Omtel Hotel Samsum Samsun

... rooms as they were ın the old ottoman´s times. Just beautiful and very special

On the way to Amasya, we have been loosing our way sometimes completely. Its a big country and all people are very helpful, even ıf they cannot read a map.

... attention. Small villages are often seen, but not really beautiful. Sometimes you see fishermen catching fish other industry has not been seen and the coast line is not invıting for a beach weekend.

We have been arrivıng at the surprise of the day at a small countryside hotel, that is run byy a Turkish / Japanese couple. It loverlooks the bay of Sinop and is absolutely cozy and nice. We just enjoyed the shower, or bath in a bubbling tub and then a nice dinner.

There were a few noises through the night but nothing prepared me for the bird attack.  In the early hours of the morning a crow started up it's cawing racket and something struck the tent where my head was.  The crow went on cawing and I went back to sleep.  Luckily I've been using the outer sheet since it rained so there was no contact with my head but when I checked the sheet the next day ...

... meat).

My legs were tiring but I did a bit more climbing before a 20km downhill into Samsun.

I found a room in a good family run hotel and this will be my third night. I've had a good look around Samsun, where Ataturk started his Independence War in 1919 and even went for a swim in the Black Sea today. Back on the bike tomorrow heading for Rize which I should reach by June 15th.

... farcit d Ayrgamboys emprenem l estoica travessa turca. (...) Es trist el Mar negre; d una tristor d aquelles que encongirien el cor si se ls hi pogues treure el so. El cel s ha encapotat per primer cop des de Bari ( Italia) i fins i tot els verds son grisos. D enssa que es toca costa, abans de Samsun, que surt la ganya del mon inhospit. Aquesta es una costa bruta, abarracada de tendes xalet a la platja, amb ...

... park. A one-armed young gent attending got the key and led me up to the parapet for a look around. (The hotel across the way was better than the one in Patnos. If I had known, I might have gone there, then continued on, as the weather was improving).

To return to Patnos I didn't want to go to the dolmus stand and have them sit me by until the next dolmus for Patnos might leave. So I walked out of town, figuring to hitchhike--and a dolmus would stop for me ...

I'd been to Amasya before, in my 2002 visit to the east. It is one of my favorite Turkish towns. It has more character than most. Its setting is quite unique. On a river, in a wide gorge.

But this time I was merely using it as a bedroom stop-over on my way to Samsun. The next day in Samsun were to be festivities marking the anniversary of Kemal Ataturk's landing there, basically his first move to begin the Turkish War of ...

... bite to eat - obligatory chai and little breads - before heading up to the Kalepark. A very steep 1.5km uphill jaunt to wake TİPO up but it was well worth the effort of getting there as it had turned into a glorious morning with clear blue skies making the black sea look blue and the bays either side of Giresun harbour look like Killiney Bay on a good day or the Bay of Naples on a bad day even. Extensive ruined walls were ideal for strolling along, each turn offering new ...

... sea. As it was with the clouds and drops of rain it was merely pleasant. However ı did get my long sought after cup of tea - complimentary - which ı had in the conservatory beside the garden - overlooking the grounds and town. Tremendous. I am a simple man. Then back down to the post office and into the museum which is in one of those 2 ottoman houses. This musuem was especially good at depicting period piece ottoman costumes from the late 19C - all ...

DAY 36. SEPTEMBER 6. SAMSUN Bus steward The problem with living in such a strong Muslim country is the call to prayer. Muslims must pray five times a day and to remind them of the times, a call to prayer is made over loudspeakers. All the mosques make this call to prayer. Hence at 4am we had loudspeakers blaring all around us for fifteen minutes. It was just a recording (usually someone makes the call to prayer themselves, but with modern technology I guess this is not ...