Resting up before the night flight

I had a flight from Antalya to Algiers at 2350. I wanted to do “everything” that I wanted before it got too hot, then rest before the night flight.

It seemed the right idea to go for a walk while it was still cool, before breakfast. I wandered into the old city. There was nothing I hadn’t seen before. In fact, there are better old cities in many parts of Turkey.

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Buffet breakfast at the hotel beckoned and I filled up before heading out again, this time to the Museum. I hopped on the tramvay to find that they don’t accept cash. I got a local to tap his card for me and reimbursed him the TL2.

The museum was the final stop. It was already scorching hot so the air-con environment inside was a welcome change. The museum had come highly recommended by many. Even though I wasn’t a museum kind of person, I felt obliged to go. I must say the collection of Greek and Roman statues and artefacts were pretty awesome.

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I bought myself a one-off ticket at a drinks vendor (cost quite a bit more than the TL2 on a rechargeable card) and made my way back to the hotel for a cool dip in the pool.

I skipped lunch again and had some muesli and ayran before doing some admin and resting till it was time for my half-board buffet dinner.

I checked out at 2000 to try get a taxi to the airport. There were various taxi stands around. However, the hotel’s driver made an offer that was the same what a public taxi had quoted. I bargained him down a little and we were soon on our way. That meant I got to the airport earlier than expected and had to wait for about 25 mins before check-in opened.

Even though I was third in the queue, it took a while as the first people had complications. The second took only seconds. When it came to my turn, it was quick as well. I was issued a boarding pass straight away despite being on standby.

Security was swift but immigration had a queue. Once airside, I looked for a money changer to get rid of my remaining Turkish Liras. Ooops, no such luck. I was told that there was one outside but I hadn’t noticed it. And it wasn’t shown on the airport map. I managed to use up my coins (TL3.95) … I asked the lady “What can I buy with TL4?” She gave me a Toblerone and said “Normally it is TL7 but you can have it”. She even rang up the till and put the money in it!

The lounge that I could use was on the mezzanine floor which made it even hotter than the rest of the terminal. I was still full but snacked a little before moving into an air-conditioned are.

We had an on-time departure on less-than-half-full B737-800. I shifted away from my exit row (good legroom for the two remaining people who were extremely tall) to the one behind to gain an entire row.