De meiden hadden op mijn vraag het boek ‘Turks voor dummies’ naar Istanbul meegebracht. Wetende dat ik hier zeker twee maanden zou spenderen, vond ik het een noodzaak met de lokale bevolking te kunnen praten en Turks te leren.
Ik dacht op de bioboerderij voldoende tijd te vinden. Helaas … ik zat liever vijf minuten langer aan tafel zodat ik vijf minuten meer kon eten dan me vol te proppen met Turkse woorden en grammatica. Mijn Turks is mager gebleven in tegenstelling tot mezelf. Ik hield het bij dat wat ik tijdens het fietsen leerde, de basics, voldoende om niet om te komen van de honger.
Alhoewel … honger had ik. Grote honger. Na fietsen langs de kust, wou ik nu proeven van het binnenland en smaken wat centraal-Anatolië me te bieden had. Heel wat UNESCO-werelderfgoed zou ik voorgeschoteld krijgen. Namen als Pamukkale, Tuz Gölü, Cappadocië en Nemrut werden dagelijkse kost.
Onder de noemer ‘Anatolië voor dummies’, laat ik de beelden spreken…
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Ik heb in Turkije ontelbaar veel lieve en gastvrije mensen ontmoet. Een deeltje daarvan vinden jullie terug op de ‘friends of the road’-pagina.
In een notedop mijn avontuur op het zoutmeer via dit filmpje.
#Pamukkale #Turkey
#Pamukkale #Turkey
#Pamukkale #Turkey
#Pamukkale #Turkey
#Pamukkale #Turkey
One of so many food stalls along the way. I like #Turkey
In case I forgot I am in #Turkey
Gas stations are my favorite spot to refuel electricity. Every time I meet sweet people there. Here the family of the man who is working in the gas station came over to check who I am and what I do in their country. They offered me ‘karpuz’ (watermelon), home baked ‘ekmek’ (bread), ‘su’ (water) and ‘çay’ (tea). They wanted to give me more, I couldn’t except. ‘Trop est trop’. Actually this time I wanted to rest on the couch, but I couldn’t 😉 #Turkey
#Turkey
I camped in the middle of the fields. I didn’t saw any house around. This man with his cute and very shy little daughter came along. He explained (in Turkish) to me I couldn’t camp there. In one or two hours at least 10 or 20 sounders of pigs would come to the fields. And probably more, because it would rain and wild boars love mud to wash themselves. I was to lazy and into some adventure. So I stayed there. He gave me his phone number in case something would happen. The next day he came over to check if I was still alve 😉 #Turkey
If I couldn’t find a fountain, then the taps near the mosque were the perfect stop for washing my clothes. One of many good things about Muslim countries #Turkey
On my way to Tuz Gölü, the landscape became flat, just like the salt lake #Turkey
#Turkey
The third guy on the right spoke French to me (he lives in France), the third to the left Dutch (lives in the Netherlands and thought that I needed to be on television with my project ;-)). I met many Turkish people from all around Europe who are spending their holiday in #Turkey
#Turkey
I wanted to camp on the salt lake but I was too late, the sun was going down. On my camping spot the salt was already covering the sand. So there was that little salt lake feeling #TuzGölü is coming closer #Turkey
#TuzGölü #Turkey
Sand with salt near #TuzGölü #Turkey
Salt! It won’t be far anymore #TuzGölü #Turkey
#TuzGölü #Turkey
#TuzGölü #Turkey
I didn’t find any information on internet on cycling the salt lake from south-west to north-east, a stretch of 35 kilometres. Locals told me it wasn’t possible, I didn’t want to believe them. I crossed a couple of years ago in Bolivia the Salar de Uyuni (the second biggest salt lake in the world). Now I wanted to give this one a try. It’s the second biggest lake of Turkey. I was extremely excited #TuzGölü #Turkey
Finally, wooooow! The first 5 kilometres I was in heaven. Singing loud and couldn’t stop smiling. A salt lake completely for me, myself and I, wooohooo! I could only see white and white and more white at the horizon #TuzGölü #Turkey
But after 5 kilometers I had to admit it was hard to cross. First my rear wheel slipped… Then both tires did… #TuzGölü #Turkey
My bicycle got completely stuck in the salt. No kickstand needed #TuzGölü #Turkey
I had to start carrying my bags and pushing my bike for more or less 15 kilometer. With only 1,5 liter of water it was a harsh job. (Check the video below to know the whole story) #TuzGölü #Turkey
#Turkey
I heard some ‘hello, hello’ and didn’t know where it came from until I saw the tractor on the field filled with five happy smiling faces #Turkey
Yeah, dirt road, I like #Turkey
And great scenery too #Turkey
I was interested in the sunflower field next to the working place of the ladies (they were standing on a truck while cleaning carpets). The sunflowers were covered in colorful plastic bags, to catch the seeds. I asked to take a picture of the sunflowers. Suddenly I was offered lots of yummy watermelon and a bag full of organic tomatoes and cucumber #Turkey
I cycled on the moon #Turkey
And also in between big mushrooms #Cappadocia #Turkey
A popular spot for love birds #Cappadocia #Turkey
So far, in my top 3 list of favorite camping spots #Cappadocia #Turkey
