Istanbul

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After 5 day rest near Fethiye doing holiday stuff, set off north, approx 900km to Istanbul. Bike still suffering from broken shock, so Heather elected to fly, well it was raining! So with rain coming off Agean sea, I elected to run up the middle over mountains.



Pamukkdale, top tourist site near Denizli was on route, stopped for lunch in cloudy sunshine, it was easy see this natural chalk feature from 20km. There is quite a bit to see here and swim in Cleopatra's bath tub, but just a brief visit this time as I was keen to outrun rain.



Run into Istanbul round lake Maramara to north, or ferry across this small sea?, well indicission left me on mountain track in dark above Izmit, I blame the satnav - well it says there is a road. Then finding hotel in Izmir - a bit of industrial port also takes time too, so 10pm in a hotel surrounded by noisey cats.



30km run to the port of Yalova, simple question a ferry to Istanbul please, "to Asia or Europe?" in Turkish takes bit understanding, my hotel booking was in the old city - so Europe is correct answer. Istanbul is a huge city of 17million people, in two halves divided by the Bosphorus. The Marmara sea on south side takes its name from one of it's islands made of solid marble!. City trafic is busy, but l had things todo, so dumped my luggage at hotel & followed other bikers about to find a new 21" front tyre - quite rare east of here, it amused then to fit British Avon tyre to brit bike. Also re-fitted the original Triumph shock posted here by Lorain my neighbour in UK, maybe an oil change too.



So collect Heather from domestic airport S.Gideon, 30km East of city, bus, taxi or bike, wrong choice kept me up till 3am & 4 bus rides. Hotel in Istanbul, there is always a bit of negotiation, we were 2 days early for my booking.com reservation and it was a Friday night too, so had to find extra $125 cash for 2 nights, booking.com was then €55 next 2 nights, then try for same rate for last two nights, keep U'r eye on exchange rates etc.





Lots of sites to see, Blue Mosque, cruise on Bosphorous river, Black sea, Grand bizzar, and a traditional dance night. The best trip for us was the Jeep safari - lots of activities, looking at gorges, bit tubing and a mud bath, but U could do all this on Tyne on a warm day. Found Mosques bit disturbing with intense religious messages, they can be called to prayer 5 times/day, we did see the activities with women segregated to an area at back, superb architecture. Quite bit of kebab meat to eat, we struggled to find alternatives.







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Photos

Boat cruises from Ovukirk beach
Gangway can bounce 8ft up off beach if sea is rough!

Jester on Ovukirk boats.
Real party starter and entertainer.
Could do a good belly dance, mesmerising!

Pancakes
These two would float up to big boat, make and cook fairly tasty treat while U wait.

Sunset cruise on Agean
Cruises were cheap, just a good jolly off beach.

Moon light dance
Jester ran dance competition by firelight.
Just warming up contestants.

Tombs from ancient times.
Site back in hills near Duger and Yakapark.
3 different eras on this hill site alone, lots of archeology to see in Turkey.

Jeep Safari - mud bath
I just should have been a hippo!

Pamukkdale
Limestone deposits lots of small pools deposit chalk.
Eventually forms this into a big cliff,
Approx 400m high but 2km long. Big splash of white on hillside.
Cleopatra's bath tub at top.

SatNav said it was a road!
My Shortcut from D660 to Izmir on Maramara sea.
Osmand Nav for Android is good, download all your map files (17 countries for me) before setoff, no roaming charges, just GPS.

Gravel track above Izmit
Hard to capture event on a photo, tarmack vanished to gravel along with daylight, then some ruts and a bit of mud, with just a bit of rain too. I can always find extra challenge!

Visit black sea on Asia side.
Too rough to swim we were told.
Stopped in bar by beach, meeting point for Turkish bikers. Surprised so few people visit beach from big city, was bit overcast & might rain.
They are building a 3rd bridge on Bosphorous just over back.

Mosque spires
Really tall - can see man on scafold.
What is function of spire?, place too mount speakers,
but I think to fire the prayers upwards.

Modern tram system
No guarding, the driver might sound horn.
Powerful electric motors, it moves off quick,
then re-gen power on stopping? Good idea if it did.

Turkish delight!
We did go to Turkish folk dance night.
Very talented people, but also good light show.

Grand bazaar - Istanbus
Big attraction in town, but bit flash for me, Heather was un-sure about quality of rocks (diamonds and stuff).