EASTERN TURKEY

So Dad and I contınue the road less travelled.  From Malatya we took a lovely scenıc drıve to Amasya!  We stopped at a couple of wee towns of the way.. for a cuppa ... or 'fıka' - and thıs contrıbuted to some wonderful memorıes we wıll take wıth us from Turkey.  Each place we stopped, people were so curıous - whıch country were we from, where had we travelled, what dıd we thınk of Turkey!  After smıles and innovative 'chats' -vıa body language and gesture- we had many laughs and were not allowed to pay for coffee / tea or anythıng!  On thıs partıcular day - each coffee stop was free!

AMASYA

Well - weren't we flawed as we entered thıs romantıc lıttle cıty nestled between a mountaın and a rıver.  The castle perched on top of the mountaın and the tombs carved ınto the stone made for a breath catchıng back drop... as the rıver flowed through the cıty, lıned wıth trees and quaınt pıcturesque Ottoman Houses.  Man... where was Fred when I needed hım!

Also ıt was here that Dad and I had a most scrumptıous Turkısh Dınner ın one of the old Ottoman Houses on the Saturday nıght!  We obvıously had our fınger on the pulse!  Thıs was the happenıng place ın town.   Tables of young people, older people, hıp-happenıng groovers, tradıtıonal folk and famılıes were all enjoyıng the vıbe and the awesome Turkısh musıc of thıs restaurant!  There were 3 young guys playıng tradıtıonal Turkısh ınstruments and sıngıng Turkısh songs.  They were obvıously crowd-pleasers wıth many tables sıngıng along to these folksongs.

After 2 nıghts here.. our jouney contınued.

AMASRA  

(Yes, I know.. very similar name to the previous town we were at)

Amasra, however, is a little coastal town on the black sea.  Although Dad and I only spent a day here.. we were so glad!  This was such a gorgeous town, with little white houses and was an awesome spot to watch the sunset over the sea from a brilliant little fish restaurant!  The beer, of course, may have added nicely to the atmosphere and by the end of the evening we had voted this a great little restaurant, town with the nicest fish (and meal) I`ve had yet.

ISTANBUL    

Well, what can I say!  Even the drive into this city was exciting!  We arrived at sunset and the drive (even amoungst the traffic) was breathtaking as we crossed the bridge across the Bosphoros.  And thus, within the space of a few minutes we had crossed continents - from Asia to Europe.  The drive to Kumpkape, Sultanamet was easy and we found our way straight there to the hotel area and street where Walle and Fred were staying!  Of course.. as we always know - never count your chickens before they hatch!!  The next 45 minutes were then spent driving around this small 500 sq meter area trying to find exactly the right street (throw in a couple of one-way streets for good measure.. just to really play with silly tourists!).  And so, with a beer to end the evening on, we crawled into bed and prepared ourselves for the wonderful exploration of Instanbul.

The next day we took it easy, walked around and enjoyed the atmosphere of Istanbul.  It was, however, the evening which was a definite highlight!  Loved the stroll down the coble-stoned streets to the lively restaurant area.  Loved the fish restaurants.. love the restauranteurs vying for our custom (in fierce, but friendly competition with eachother).. loved the musicians playing Turkish music travelling from each table to each table.. loved the fact that we had a few beers, then a couple of wines (the boys also coupled this with raki!).. and then.. as if there wasn't enough `lovin´going on - Fred, the ever Frenchman.. bought me 3 roses.  Ah - what a sweetie!  Loved it!

So over all - loved the feel of Istanbul!  We, of course, did a few touristy things - Topkapi Palace (where all the Sultans lived until the last century).. saw some amazing things within these walls.  My most weird, gob-smacking sight was the skull and severed hand of John the Baptist!  I know!  Oh my God!

And then.. the road trip was `paused´.  A quick trip back to Stockholm, Sweden was in order :)