Travel to Manisa

We took a bus to the city of Manisa today (population approx 300,000).  It is about an hours drive north of Izmir and served as the traditional training ground for Sultans.  Sultans chose their successors.  It was usually their son, but not necessarily their oldest one.  The sons would be sent to rule the smaller town of Manisa to see how well they were suited to rule the whole empire.

Manisa is located in the interior, not on the coast.  It is right up against the mountains and quite pretty. The temperature was a least 10 degrees cooler than Izmir and Ephesus which was a real relief.  The road was very curvy and almost continuously an uphill climb.  Our bus and many trucks struggled up it in the slow lane as cars passed us.

Manisa

We were told that a new highway is under construction between Istanbul and Izmir that will include a very long tunnel to avoid some of the mountain overpasses.  I don't think this was the very long tunnel, but it was one tunnel that was being built.

It was a bit uncomfortable on the drive because the AC wasn't working.  We eventually switched vans and drivers, but then the driver wanted fresh air and we wanted AC, so we drove down the road with his window down and the AC blasting...swirls of hot and cool air all afternoon...I had to laugh because in addition we had several more local people join us at one point and they all gathered at the front of the bus with several of them standing and having a very animated conversation.