#Cappadocia #Turkey
#Cappadocia #Turkey
#Cappadocia #Turkey
#Cappadocia #Turkey
#Cappadocia #Turkey
View from the camping #Cappadocia #Turkey
In Göreme I stayed on a beautiful camping with a stunning view on the Cappadocian mountains (red and rose valley). The owner and staff were the most friendly people. This man was called ‘my person’, according the owner (he didn’t know the word ‘staff’). He was too sweet. While I was working on a blogpost he brought me a hot meal, çay (off course) and cookies. Later that day he brought me again a hot meal. That night I couldn’t sleep because of all the food he offered me #Turkey
#Turkey
#Turkey
These men were having a break in the shade next to drying sunflower seeds. I asked them if I could take a picture from the seeds. We started talking a bit and I got some explanation of the procedure. They gave me a bag with seeds for the road. Way to much seeds, way to much kilos, but grateful #Turkey
#Turkey
#Turkey
It was 30 kilometre before Nurhak that the family Gunes stopped with their car when they passed me. Meral asked me ‘Qu’est-ce que tu fais ici?’. I explained I was taking a picture and that I was on my way to Taiwan. She asked me if I wanted a place to stay. They were visiting their family in Nurhak (they live in Nancy, France). Because I was camping already 7 days, a bed and shower were very welcome, so I said yes. It was a very cosy evening at their house with a lovely shower and great dinner. Thank you so much Mehmet, Meral, Toprak (3,5) and Hasan-Dogu (6,5) #Turkey
After I left Nurhak there was this little climb. Ibrahim, the man on the picture, started spontaneously pushing my bike. It was really hilarious. I was cycling, he was running and pushing, till the top. We couldn’t stop laughing. What a nice encounter 🙂 #Turkey
Man on horse probably riding to his mountain village #Turkey
Another fruit stall, This time only with grapes. They were undoing them from their branches to make wine. Meanwhile (in front) a baby was sleeping in a self made hammock #Turkey
Unfortunately also this is #Turkey. Garbage all around 😦
It’s not always easy to find a campspot. I saw a little wood and thought that would be the perfect place to camp. Till I came closer, the wood was surrounded by a high fence and belonged to Yaman gas company. I asked the guardian (left on the picture) if I could camp there. He asked the owners of the company (right on the picture). I couldn’t sleep in the wood, it was to close to the gas and they didn’t find that a safe spot. After cooking dinner for the guardian and me, I slept under the grapevines next to the guardians small building. In company of lots of ants and mosquitos Despite that I was very glad I had a place to stay #Turkey
#Turkey
I wanted to buy some fruits and this young vendor offered me tomatoes for free. ‘Because you’re my sister’ he said. Soooo sweet #Turkey
Sunday afternoon… #Turkey
… picnic time under the bridge #Turkey
#Turkey
#Turkey
Sad to see that this lovely one lost his tail by being hit by a car #Turkey
The last stretch to the top #Nemrut #Turkey
Always nice to look behind and see what you’ve cycled #Nemrut #Turkey
#Nemrut #Turkey
Enjoying sunset on #Nemrut #Turkey
The last stretch to go to Nemrut (2150 m) was with stairs, stones and little rocks. I wanted to see the sunset and I wasn’t allowed to camp on top (there were guardians with guns). So I asked these two men (Mehmet and Sadin) if I could camp next to their cafetaria, 600 m before the top. It was really, really, really windy. They offered me a night stay for only 10 turkish lira. We ate together menemen (a typical Turkish egg plate). Thank you guys #Turkey
Cycling is definately a workout for your arms. To cross a mountain it sometimes takes an effort #Nemrut #Turkey
Crossing the top of Nemrut (2150m) wasn’t that easy as I thought. There were first many, many stairs and after that lots of stones and rocks to cross. The man with the blue shirt started talking to me in French (they are Turkish people living in France). He asked me why I did this trip. After explaining the trientrapt story, Hussein, the man in the left offered me just like that 100 turkish lira (€30) for my project. I couldn’t believe it. Sooooo friendly! 100 % of happiness #Turkey
#Nemrut #Turkey
Yeah, I made it to the top #Nemrut #Turkey
Meet lovely Lottie and Ross from the UK, in total they will be six months on the road. Not only they are lovely, also their bicycles are (check breadwinner cycles). It was great to meet them. Now and than I also met them on the road and we finally decided to cycle two days together, had a picknick and camped together as well. Good fun! Hope to see you later guys. Meanwhile enjoy the rest of your trip #Turkey
#Turkey
#Turkey
#Turkey
#Turkey
Houses blending with their environment #Turkey
#Turkey
#Turkey
#Euphrates #Turkey
