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Published: September 25th 2011
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In Van we stayed at the Azure Hotel, it was more expensive that what we had paid so far at 140 Lira (about NZ $98) and was over our budget, but it was hard turning away as there was a lift to our 5th story room (first lift so far) and the location was right in the middle of the city.
Feyzi the manager spotted us as tourists the moment we stepped inside and offered his services as a guide the following day if we were interested. Sharing the cost with the Beate and Steffi meant it was a very reasonable full day escorted tour in his own vehicle. We originally had intended only to stay in Van for one night but decided to make it two days so as to go on the tour and would take an overnight bus to our next destination to try and cath up.
Our first stop was about 55 km's away at Hosap Kelesi a medievil Kurdish fortress, unfortunately it was closed but still great photo oppurtunities. Parts of the defence wall of the castle still remain and they reminded me off a dinasour's back bone. Feyzi took us to a small cay
shop and we all had several cups of Turkish tea
Back towards Van again and through an armed Police checkpoint but didnt have to stop, our next destination was Caustepe where is the ruins of an old Uratian Palace which was built between 764 and 735 BC, not much remains but one thing that astonished me was that wheat grains that had been stored in the Palace have been discovered and we were able to pick these up in places from the ground, they were now black and solid but why still there after all this time?
We met a professor of Urtian language, Mehmet Kusman at the Palace, he was the only person left that could read, write and speak Uratian, he now teaches it at Van, I think he may have been in his 70's. He was selling zodiac sign jewellery he carves from the local basalt stone.
Back on the road again and off to Lake Van to catch a ferry to Akdamer Island, but not before stopping to have lunch at a cafe near the ferry wharf where we had a chicken and rice lunch and more cay. (we are becoming fans of
this Turkish tea which you drink black and with sugar)
The ferry took about 20 mins to arrive at the wharf on the island. where we visited an old Armenian chuch, Akdamer Kilsesi, t was built in 915 AD it is such a beutiful setting and the recently restored church reminded us of similar churches at Ani that we had visited earlier.
It was good having Feyzi with us, as he knew all the history and pointed out who all the charachters from the bible were in the frescoes around the ceilings which included THe Baptisim of Christ, The raising of Lazarus and the Crucifixtion. The exterior of the church is also ornately carved with similar scences from the bible.
Feyzileft us for a while as he had a cay with some mates of his at the tourist shop and we and the German girls (must remember their names) went down to the water for a swim. the lake is the largest in Turkey and has a high salinity level so no soap is requied to wash yourself.
Next stop was back near Van itself to the Rock of Van a steep climb upwards then down
a rickity stairway to the tomb of Argishti 1 who lived 785 - 760 BC. the drop below us was vertical, a great effort for Sheryll being one that is some what challenged when it comes to heights.
We stood on the top of the rock as the sun set over Lake Van, the sound of music and singing far below us coming from a wedding reception, Feyzi started doing a traditional wedding dance with Steffi, over the cliff on the other side lay the remains of the old Van township that was demolished by the Russians in 1915. The only visible reamins were that of 4 mosques
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Linda
non-member comment
Beautiful photos, and what an amazing sunset, you will have to sit down write and publish a travel journal, Sheryl looks like she is getting a great tan and you both look so relaxed ..... that's what happens when you forget all about your work, but i hope you havent forgotten you goats, bet their missing your yodelling :-) keep having fun