our lodging.
We enjoyed appetizers on the rooftop terrace, accessed through the courtyard, after which we walked back down the hill and enjoyed a light dinner at one of the street side restaurants.
We finished our day with a hike back up the hill and wine on the terrace, watching the sun set and the lights of town begin to twinkle in the dusk.
June 3rd, 2024 at 9:35 pm
Looks magical! So much history and culture, not to mention an amazing view from your porch! ! Wow! Great photos!
We’re looking forward to seeing you in Venice! 🙂 All the neighbors are missing you! So happy we’ll be seeing you soon 🙂 . We leave Wed. for London. We meet up with Sean in SF for the flight to Heathrow, and then the cruise to the British Isles. We are all looking forward to being together, and having some fun!
Cheers!
Claire and Ed