After a stop in Budapest, we crossed Austria under a hard rain... The temperature in the Dolomites, where we slept yesterday, fell down, till 6 degrees centigrade.
And now we're at home! Thank you to everyone who followed our journey!
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We left Istanbul early this morning, to avoid traffic jam... in 45 minutes we were able to left the city behind us...we passed Edirne and crossed the Bulgarian border.
Then up through Bulgary (bad roads, expecially around Sofija), as far as the Republic of Serbia's border. We stopped again in Nis, as we done on our way down to Turkey, in the same little hotel; very cosy, here is the website From Giresun our paths lead us as close as possible to Istanbul; so we did a long tranfer as far as Gerede, where we sleep in a cosy mountain hotel, at an altitude of 1.500 mt.
The day after we reach Istanbul in the first afternoon, just in time to go to the Grand Bazar (today was the only opportunity we had to visit it, since it is closed on sundays). Maybe less typical and more turistic compared with others bazars, but anyway always amazing. We spend there our afternoon, and tomorrow...other amazing places in Istanbul! Have a look at out italian blog to see some pictures In the early morning while we were leaving Kars, we had the fortune to see a cattle market... it was like being in an old time atmosphere...impressive...
Then we crossed the area close to Georgia border, and we have been surprised to see how different these area actually is comparing to the rest of Turkey: high pastures, with cows,sheeps and even gooses give you the sensation of a fervent, even if poor, rural life. And then, ahead, the landscape changes again, reminding us our Alps... we couldn't have imagined landscape like those! Our final stop for today is the region of tea production. Few kilmeters before Hopa all the hills are covered by tea plants... And the day after, departing from Hopa e as far as Rize and a little bit further, again and again hills coveder by tea!!! Another amazing stop, just before Rize, is Ayder; amazing mountain landscape, with wood houses... We would like to see also Uzungol, another little mountain town, but since we also have to see Sumela Monastery we have to choose. And we choose Sumela. For sure is one of the main place to visit in Turkey, but we suggest, if you want to visit it, to dedicate a whole day. We arrived, the site was very crowded, many buses formed big queue...finally we decided to surrender ando only take some pictures from outside...our holiday is approaching its end, and we need to start to go to west. Going down from Sumela to the Black Sea, and then following the Black Sea cost to west, we noticed the evidence of another big and important production in Turkey:the hazelnuts! Tons of hazelnuts are put on the street, near the sea, to be dried. Have a look at our italian blog to see some pictures This itinerary is divided in two days; the first days we went on top of Mount Nemrut, on the east terrace, where we visit the archeological site. Then we went on crossing the Euphrat river by a ferry and then straight to Diyarbakir... after a big trouble due to road works....we finally manage to find the street to Tatvn, where we decided to stop.
The day after we went through the west cost of Van Lake, to Dogubayazit and the Ishak Pasa Palace. And after the Ishak Pasa, another beautiful view in our eyes....the Mount Ararat, with its 5.165 meters, covered by snow... an amazing view. This evening we are in Kars. have a look to our italian blog for some pictures! This morning we woke up at 4.15 because a little bus we catch us at the hotel at 4.45... we're going to do an hot air balloon flight! we met with a great many other people, divided then into small groups of 25. Each hot air balloon can contain up to 30 people...we arrive in the leaving field in the dark, and saw all that balloons being prepared to fly...it was VERY amazing.
The fly takes and hour, and is definitely worth the price. After the flight we left, to reach Mount Nemrut after about 600 Km. We arrived in the dark, and found a nice hotel just below the mount. Have a look at the pictures in our italian blog! We had breakfast on the sea side, and the we left to visit the archeological site of Pergama.
Few kilometers before Bergama we noticed an artigianal rugs farms, and we decided to visiti t. A kind man explained to us all the phases of the lavoration, and show us many of their rugs… all of them really wonderful! After this stop we went to Pergama, and then to Epheso, after havong crossed a big city like Izmir that cause us not few problems… Anyway we managed to pay a little visit to Epheso and then straight to Pamukkale! The day after we woke up early to have time to visit Pamukkale before the great many tourists arrive… We managed to be “alone” for about 10 minutes, but then buses started to come… anyway the photos are great! We left towards Cappadocia, crossing the lakes area (Egirdir) and arriving at Beysehir. Be careful, police is everywhere and they stop you very often! We were lucky no to drive too fast… We stopped in Beysehir in a little but brand new hotel. The day after we left to reach Cappadocia, not forgetting to visit the Esrefoglu Mosquee, builte in last years of 1200, and whole made by wood in its interior ! huge. We went on to Aksaray, and stopped few kilometres before to visit Sultanhani, the biggest Caravanseray of Turkey. And then towards Goreme passing by the Ilhara valley… it’s unbelievable how beautiful is this area! Have a look a tour italian blog for the photos! Bye! Finally we can start to explore this wonderful country; immediately we notice a strange difference between the modern economical development and the traditional life and old habits. It is normal everywhere, but in this case the contrast is more sharp, or at least this is our impression. We start to drive south to the Dardanelli, and caught a ferryboat to reach Canakkale. Everywhere new roads are under costruction…big and expensive works! Stopping in a petrol station we asked for a coffee, no one spoke english, but two extremely kind people organized for us a little table and offered a tea. The left us without words and a little embarassed, the only thanks we could say them wa to take a picture near the motorbike and send it to them. Tesekkurler (that means many thanks) friends! 
We left Nis and after ah heavy to digest breakfast (only an omelette, but at least made of 4 eggs and deep fried….) we started to approach Bulgaria. We pass over Sofia by a transit way, absolutely badly maintened. That cause us to drive very carefully and to loose some time. But finally we reach the Turkish border! No queues at all, we manage to pass in few minutes. We reached Edirne, the first big town after the border, with a big and beautiful mosque ovelooking the city centre. We stopped in a central hotel, that let us park into the hall! Quite strange!   |
