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This great Turkish adventure covered both Eastern and Western Turkey with a total driving distance of over 6,300 km or about 4,000 miles in 30 days. Eastern and Western Turkey are distinctively different from one another with the Western portion including Istanbul, Ankara and most territories west of Cappadocia being relatively modern with a mixture of European and Islamic influence. On the other hand the East is sparsely populated with small towns and nomadic tribes, mountainous rugged terrain, untouched beauty, and sometimes a little dangerous. The East, which I loved, is predominantly Kurdish as is adjacent Northern Iraq and the Kurds hope someday to form their own Country of Kurdistan. Turkey's terrain and climate is diverse with the heat of the low deserts, harsh but beautiful Black Sea Coast, high mountains with snow, high plateaus with endless wild flowers and the gorgeous Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines. Our trip starts in Ankara, the Capital of Turkey, with our group of 3 in a small Hyundai mini van.
This great Turkish adventure covered both Eastern and Western Turkey with a total driving distance of over 6,300 km or about 4,000 miles in 30 days. Eastern and Western Turkey are distinctively different from one another with the Western portion including Istanbul, Ankara and most territories west of Cappadocia being relatively modern with a mixture of European and Islamic influence. On the other hand the East is sparsely populated with small towns and nomadic tribes, mountainous rugged terrain, untouched beauty, and sometimes a little dangerous. The East, which I loved, is predominantly Kurdish as is adjacent Northern Iraq and the Kurds hope someday to form their own Country of Kurdistan. Turkey's terrain and climate is diverse with the heat of the low deserts, harsh but beautiful Black Sea Coast, high mountains with snow, high plateaus with endless wild flowers and the gorgeous Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines. Our trip starts in Ankara, the Capital of Turkey, with our group of 3 in a small Hyundai mini van.
2 We arrive in Ankara and find a hotel. It's the SPOR Hotel which is the 3rd one down on the right.
3 Shopping areas abound on most streets.
4 Most fruit and vegetables are abundant and fresh.
5 The central city square in Ankara with statues memorializing Turkish war dead.
6 Typical sight in Ankara.
7 Beef is stacked on a large skewer, the outside of the bundle is cooked and sliced as needed.
8 Menus are mouth watering!
9 Everywhere you go in Turkey tea is offered in this traditional way.
10 President Bush arrives in Ankara.
11 We went to the Hilton Hotel to greet President Bush but were greeted by security forces instead.
12 Another typical sight in the streets of Ankara, a tractor pulling a load of potatoes.
13 Bronze workers.
14 Shoes repairs consist of gluing new soles on shoes with the option of taps.
15 Our driver, Suleyman, and our trusty van prepare to leave Ankara.
16 On our way to Amaysa we stop at the ancient Hittite ruins of Hattusas.
17 There is an ancient passage way through the mountain.
18 The ruins are located at the top of a hill and the scenery is beautiful.
19 We encounter a group of women washing wool.
20 Nobody speaks English but we all seem to get along and the ladies seemed interested in us.
Home ----TRIP: Turkey 2004
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