There and Back Again

Safranbolu

 We decided to visit more of Turkey, so with a little reluctance left Istanbul to go east, returning in a few days.  So with bus ticket grasped firmly in the hand we set off for Safranbolu near the Black Sea coast.  It is an old town famous for its historic Ottoman houses, a large proportion of which have been restored.  We were not disappointed, the ‘old town’ down the hill from the ‘new town’ is full of the restored Ottoman houses and many traditional crafts are still carried out.

We couch surfed with a young guy, it was his first attempt at being a host, and we did wonder why he didn’t have any reviews. We needn’t have worried as he was very attentive and looked after us very well, that is the Turkish way, very hospitable.

Safranbolu Mosque

 

However, we could not stay more than two nights as he was off to see his brother for a few days.  ‘Moving on’ seems to be a recurring theme, or maybe that is what this is all about.  So off we went, seen off at the Otogar (bus station) by Fikret (our host) bound for Ankara.  Many Turkish people say it is not worth visiting, but we wanted to see the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations, and with the help of Ayse and Cengiz we stayed with a friend of theirs, now also a friend of ours, Yusuf.

Ankara old town

We have found the people here so friendly and hospitable, opening their homes and lives, sharing their food and conversation, this is not just the people we have stayed with but people we meet on the streets and in markets, shops and museums, it will be with a very heavy heart when we leave on Monday.  Yusuf opened his home to us, from meeting us at the otogar to dropping us off at the train station, visiting Ankara’s old town the first evening and taking us to his University Association wine, nibbles and conversation evening the second, nothing was too much trouble.  The visit was full of excitement as well; we woke up the first morning to a flood in the hall in the apartment - a burst pipe – a small one but it was still wet!  So as true Helpxers we leapt into action mopping and scooping the water up, till the leak was found and the area was dry, Yusuf turned off the water and we had breakfast.  Yusuf we hope all is well and the problem has been cured. 

A Chimera in the museum

So we have returned to Istanbul and will probably return again in the future, we recommend this city to anyone, it seems to have everything a city should have, sights to die for, good transport, great people, fabo food, ferry trips, holiday islands, and loads more.  The holiday islands are the Prince’s Islands (Adalar) about 45 mins ferry ride into The Sea of Marmaris, there nine islands four of which the ferry stops at, we went to Heybeliada for a swim and lunch, fish just speared by our host, yummy, a great day out. 

Last Turkish swim

Lunch Venue

The strangest things happen in life, out of Istanbul’s 17 million inhabitants, and I don’t know how many visitors, we met a Helpx friend, an Australian girl from Ayse and Cengiz’s, there was a tap on Megan’s shoulder in the Museum of Modern Art, and there was Brigitte, and here she is in the apartment playing scrabble with Meg – what a small world!

A reunion cup of cai

So here we are treading water, waiting till Monday night comes around and our flight to Beirut, we will be there for 10 days then onto Jordan for 8 days, talk to you soon.

Istanbul skyline