Helen and Ed Cycle East: Alanya to Silifke and side trip to Ankara

Since our last posting, the wet weather has been replaced with cold and windy, wet weather. The wind had been very strong the day before we got to Alanya, forcing us to get a bus for a short distance because we could not walk (let alone cycle) and we did not fancy camping alongside a very hideous never ending strip of 5 star resort hotels. We are sure they would not have fancied us camping either!

Alanya (we finally got a view the following morning after torrential rain had ceased)

About twenty km out of Alanya hideous resorts and casinos gave way to beautiful coastal scenery, but sadly the weather was still extremely wet. We stopped for Çai and Gözleme (Turkish pancakes) at a small roadside tea house and some kids had a go on Helen's bike.

One of the most amazing things along the coast-line is the HUGE Mamur castle near Anamur. All 36 towers are still intact and you can climb along the crumbling battlements - a slightly different take on heath and safety here.

The weather got drier, but the wind got stronger and colder as we headed further east and found this stunning campsite.

The followıng day we only managed around 50 Km along some windy roads into a seriously icy headwind, before we took refuge in our tent.

We stopped to buy oranges (which are amazing here) and dried figs from this great guy who was sitting trying to keep warm by his stove on one of the road's high passes. Buying fruit like this is never just a question of choosıng , paying and leaving. A couple of crates are dusted off and we are told to sit down, some fruit is often offered to eat then and there, we have a chat (or a mime), before we are alowed to pay.

Some more beautıful coast on the way to Silifke (don't be fooled it was perishingly cold!)

We sought refuge in the only hotel in Silifke (no photos of Silifke as our fingers did not work by this point). The followıng morning the temperature was well below zero, the wind was strong and bad weather was forecast. We made a snap decision not to cycle any further east towards Syria for the tıme being, but to make use of the 'bad weather window' to collect some more visas for the Stans (more waiting - snore). In the hurry to get onto the super toasty 10am bus to Ankara , Helen managed to forget half her wardrobe in the hotel (aarggg) but at least the bus came with free trolley servıce (teas AND cake no less).

We felt very smug to be sitting sipping tea and watching the bus' digital thermometer drop as we chugged inland to Anakara.

Ankara..... brrr. The 5km cycle from the bus statıon was enough.

The amazing modern Kocatepe Mosque. One of the biggest in the world, it can accomodate 100,000 worshippers.

The interior is stunning!

and again after the snow had melted:

The Ulus Market, selling all sorts, including honey comb (this one is for you, Mark)..

.... and incredible amounts of fresh fish, despite being a very long way from the sea!

The old town of Ankara from the citadel. The old town is still a functioning vıilage, so there is always a knowledgeable tour guide (or three) available to show you around.