Biomedical Archaeology Congress and what I learned...

Izmir Archaeological Museum

Recommended by dear Dr. Touwaide, I decided to participate in this congress as it touches the aspects of the History of Medicine, Plants in Medicine, Biomedical Techniques in Archaeology and because events like these are always a chance to meet experts and learn more.

Unfortunately the organizers were not very professional regarding logistics...they told me and nobody else nothing about my country requirements for a VISA to enter Turkey...they gave no contact for participants arriving Izmir airport, and they stood us up there for hours, while they were dressing up for a dinner gala...
Shameful...

The conference itself was very good, as there were many excellent researchers there, and I was able to acquire more information regarding my research subjects.

Themes like aDNA, plant medicines, bone diseases, excavation projects, and famous Greek doctors were the best. There were also some Turkish speakers who should revise their English before participating in an international event, as all other nationalities communicate in English and it was very hard to follow their presentations.

There was also a lady, Prof. Dr. at a Turkish University presenting a lot of bad associations, mistakes and telling lies about ancient civilizations. I had to confront her as she touched a nerve; Vineyards in ancient Egyptian tombs.

Kusadasi

The place where the conference was held loked like paradise and it turned out to be a poisoned present, a real hell on earth, to use simple Biblical images...

To held an international conference in a place where internet is only available at the reception lobby bar is crazy...the employees of the resort were all young boys, with a knack for foreign girls and no professionalism at all, there was loud music, a real disco night ambience, everywhere from dusk 'till dawn, airconditioning was rationed, only some hours in the day...food was terrible...the beach non-existent, the chairs on the sea or the pool 'reserved' with towels since sunrise...

A resort for eurotrash, as I wrote in my review of the place at Virtualtourist.com

But it was cheap...that is why they organized the conference there...

The good side of the coin, is that, despite all problems I had in Turkey (ignorance of VISA need, late planes, rude people who don't speak English, smelly meat allover, and bad hotels), I stayed at an exceptional hotel at Izmir, the Efes, and had a marvellous day there at the Spa and eating at the buffet restaurant, and I got the chance to visit exquisite monuments and museums and even see an Egyptian mummy with a newborn mummy for the first time At Istanbul Archaeological Museum!

We also had a very nice half-day trip to Ephesus, which I enjoyed very much!!