Time for playing tourist before our scheduled departure tomorrow

. Our World Tour Adventure ., Turkey

Thursday July 3, 2014 I just received an email from the Tajikistan Consulate in Istanbul. Our corrected visas and passports have been mailed to us and this should enable us to start our journey once again with a train east to Erzurum.

In the meantime we visited the fascinating Ankara Castle. The earliest records show it conquered around the year 1027 but that it was built way earlier by the Romans. The city views are stunning.

Yesterday we went to an “original” movie of the latest Transformers. By original it is in English with Turkish subtitles.

We have also been enjoying our hosts Deniz and Banu and their friends along with our roommate Mark from England. What fun times we have had. On Tuesday we made tacos for “Taco Tuesday”. They were a big hit thanks to Jocelyn who learned how to cook fresh taco shells from my wife Andee. It took a bit of looking but we found fresh flour tortillas. We even smashed pinto beans and made refried beans. A true “American” dish!

Mark left for points east today and we have to admit we were slightly jealous. We plan to meet up with him in the “Stans”. Our time is tomorrow, on the 4th of July!

A real Ramadan treat. This delicious pita bread served with cheese (on the right) is made late afternoon so that it is warm out of the oven at sunset when fasting for the day is complete.
A real Ramadan treat. This delicious pita bread served with cheese (on the right) is made late afternoon so that it is warm out of the oven at sunset when fasting for the day is complete.
Thanks to my wife Andee my bike is now sporting a Yuri Gagarin sticker.
Thanks to my wife Andee my bike is now sporting a Yuri Gagarin sticker.
Andee also brought out some world flag stickers that we were missing.
Andee also brought out some world flag stickers that we were missing.

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We mailed 12 pounds of winter clothing to a contact in Tajikistan. What a relief. We will load that weight in our water bags.
We mailed 12 pounds of winter clothing to a contact in Tajikistan. What a relief. We will load that weight in our water bags.
Ankara Castle. The upside down writing and horizontal sculptures has something to do with Christians during medieval times. We talked with a few people about it but didn't quite understand.
Ankara Castle. The upside down writing and horizontal sculptures has something to do with Christians during medieval times. We talked with a few people about it but didn’t quite understand.

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What a view!
What a view!

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Where's Waldo? Jocelyn is getting quite an education of the world.
Where’s Waldo? Jocelyn is getting quite an education of the world.
Old cannon balls.
Old cannon balls.

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You can't teach this stuff in a university.
You can’t teach this stuff in a university.
Upside down words and horizontal statues?
Upside down words and horizontal statues?
A very fine local wine for lunch.
A very fine local wine for lunch.

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We found fresh tortillas and avocados. At a restaurant the other night we won a bottle of tequila during a travelling trivia contest.
We found fresh tortillas and avocados. At a restaurant the other night we won a bottle of tequila during a travelling trivia contest.

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Fresh guacamole too.
Fresh guacamole too.
Cooking the tortillas.
Cooking the tortillas.
Perfectly cooked tortilla shells. Thanks Andee.
Perfectly cooked tortilla shells. Thanks Andee.
A Mexican feast - Taco Tuesday - in Turkey.
A Mexican feast – Taco Tuesday – in Turkey.
Taco Tuesday was a big hit.
Taco Tuesday was a big hit.
Jocelyn made lots of new friends from the Middle East Technical University orienteering club. The shots were flowing. The guy in the blue star shirt performed Michael Jackson's famous moonwalk 100 meters on the track!
Jocelyn made lots of new friends from the Middle East Technical University orienteering club. The shots were flowing. The guy in the blue star shirt performed Michael Jackson’s famous moonwalk 100 meters on the track!
We were invited to a stadium party with the Middle East Technical University orienteering club. What fun we had!
We were invited to a stadium party with the Middle East Technical University orienteering club. What fun we had!
Banu took a bus at midnight to visit her brother and help him move his sailboat. The bus station is fascinating. There must be over 60 buses on two levels leaving every hour on the hour. The buses must leave within five minutes (12:05 am)or pay a fine. The next wave of 60 some buses arrives at 12:30 am and leaves at 1 am. This goes on 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Unfortunately they are not too kind to bicyclists and it is hit or miss with the drivers.
Banu took a bus at midnight to visit her brother and help him move his sailboat. The bus station is fascinating. There must be over 60 buses on two levels leaving every hour on the hour. The buses must leave within five minutes (12:05 am)or pay a fine. The next wave of 60 some buses arrives at 12:30 am and leaves at 1 am. This goes on 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Unfortunately they are not too kind to bicyclists and it is hit or miss with the drivers.
I really like his flag.
I really like his flag.
I can't begin to tell you what a great host Deniz and Banu are. Mark, me and Jocelyn were given free reign of their apartment house.
I can’t begin to tell you what a great host Deniz and Banu are. Mark, me and Jocelyn were given free reign of their apartment house.
Jocelyn and Mark.
Jocelyn and Mark.
"We will see you in the Stans, Mark." What a great guy.
“We will see you in the Stans, Mark.” What a great guy.

3 thoughts on “Time for playing tourist before our scheduled departure tomorrow”

  2. Looks like you guys had a nice break with the family. Looking forward to the continuing adventure.
    When I flew into Erzurum 45+ years ago for a day to do a mod at a site there, there were mostly horse drawn carts to get around in. Will be curious to see what it’s like now.
    Safe journeys.

    Bruce and Judy

  3. Hi from the windy stormy Florida coast with Arthur heading north…..no worries!
    Thanks for all the gratitude for those simple things like stickers and food! I am happy to hear that your Taco Tuesday was a big success and hope that you have many more with future hosts. Please give you gracious hosts a hug from me and I know that you will be riding east a little sad to leave your comfy resting spot. I wonder what it will be like for you during this month of Ramadan. I think it is smart that you sent some items to the eastern point to prepare for additonal water receptacles. Whew. I know it is hotter there and without the sea breezes and afternoon showers you will need to break and hydrate.Okay, tomorrow is a riding day and I look forward to hearing how far you get on this part east. My love and deep respect for your journey, andee

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