I had some lovely cycling along the river Euphrate. I entered the beautiful village Kemaliye, and passed by this ‘market’. Osman, the boy right, spoke very well English and was really kind. He is studying in Ankara. It was his fathers shop (in the middle). I wanted to buy one, max. two roll(s) of toiletpaper (it’s hard to carry six rolls). They only had packages of six. But suddenly they found a package of two, old, dusty rolls. They didn’t dare to sell it to me, so gave it as a present. How sweet! While I was sitting in front of the shop, eating bread and cheese. They came over with cheese from the region, a present as well. When I left, they quickly gave me a bag full of dried mulberries. I was way too spoiled by this lovely family #Turkey
#Kemaliye #Turkey
#Turkey
#Turkey
Normally in Turkey you find everywhere water fountains or small shops. On day 152th of my trip I cycled already half a day and I couldn’t find anything, not even a house. Suddenly I passed this one. I stopped to ask the people, sitting on their terrace, if I could have some water. I could. They also offered me tea, breath, cheese and cucumber. They called their son (who speaks English) to ask me if I needed something. Turkish hospitality is everywhere #Turkey
#Turkey
Another camping spot on my top list #Turkey
#Turkey
My last mountain pass in Turkey… I thought #not #Turkey
I thought I had my last Turkish climb yesterday. But I didn’t know that on the way to the national park I wanted to cycle through there was very steep dirt road uphill. That meant pushing my bike. I asked locals how many kilometers the pass was. 5 kilometers they said. 2 kilometers further I asked again how far it was: 5 kilometer was the answer. And a third time I asked it, I got the same answer… I was getting tired of all the climbing the last days, weeks, months. When this truck passed by and stopped to ask me if I needed a lift, I said ‘yes’. I couldn’t believe myself that I said that, suddenly the road wasn’t that steep anymore… You can imagine that I felt horrible. And also, it was only 1,8 kilometer to the top. Anyhow these people were very kind to me and the last kilometer to the top would have been a pushing moment again 😉 #Turkey
On my way down I didn’t see a lot of the ‘lovely’ national park #Turkey
But I met these sweet cows #Turkey
I stayed in Trabzon for a couple of days, I finally received my Iranian visa here, yay! #Turkey
trien trapt 
Prachtige fotoreeks en dat filmpje op de zoutvlakte, amai wat een harde tante ben jij Trien, ongelofelijk !!! Veel fietsplezier nog verder en we duimen op zon en af en toe wat water he 😉 xx
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Water valt nu en dan met liters uit de lucht, dus als ik mijn drinkbus openhoud, komt dat goed. Dank je wel Sofie, de groetjes aan de familie. Liefs, Trien xxx
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Dat je tussen al dat zwoegen en uitdrogen nog de tijd vind om zo’n tof filmpje te maken! Zalig!
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🙂 Haha, dat was uiteraard nadat mijn dorst gelest was 😉 Leuk dat je ‘t leuk vindt Severienie x
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Prachtig Trien! Dikke herfstknuffel uit Gent xxx
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Dank je wel Ineke 🙂 Herfstknuffel voor de jarige vanuit het mooie Bakoe en SMAK!
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Zo’n mooie foto’s weer 🙂 En heerlijk de vriendelijkheid en gastvrijheid van de mensen in Turkije! Altijd weer een plezier om je blogpost te lezen, zo mooi beschreven!
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Bedankt Jeroen, leuk dat ik er jouw mailbox mee mag vullen 🙂 Turkije is een echte aanrader, ook voor trailruns en mtb-tochtjes, hint hint 😉
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Wat een sjieke toer door Turkije, Trien! Wauw foto’s en sprekend filmpje, knap!
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Hoi Eline en Jürgen, tja, Turkije stond al lang op mijn (fiets)lijstje dus wou er werk van maken om er wat fietsuren te spenderen. Een prachtig land met prachtige mensen.
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Elke keer opnieuw ben ik een blij mens als je iets post 🙂 Omdat ik dan weet dat je nog rondloopt(fietst) en natuurlijk omdat het steeds weer leuke fotos en comments zijn… hoedje af….Ik heb er puur dorst van gekregen 😉 Y
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Oooh, hoe lief. Santeetjes Y 😉
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Je fotoreeks Anatolië voor dummies laat duidelijk zien dat je niet moet onderdoen voor beroepsfotografen. Echt een prachtige fotoreportage.
Ook je videootje vind ik super.
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Haha, hier is duidelijk sprake van dochterliefde 😉 Bedankt papa, ik zie je ook graag!
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Wij genieten comfortabel mee van jouw prachtige foto’s en comments,Trien! Onvergetelijke dingen maak jij mee! Take care, liefs! Edith & Roland
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Dank jullie wel Edith en Roland. Fijn dat te lezen 🙂 xx
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chique chique chique!!! :))
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