A home hosted meal for lunch today. At the mayor's home, his wife and daughter cooking. They live in an area of organic farming, like a historic district at home - most of the landowners had to agree to go organic, and get some official designation. Vegetable soup, green beans with tomatoes, bulgar, stew with small chunks of lamb, melon for dessert. The bus driver sat at our table and we stumbled through a conversation. We said the food was delicious and he said something about 'be good to hand' ...hmmm.... then the guide said that their saying in appreciation for a good meal is "health to your hands." Of the small table of handcrafted items, I bought a chunk of olive soap made from their olives, and Dianne bought a scarf of which the Mrs hand crocheted an edging.

Onto the school (the tour company gives $10 of each ticket they sell to the school). We met teacher Mr. Hussein, and 4th year students, learning English. They sang a song for us, and requested one in return. Someone got the hokey pokey going, which the kids found to be quite funny. And I am in their English book - a cartoon book of people talking, "My name is Judy" says one of the characters! The kids scrambled around to get their pictures taken, jostling and squealing for their turn - none of them shy of the camera. When I asked Mr H if I could take his pic, he pulled out his sunglasses and posed.

Before getting to our 5-star hotel the Charisma, we stopped at St John's Basilica in Selchuk - supposedly where John the Apostle is buried. Tomorrow, onto Epheseus.

Flew to Izmir today for all of this. Sunny, upper 70s.