Day 1 - Getting to Antalya

I thought leaving from a small airport as Antwerp would imply no queuing, no hassle with the bikebox, easy check-in. Without a bikebox: yes. With a bikebox: no.

The reason is very simple: there is no big scanner. Big meaning for more than a suitcase. An employee asked me to open the bikebox and get everything out of the box to be scanned separately. What?? I opened the box and she slowly realized that taking everything out of the box would be impossible, especially without causing delay ;-) 

Bags were tied to the bike, pieces of the bike were tied together with tie wraps, the box was just stuffed with things. She took the sleeping bag, which was lying prominently on top and scanned it. She inspected whether the tires where more or less flat (they weren't). She stopped. Maybe she conceded that scanning each item was just impossible and felt she'd done her best in this case... thank god! She helped me sealing the box again. 

On board of this TUI-flight I learned from my seatmate that booking 'loose' is more interesting than all-inclusive. The difference in price he dropped during our conversation was a lot. He gave me more tips for a beach holiday in Antalya. Very valuable information... for the next (and first) time I'll consider an all-inclusive holiday.

Antalya. 30 degrees.

The taxidrivers were not very keen on transporting a bikebox. So I started cycling right from the airport. Assembling the bike and cycling some 17 km to my hotel should've been peanuts. Wasn't it partly on the highway. Surprised drivers were honking while watching a female cyclist on the highway trying to pull out into the left lane... Well, some adrenaline rushes later I'm still alive :-)

And it was worth it...