http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Marty-of-the-Deep/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Marty of the Deep en-us Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:10:25 +0000 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:10:25 +0000 After a great spell in Bulgaria unfortunately we had to head back to Turkey. It was a sad farewell as we boarded a bus from Plovdiv to Istanbul. I vowed a return trip to see more of the country and of course more of Sophia there are still a couple of pubs i need to goto.The bus ride was pretty uneventful. That was until we had to arrange tickets to get from Istanbul back to Erzerum another 20 http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/blog-138258.html Had a typically late start to our first day riding. Got out of bed around 10am and on the road by about 12. Lightening quick really.Getting out of the city prooved an adventure in itself. Traffic was bedlem each driver seeming to take joy in trying to get as close as possible to me and the trailer of death and then swerving out of the way somtimes into another car.The poolution was pretty bad as http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/blog-142415.html So inspite of my near undie staining thoughts at the turkish iranian border we passed through unhindered. The Iranian customs didnt even check our bags dang if only we had decided to smuggle that fifteen litres of Jack Daniels across the border. On the Iranian side I was greeted my snowcapped peaks leading down to a small border town in the valley of the mountains. It really felt like the start http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/blog-142402.html The wait ohhh the horror and the wait.Now lying in bed in Dorbygzat I was now only 40 or so km's from the Iranian border. My mind wandering in all sorts of directions I couldnt believe that after all the waiting planning and dreaming I was finally going to get to Iran.Just had to hope that the Turkish border guards let me out of Turkey inspite of my visa being 5 days expired.....the reassurin http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/blog-140952.html Not going into too much detail on our timely but somewhat meloncholy departure from Erzerum. We bade a fond farewell to Ayran alley walked along overhead bridge road once again and finally strolled pass piece of shit car path. All these places having been given these rather odd names due to spending way too much time in Erzerum. Ahhh how many hours did we spend discussing the relative http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/blog-140944.html Photos now. Words later.Sophia rocks http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/blog-134327.html As the anethisis of healthy good living long distance cyclists we decided on a whim to head to Bulgaria for a week.This rather random decision came about due to bearacracy We sidled up to the Iranian consultate in Erzerum pretty much as soon as we got to town. To be told that we would have to wait 10 days for a response on our application. The main reason that Bulgaria was chosen was that the cap http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/blog-133464.html We woke the next day feeling somewhat seedy after no having showered for about 5 days. Our mission was to get cleansed at a Hammam a Turkish bath house.Firstly we took a merry stroll around the city of Sanilurfa. The town has seen many people of religious significance both Muslim and Christian pass through its ancient streets. It is claimed to be the birthplace of Abraham and apparently Jeasus http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Southeastern-Anatolia/blog-133329.html It was a genuinely sad goodbye to our hosts this morning. Kahleed seemed pretty bummed that we couldnt hang about and eat and have tea. And I reckon I would have obliged if we werent so keen to get to Turkey and onwards to Iran.Rode towards the border. Stopped in a small town and had some fellaffells with our last Syrian pounds. Sure enough we were invited to have tea. Of course we obliged.Got to http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Syria/blog-133089.html As we woke the pump was definately there Nice blue sky and no wind. Saddled up and in about twenty minutes the clouds came in. Dang.Rode on and on crap headwind to contend with and the occasional patch of rain. Well I spose we had had a good run. Pulled over for an early lunch and by the time we finished you wouldnt believe it....the sun was out and our enthusiasm came back Cycled on and on. Fla http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Syria/blog-133086.html The next part of our riding escapades was a ride for a few days along the Euphrates river. The aim being to cross the border into Turkey.I was finally through the valley of bowel explosions and we were both super pumped to be on the steeds again. Happt days ahead.Firstly we had to exit Alleppo.Mmmmm poolution. That is the stongest memory of riding out of Alleppo. It pretty much tasted and smelt of http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/blog-133076.html Our next date with the bikes was riding towards the northern syrian city of Allepo. We said our goodbyes to Hama and the great Hotel AlRiad cheap clean and great people working there I said a special goodbye to the toilet and off we went.Of course we werent going to Allepo the direct way. We planned on checking out some more Roman ruins horray and some more ruins the origin of which I reall http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Syria/West/Hama/blog-131156.html Ahhh Alleppo. An ancient and famous Syrian city. Reknown for its age old soqs imposing citadel and world heritage listed old city. A city where you can loose yourself for a day or a week walking throughn its twisting winding narrow streets and alleyways.What is not mentioned is the lingering smell of raw sewage and foot massive and nearly overwhelming noise and air pollution traffic that wi http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Syria/North/Aleppo/blog-131159.html The next few days we cruised around the pretty town of Hama. It is famous for its massive waterwheels that are still in operation today but just as a tourist attractionHama prooved to be full of super friendly people as always the case in Syria. While I was fairly spanked with a tragically humerous and fantastic case of the runs tragically humorous like when a clown dies. Apart from the cool http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Syria/West/Hama/blog-130832.html We blasted out of Palmyra stoked to have seen the sights but also glad to be leaving this odd little town out in the middle of nowhere.The landscape was again the same monotonous beige type of earth. Not too exciting but not without its merits. The endless expanse of rocks sand and slowly rolling hills and not to mention the rollicking buses was really enjoyable to ride through.It was a pretty u http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Syria/West/Hama/blog-130809.html Roman ruins.Columns and old streets.Probably the only place in Syria that has been negatively affected by tourism. A real shame.Offers of cheap hookers not accepted.Great sunset on a hill. http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Syria/East/Palmyra/blog-130502.html Said our goodbyes to Ahmed and the boys and rolled on.Today we had the aim of reaching Palmyra a famous roman ruins sight. To do this we had to punch out 100km. We were both up to it and feelng good after a great nights sleep.At sometime during the day Spectacle claimed he would eat a kilogram of Backlava upon reaching Palmyra. I reckoned I could rise to the challenge so layed my bets on the table http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Syria/blog-130501.html Saddled up in the morning but not before the standard fallafels and lotsa coffee. And not before we met a mad Frenchman who was walking from France to Palestine and I was thinking we were doing well but this guy on his foot falcon blew us away. We had a quick chat bonding over personal propolsion methods through the Middle East he then bounced away into the alleys.Exiting D http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Syria/blog-130489.html Well to say that Damascus was a small revelation would be an understatement. I had been told by friends about this amazing city and was ready to explore all it had to offer.Damascus had a lot to live up to. The city is thought to be the oldest continuably inhabited city on the planet. Its 12000 or so years of habitation a touch longer than Sydney's 220 years since colonisation. The city is now h http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Syria/South/Damascus/blog-130110.html Woke up to a massive storm.Which was good cause the flu had a tight grip on me.Even the Spidey dance couldnt lift my spirits.Passed in and out of sleep all day.Woke up to see Spider had a new friend. They were going out and Spider was getting numerous fashion tips. An adjusted belt it must hang loose and adjusted pants they must hang over the shoes this went on to my quiet amusment.Fell asleep http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Lebanon/blog-130098.html