Azure Mediterranean

After leaving Aspendos, we went to the seaside. Antalya is a coastal city next to the Mediterranean Sea, with beautiful surroundings, blue skies, white clouds, ample sunshine, and lush green trees, plus the azure sea, making it a very beautiful city. Since our itinerary did not include Fethiye, Antalya was the only Mediterranean city we visited. There was an optional boat tour, which was recommended by a friend, so we signed up. We arrived at a square, where those not participating in the tour could explore on their own and then regroup. Those going on the boat tour had to pass through a residential area. The residential area was also very beautiful, somewhat like Gulangyu and Zengcuo'an in Xiamen, and it was great for taking photos. There were many boats docked at the pier, most of which were prepared for tour groups. The boats were not small and had two levels, making them suitable for taking photos from all angles. The boat set off at a moderate speed. Since it was not a closed cabin, there was no seasickness, and the view was great. The boat played local Turkish songs as well as a few Chinese songs. Sitting by the side of the boat and looking at the sea was very relaxing. I should mention that in the latter part of the journey, we reached the west coast of Turkey, which is next to the Aegean Sea. However, the water quality of the Aegean Sea is not as good as that of the Mediterranean here. The entire trip took about an hour or so; I didn't pay much attention to the time. The boat went to a waterfall and then returned. The weather was good that day, and we could see a rainbow at the waterfall. We took many beautiful photos throughout the trip. The crew also took photos of everyone and made them into souvenirs like photo frames and cups. They were indeed very nice, but a bit pricey. We tried to bargain when disembarking, but it seemed like neither side understood the other very well, so the bargaining failed. After disembarking, there was still time to stroll around the square. There were some vendors and eateries around, which seemed to be a pedestrian street. Since we had a group meal planned later, we didn't eat any main dishes but bought ice cream and corn cups. A girl from our group who didn't take the boat tour went to eat, and she said the food was very good (later, when we went to Istanbul and ordered food ourselves, we found that Turkish food is actually quite good; it's the group meals that are bad). When buying the corn cup, the old man asked me what toppings I wanted, but I didn't recognize any, so I said 'all little,' and ended up with a sour topping that I usually find in soups. I realized it was a local condiment, but I couldn't get used to it. There was an old man selling strawberries in the square, and I tried one; it was quite sweet, but I forgot why I didn't buy more. If you don't opt for the boat tour, one option is to explore and eat around the area as mentioned earlier. Another option is to go to the pier and bargain with the boat crew yourself, which seems to be much cheaper than paying in dollars. However, for someone like me who failed to bargain for souvenirs, it's possible they might not let you on the boat, or they might throw you into the sea later, so be cautious if communication is difficult.