Turkey 7/08/2005

Trip Journal From 7th August 2005 - 22nd August 2005

Sunday 7th August we have finally arrived!!!!!!And really felt the pressure has come off now, no skeds to keep to and if we find a nice spot we can chill out till whenever. The roads are excellent the first time we can relax and enjoy the driving since Thailand. Driving along the Black Sea we stopped in Rize for a couple of days, got Ruefee all serviced, a goodbye and a big hug for Nigel as he heads off homeward bound .

We found a nice camping spot just out of Ordu by an old church, we planned to stay put for a few days but surprise surprise the rain came down so we headed on passing through Turkeys main tea growing and hazelnut areas along the coast before heading inland over the mountains, passing through Amasya, where we almost recaptured the wow factor…. set in a narrow ravine with the Yesihrmak River running through the centre of town, on the cliffs above town towered the rock cut tombs of the Pontic kings. The town had lovely examples of Ottoman houses and an interesting bazaar.

Onto Cappadocia, with its lunar landscape, fairy chimneys, cave dwellings and ancient churches. We had visited the area 9 years ago. The area had certainly gone ahead, we were extended some unexpected hospitality by a Turkish family, the Aydinoglus being invited into their home for lunch, and they lived in one of the cave homes that dot the area. Their daughter Lutfiye showed us around so we got to see some local spots, places we hadn’t seen on our last visit. We stayed in the camping ground at Avonos, excellent camp, with a 25 mt swimming pool. And we at last got to pitch our tent, the first time since leaving NZ. The camping grounds have been noticeably absent since we left home. We did day trips exploring the surrounding areas, Goreme, Nevsehir etc.

Our first visit to a gas station was a shock diesel was approx NZ $2.20 a litre….gulp…. We continued over the mountains….. Ruefee getting altitude sickness (puffing clouds of black smoke) visiting the lakes district around Egirdir. Carol nearly getting us into hot water as we stopped to take a pic at the top of the hill near the Commando Training Centre at Egirdir. As we looked down over the lake Lawrie favorite quip ….”There’s nothing compares to Taupo”….along the way stopping to chat with another couple of German overlanders, heading back to Europe after spending time in Australia and the Middle East. We continued traveling via Fethiye, Oludeniz and Marmaris all spots we had previously visited. It’s very touristy now and hotels have sprung up everywhere. We thought the magic spot was eluding us until we found Datca… on a peninsular; a small town nestled on a harbour, the camping ground beside a beach and the area not overrun with tourists. We pitched the tent and settled in …..By day we explored the many isolated beaches and villages by night we walked around the harbour enjoying the sunsets and looking at the boats and the shops.

Exploring the ancient historical site at Knidos at the end of the peninsular with the Laane family from Belgium was a highlight along with a delightful couple the Guastellas from Italy who took us diving at a nearby beach to show us their discovery of ancient pottery and then Flora and Marco insisted on cooking us dinner 2 nights in a row….. Italian cuisine wonderful. How time flies when u are having fun so it was rather reluctantly we broke camp, drove the 12kms to catch the car ferry from Korman to Bodrum and continued on to Canakkale where we caught another car ferry across to Ecebat which is not far from Gallipoli. We revisited the Boomerang café a favorite spot for Kiwis and Aussies took a photo for old time’s sake and continued onwards to the border.

We crossed at the Kipi / Ipsala border crossing, had our vehicle stamped out of Turkey and joined the long queue of holiday makers reentering Europe. Had our passports stamped and we were in Greece. No documentation was required from us for Ruefee as we entered, we drove through the non EU lane as directed , so we hope it wasn’t an oversight on their part and it doesn’t come back to bite us when we depart from Europe at a later date. Today is Friday the 26th August.