Eurasia Mega Trip 2026 - Days Seventeen And Eighteen - An Ode To Çay

On Wednesday and Thursday, we mostly rested while getting our bearings on what this town of Mahmutlar is. We did some walks. Wife did take some pictures but I was more interested in seeing what was available for 'living' while we are here. 

It turns out we have two supermarkets, three greengrocers, two butcher shops, 1 bakery, and one fish market within two blocks in either direction of where we exit our building complex. There are also a varied choice of restaurants. On Tuesday and Saturday, there are large markets that are about 15 to 20 minutes walk. The apartment kitchen is reasonably well equipped (at least by vacation rental property standards!). I have been doing a lot of cooking as a result.

However, one of the great revelations for me has been...

Çay  

(Tea) 

 

I have never been a tea drinker. There have been some periods of time where I got into a habit of having tea in the afternoon. But never for any extended periods. But at this apartment, there is no coffee making apparatus other than a small Turkish coffee pan (I love Turkish coffee, but not as a breakfast/morning beverage. I like American style coffee I can consume over long periods of time). However there was this:

 

 

 

 A HUMONGOUS BAG OF LOOSE TEA

A Kilogram of the stuff (2.2. Pounds)

 

That's a lot of tea

 

 

 

 I've always liked Turkish Çay. I decided I would use what was at hand for the three weeks we are here. I have become hooked. At least temporarily. There is tea making apparatus available.

 

 Tea kettle with tea brewing pot. Loose leaves in their proper container

 

 

 

Put the container with the leaves in the brewing pot and pour water over them.

 

 

 

 Your master pot of tea will now start brewing, keeping hot from the water boiler below.

 

 

 

 To make a cup of traditional Turkish tea in its traditional serving cup, you pour some of the master in then dilute it with hot water to the strength you desire.

 

İşte bu kadar! 

(Et Voilá in Turkish)

Enjoying a lovely cup of Turkish Çay on your balcony watching the Mediterranean Sea

 

 

 

  

Eurasia Mega Trip 2026 - Day Sixteen - Starting To Explore Mahmultar

With a couple of good nights' sleep, and proper nourishment, we are ready to let the away team get out and really explore what this new community is going to be. 

I had to go to a particular bank to get Euros (not the currency of Turkiye) for a tour we have coming up on Friday. That meant exploring a different part of the town. Mahmutlar is actually a community in Alanya. But it was only incorporated into Alanya 13 years ago. And in many ways it acts as a separate community. It has a substantial expat community and is a popular tourist destination. However, as this is still summer (i.e. plenty hot) it is pretty quiet in that respect. 

We are smack dab in the center of the commercial area. That means most services in terms of shopping, restaurants, et al. are very convenient. The city is also flat for the most part and has sidewalks which is a real requirement for us. 

We did our first wander the waterfront sunset photo walk tonight.

 But first...our first shot of local avian activity

 

 Along the waterfront

 

 

 Espouses Fotograficus Turc Series

She searches

 

 She settles on her shot

 

 Aim

 

 Fire

 

 We conclude with a sunset sequence

 

A cat sequence of one

Clearly the mistress of all she sees. 

 

 Leaving the beach and heading for home

 

Eurasia Mega Trip 2026 - Days Fourteen and Fifteen - Transit To And Arrival In Alanya/Mahmutlar

 Sunday was devoted to travel. It is not actually that far from Malmo to the Mahmutlar of Alanya, but the nature of the actual travel made for a long day.

 Step One - Drive from Malmo to Copenhagen Airport

This involved finding a gas station, figuring out how to pay for the gas, filling the rental car, dropping the rental car off, figuring out where to get the transit bus of death (see arrival in Copenhagen post) , and getting to the airport departure terminal.

 Step Two - Getting to Our First Flight

Required going to the Terminal research said Turkish Airlines departed from, finding out the actual check in for Turkish is in the other terminal, schlepping to said other terminal, checking in, going through security and passport control, realizing the actual departure gate is in the terminal you originally went to, schlepping to said gate, gulping down a meal at airline lounge rushing to board and then boarding said flight.

