Turkey!

I found the road after Edessa in the direction of Thessalonike a bit long straight and boring. The only good thing is all the petrol stations…. there seem to be more petrol stations than cars and every one of them got two bored men sitting outside who call you over when you cycle passed. When you do they offer you coffee, water, ice cream or a ride on the back of a motorbike. That last one I friendly refused since I don’t like the style of driving 300 km/h with no helmet… They’re all real lovely but I still don’t like the road. So I got off at Pela, which happens to be the birthplace of Alexander the Great. It’s also the birthplace of Litsa, who friendly let me stay in her house and told me a bit about Greek/Macedonian history and I had a HOT shower! the first one in 5 days… 2 countries ago. And I had to try the homemade wine and homemade honey 😀

Everywhere I go people first ask if I’m alone. 2nd question is; “aren’t you afraid?” Afraid of what?
I don’t like dogs running after me or snakes on the road… I even did 58.1km/h with dogs after me… ok, it was downhill, but still! But “no” they say, “for people”… Why should I be afraid of people? No, I’m not. Funny thing though that Greece is the first country where people keep telling me; “Here it’s safe… Albania, Turkey that’s dangerous… but here it’s safe..” It’s also the first country where I’ve been followed by dogs twice and harressed by men 3 times, but not to worry they,re all slightly pathetic and not half as strong as me (the man)… But here it’s safe…

It’s still a nice country the flat bits are a bit dull, but good for my knees who are getting tired of climbing and look forward to a rest in Istanbul. One day I’ve found a campsite so put up my tent, got offered some food by the neighbours, and wondered into the small fishing village of Porto Lagos…. Porto Lagos? …. PORTO LAGOS!!!! I all off the sudden realised I’ve been here before! I already thought it seemed familiar. I spent a week in this village on my 2002 hitchhiking trip to Istanbul (from Athens, not from Holland…. that would be crazy)

I just found out a few days ago that big sis and husband are expecting a baby!! How exciting is that! Great news, now I’ll get to be the crazy aunt that travels the world and brings presents from far away places Whoohoo!! 😀

On the campsite in Alexandropoulis a fairly negative German warned me for the dangers of this world. There’s bombs in Turkey, war in Iran and people are getting murdered in Australia! … thanks.

Now. I arrived in Turkey! Last time I was here I was young and stupid. Now its 5 years later.

I’ve heard many stories about Turkish hospitality, but the first day I got here I was flabbergasted!
Just across the border I was welcomed by a group of traditional dancers. Ok, they might have not been especially for me, but still…
Then when I stopped at a petrol station to refill my water bottle I was invited to have a tea or çay. 2 çay, a bottle of fresh water, an ice cream and a meal of salad, rice and soup later I was ready to continue my journey.
In the evening I stopped in the village of Inecik to find a place to sleep. No one spoke english or german but all you need is signs: “where sleep” easy. So I was taken to the village hall where a mattress on the floor would be my bed for the night. But a bit later the young boy who showed me around town came back to tell me I was going somewhere else. He took me to a house up the hill. And there I was welcomed by the mayor and his wife and I stayed with them, cause a girl alone shouldnt sleep by herself in the village hall…

Not far before Istanbul I stopped at a petrol station to find water, an english man started talking to me. He was Jim the truck driver who takes pharmaceuticals to Turkey. We had a çay and he invited me to stay in the truck since he had to spent the night there and I was looking for a place to sleep. It’s brilliant, you’ve got the wee bunk behind the seats and a dvd-player! so I watched a movie. AND, I got a lesson how to drive a truck!

Today I will arrive in Istanbul which is perfect timing since tomorrow is some kind of national holiday. Something to do with Ataturk. I’m not sure what exactly but I’ll find out and will let you know…