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Published: April 4th 2010
Turkey here we come
Arriving at the Turkish border check point. Make sure you get signatures from both police and customs buildings Sunday 4 April - Easter Day
We are now in Istanbul staying with some friends in Istanbul of Mac’s and Lynn’s who are friends of Barry’s who made the original approach for us to stay with them. Getting into Turkey was reasonably straight forward - the drive from our last stop, Kavala, brought us over the northern hills of Greece. Both of us were amazed to see signs on the overhead gantry system advising us to beware of bears in this part of Greece. We thought someone was kidding so if anyone reading this blog can confirm such a fact we would be pleased to hear. On arrival at the Turkish border our passports were checked and then we were told to park up and get a visitor’s visa and then go back to the official to have them stamped by him. We did this with no problem. Then we needed car third party insurance - we got that too but travellers should be aware that the minimum period is for three months costing Euros 49. One lesson we did learn was that if you thought you had cleared all the officialdom don’t count on it. Our final departure was
On the road to Istanbul
Our first sighting of a mosque in Turkey. The roads had also become less easy to negotiate. held up because we had missed out the customs officer - so we were returned to get more signatures done before being released into Turkey - the whole process taking nearly two hours in the end. Arriving in Turkey having spoken to our future hosts, Umit and Iclal Sarp, on the phone we soon realised that finding them was not going to be easy. Eventually, we did get to close to where they lived, thanks to a compassionate resident of Istanbul who showed us the way towards the area, Levent, where they lived. Once in Levent we found a hotel and called Umit and Iclal and waited to be ‘found’.
Which they did and then proceeded to take us into the centre of Istanbul to experience a Saturday night to remember. Wonderful music and food and so many people. What a night. Pictures tell all I think. Today we have been on a boat trip up the Bospherous Sea into the mouth of the Black Sea to a small village called Anatoli Kavagi where we climbed to an old castle before descending back down to the waters edge for a wonderful fish course meal in one of the colourful ‘taverners’
Rendevous
After desparately trying to find our way to the apartment we were supposed to be staying in and getting totally lost in this bewildering city where drivers seem to be all maniacs, we finally made this hotel to make the phonecall that saved us a sleepless night in the car! before catching the boat back to Istanbul. Its Easter Day and we have to eat the eggs!
Tomorrow who knows what is in store for us. The plan is to stay here one more day and then head on East on Tuesday, which will put us ahead of our schedule. Now the real adventure starts - roads will be more difficult to negotiate and driving of others more erratic. At least we are prepared - more later in the forthcoming week, wherever we are.
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Maggie and John
non-member comment
Hello from Devilish
Hello Barry and John, following your trip, and excited you have done well so far. We have already helped Linda out with poor Internet connections, endeavouring to keep her connected open to keep intouch with you both. Look foward to Reading your next blog, till then keep safe and enjoy! Regards Maggie and John Devilish Pc's Andover Hants