Step Three - Transferring to Second Flight

Now in Istanbul, we must go by bus from the plane to the arrival area, clear passport control and security again, find the domestic airline lounge, figure out the special system for getting from the domestic lounge to the plane, taking the next plane to the Alanya airport.

Step Four - Getting to Our Airbnb

Wait for luggage which doesn't come out. Are found by airport personnel who let us know that as we came in on an out-of-country flight, our bags must still clear customs. Finally get into our transfer. Our actually met by our Airbnb host as the transfer arrives. Are helped registering which involves a fingerprint scan for entering the building, and finally get to the apartment. It was a good 21 hours before we finally got to sit down in the apartment and start getting settled.

We slept very late on Monday. It was 11:30 before we were out trying to find a supermarket as we had no food. There are two that are literally just outside the entrance to the building. Unfortunately Google Maps seemed to imply they were much further away so we did a bunch of unnecessary walking. By 1pm I was whipping up an egg and veggie scramble for brunch after which we collapsed again. 

It is quite hot here and we decided to not go out until after 6pm to look for something for dinner, get a few other items, and walk down to the water. The waterfront is about 3/4 of a mile from the apartment. We ate our first Donner Kebap for dinner, did a small amount of walking along the waterfront then returned to the apartment for collapse 3.0.

 Morning View from the apartment 

 

 Later view from same

 

My first experience with genuine Turkish style tea making apparatus. The apartment had left in it a HUGE bag of loose tea.

 

 You make the mother tea above very strong and add hot water to reduce the strength to taste.

I don't drink tea in general, but truly love Turkish Çay (pronounced Chai).

Enjoying Çay in traditional glass on apartment deck

 

Leaving the apartment to look for dinner

 

 

 Outside a traditional Parrot Kebap house

 

(That's not true. This is a pet store)

 

 First Doner Kebap of the trip

 

Lamb Hutay style with spicy tomato-pepper sauce

 

 

Chicken German style with salad inside

 

 

Walking the waterfront at nightfall

 

 

Arriving at home sweet home for the next three weeks

 

Eurasia Mega Trip 2026 - Final Malmo and Foodie Pictures

 And on the last day of Sweden, we were graced with sun once again. After a relaxing morning, we were off again in the good hands #3 Malmo tours. 

#3 Malmo Tours...Comfort is what we are all about

 

You will enjoy our 'brooding Scandinavian' walks

 

 At #3 we specialize in warm friendly service

 

 

 Even if you are a Cephalopod!

 

And if the tour group starts to lag and tire, we bring in the big guns

THE WEAPONIZED EXTROVERT (aka Sales Manger)

 

Malmo, despite not being known as a tourist area has everything one would want in Swedish tourist site

Operating Flour Mill

 

Unique Turning Torso Building

 

 Official redeveloping water front

 

 Masted Ship (one)

 

 Reflection shot with Masted Ship

 

 Water Fountains

 

 

Modern Art with Historical Building Background

 

A church (which we decided to save for a future visit)

 

 Junior Viking Club Training Sessions

 

 A McDonalds

 

 A Bird

 

 Final Swedish Foodie Entry

Nothing says Sweden like - Asian

This was a good place

 Spicy Wonton Soup

 

 Thai Yellow Curry

 

 A Kung Pao Chicken

 

 If you think Sweden, you think potato salad that is 50% mayo

 

 And herring. All the herring here is pickled. I prefer the Dutch version which is just lightly salt cured.

 

 Fika - the Swedish Tradition of coffee and sweets

Wife learning the Fika rites

 

 Her plate presentation with a variety of traditional cakes I don't know the names of

 

 Our last meal out at an actual Swedish place

Mini-Lobsters

 

 Fries flavored with stuff (not remembered)

 

 A Shrimp Salad Sandwich - VERY Swedish

 

 Swedish Meatballs - VERY, VERY Swedish

 

 Halibut

 

 Beefsteak