Bozcaada, Day Two!

(Whew, that last post was long!)

After our wild day of bike-tastic adventures, our first action of the day was to enjoy the view from our lovely little room...

Check.

... enjoy the view from the roof of our hotel...

Check.

 ... and enjoy, I do not misquote, a "crazy Turkish breakfast."

Check.

Check.

Check.

Check.

Aaaaand check.

I think you can see the satisfaction in their lovely little faces.

After breakfast, we made our way over to the history-tastic fortress of Bozcaada. According to the educational signage, the original builders of the fortress are unknown, but it has been used during the periods of Venetian, Genoese, and Byzantine control. However (and as usual), a complete restoration of the fortress was completed under the reign of the Ottomans (most importantly, under SULEYMAN the goddang MAGNIFICENT!) once the island's strategic geographical location was realized.

SIGNAGE!

 Like most castles, the Bozcaada Kalesi came complete your standard moat, and interior and exterior walls to keep your loved ones, your spoils of war, and your reign over the region safe.

Just being awesome, no big deal.

Rebecca and I conquered Russell and captured the fortress for our own use.

Check out all those crazy shades of blue!

Perfect timing to be artsy!

This is just precious!

Where can I submit this so it makes the Mr. Fulbright 2011-2012 calendar?

A Greek headstone, which testifies to the number of cultures that have had an impact on Bozcaada.
Also, this (and about five other) grave markers were only from about the mid 1800s. Interesting!

The same design we found on the water fountain at the Greek Orthodox monastery...?
Synthesizing history, hey!
 

Corinthian columns? I'm not sure. I took History of American Art. Whoops. 

 Note: from this column on, no more educational signage in English existed. This is unfortunate, since my Turkish is still (surprisingly? Definitely not.) subpar.

An Ottoman... something.

A Greek tombstone.

Salvaged Greek storage vessels.
(They're called something else when they're from Greece. Don't worry, I'll look it up later.)

Castles are great!

 After our castle-conquering adventures, we explored a little more of Bozcaada. We found an abandoned boathouse, which allowed, like everywhere in Turkey, for some great pictures.

If you think I'm NOT going to have these shutters on my house, then you're sorely mistaken.

So much inspiration for my future home.

Just a few varieties of Bozcaada grapes... and in the bottom right corner, olive oil soap!

To put an end to our adventures, Rebecca and I spent some time in what appeared to be the town square reading and drinking tea. So Turkish. Afterwards, we said goodbye to our lovely little pansiyon and caught the ferry back to Geyikli.

Bye Bozcaada, miss you already.