Back into Turkey

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G'day all,

Well we left Lada heaven (Yeravan - every white lada in the world ends up in Yerevan!) we headed to a greek temple that had been restored but was very nice and a monestry complex carved into the mountain in very good condition. We then headed down Debed Gourge which is classed as little Switzerland - which I guess when it is not thick fog it may well ressemble it!. Also the driving in fog is not improved - a gravel road tunnel, thick fog, people still over taking on blind corners!! idiots. (Like being back at work for me!!) We stayed at a hotel which was lovely, actually had two floors and a balcony. We got some food delivered to the room as the restaurant was closed 1,000 (1 euro 80)service charge to carry the food 100 mtrs. The next day we have to pay a guy 1,000 to open the carpark gate to get our car out "you must pay". We got to the Armenian border and find we had to pay to take our car out of the country!! (so it is 30 Euros to bring it in and 20 Euros to take it out!!!). So we go to the "banker" to pay and have to give him 1,000 tip, then go back and have a form filled in 9,600, then give the guy 1,000 tip for filling in the form WHICH IS HIS JOB TO DO!!!!! by this point we are really sick of the "you must pay" shit. Scott explains this to them and we leave (In very colourful language, which would have made my father blush!!) . Armenia is all take take take.

Back into Georgia and onto Tblisi. We managed to find the address of the lovely americans - Jackie and John - that leant us the lonely planet. We parked outside and when they arrived home from work they invited us to a collegues house for fridays drinks (they are both teachers at an international school). It was a great bunch of people and quite a shock to the system to be around so many people and nice society again. Finished the evening playing cards in a bar - amazing we all knew the same game (Thanks to scott's apparently silly card game). The next day John said the magic words "do you guys have any washing to do???" bliss - clean bedsheets again. Then we headed out into Tblisi which is a really nice place. A bit more traditional then Yeravan and a bit more history but still the nice bars and cafes. To say we visited a few and maybe "enjoyed" a bottle or two of vodka...................well cut a long story short I was ill.....very ill and yes dad I'm sorry I embaressed myself. :-(. (HaHA not as embarassed as the cab driver)

Ill the next day until we had a walk in the park and the we had a great home cooked meal - nothing beats it. The next day we pottered around the flat and really enjoyed having different rooms to go in, a whole bathroom and a real sink. I dont know if the novelty will ever wear off on that one!. On the Wednesday Jackie and John had a day off so we headed out to the north and saw Annuari. A Georgian fortress' yes with a church. Had a great time climbing around there followed by a lovely meal and then time for goodbyes. They were the lovliest couple we have meet so far. Really great time and made us feel so welcome. Thanks guys - made it amazing xxx.

After our "holiday" we headed to Gori and saw some more caves (seeing a lot of these things now?!?!). However Gori is one of the smelliest places ever and on the way back through the town the traffic was stopped near a bridge. We could see two helicopters circuling and a truch on fire on a bridge near by - then bang they bombed it. Not idea what was going on drill, training, trouble??? no idea just lots of smoke and cars blocked on a bridge noise........................(So dull........A Russian built helicopter(Rambo movies) and a American heuy (out of all vietnam movies) flew around all afternoon, and the city is in a huge smokey haze and there is a couple of large fires we cross a bridge and are stopped at by traffic before another bridge people are running about when the 2 helicopters come in low and straight at the bridge (Caroline is now worried) and then BOOM!!! smoke and shit everywhere and and a vechile on another bridge has had the ass bombed out of it) Also in the town centre is a bombed tank or something once mobile and heavily armoured.

Luckily we got through that and crossed back into Turkey (via the same crossing and the guards remebered us so we had a laugh with them again). On the way through we picked up a couple of Aussie backpackers - god they get everywhere. Took them to Kars and had a night out there. Then headed to Ani which although it is in Turkey is the old Armenian border. There are a few walls and a church or two left and takes about 2-3 hrs walking around in the baking sun. Then a big drive to Gogubayazir close to Mt Arratt with the snow, and the Ishak Pasa Palace. We got to the palace too late to see it so for £2.50 stayed in a campsite just under it. The next day we looked around the most elaborate place with the different courtyards, complete rooms and amazing views. Then onto Van and lake Van. Maybe we were just tired or what but we did not like it. It was so male based. The internet didnt even have female toilets! We had some food. Scott had offel sausage soup and I had onion/garlic rice pudding. Mine was nicer then it sounds and scotts was as it sounds - never seen Scott leave meat before!. Although we did find a great spot to camp on the side of lake van - great views.

The nextday was another big drive all the way to Mt Nemrut - we got there about 9pm and found we could camp in the national park about 600 mtrs from the summit. We did that and got up in the morning - at about 3am as I was like a kid at christmas. We walked to the summit in the dark and had a run around (climbed) the scultpures and looked at the stars. At about 5am the twilight started and the sun rise began - it was quite magical until 20 turkish grannies turned up and started yibber yabbering around!!! but still a great experience.

The next chapter in duckies health is just called "The turnip". Driving along on another long drive and we drive through turnip country, all well and good until an evil turnip jumped from a truck, bounced across the road and smashed into Ducky. Ducky got a cracked bumber and the turnip got wacked - not sure who won that one!!!! - who would have thought it from a turnip.
We finished that days driving in Goreme in Cappadocia and pulled into a good campsite and found 20 GB vans!!!. We spent today looking around Goreme and at the Fairy chimmneys. A very different landscape to the rest of Turkey and very touristy.

Other then that we are still going strong and loving every minute. Although we have "seen" snow we are having great weather, a few coldish nights but so hot during the day. Meeting up with my friend Vicky in a few weeks in Atherns.

Take care

Me and him
xxx

p.s spare a thought for a couple we met on the way. English and travelling in a converted ambulence. They parked in a dry river bed on dry night. Woke up to the rain and a leak in the roof.........only to find water coming in the bottom of their van. Had just enough time to grap their passports and lept from a window to near by trees. Their van along with 50 cars was swept into the med. They lost everything and are still travelling around!!! RIP Daisy (it was painted like a dairy cow)

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