Still in Ankara Autopark
Trip Start
Apr 29, 2006
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93
143
Trip End
Nov 15, 2007
Ankara, Turkey
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Still in the otopark in Ulus, Ankara
I had such a disturbed night's sleep, I slept though 2 calls to prayer from the loud speakers near by. There must be 2 mosques close by because the calls to prayer start about 30 seconds apart. This makes the calls sound quite awful as they are not in unison for 15 minutes.
I phoned Mum and Dad and caught up withal the local gossip. I was glad to hear everyone's well at home.
Lou rang the Iranian Embassy to ask if our Visas were ready yet. "Two or three days" was the answer.
The area I'm sitting in now with my laptop, is in the grounds of the local vocational high school
baths 3
. Its summer holiday now, no school for the kids for another month. The teachers have been coming to prepare lessons and they share 'our' otopark. One of the teachers brings something for us nearly everyday. The first day it was pomegranate juice. Then it was two different sorts of Turkish bread and Turkish cream cheese for the bread, they were delicious. Just recently she brought 4 individual packets of Nescafe cappuccino mix, we made it into ice coffee as it's so hot here. I'm looking at the digital thermometer above the school entry which reads 35 degrees and it's only 11:30 in the morning. The maintenance man is keeping the gardens wet, so I'm enjoying the sprinklers and the grassed area. Next to the school is the area which housed Turkish Baths over 800 years ago. Lynn and I walked around there yesterday as the remains are still evident. It is level with the ground and the bath area is set in a huge basement area. There are remains of under floor heating and drainage. Many fragments of columns, tablets and plaques are standing in rows on display, the sculpturing very descriptive. It is still a very baron area, but trees are being established and watered. Unfortunately there are also several families of dogs and puppies roaming around. I counted 11 puppies, one of whom was quite ill. The adult dogs roam around our vehicles as night falls. Cats too, fight at night near our vehicles. I think there's one on heat too.
Comments
Hi from home
Heard you on Macca. We are travellers in spirit and one day will head off around Aus. Have a safe trip.
G'day from Oz!
Just on my way home from a night shift and listenning to you on Macca kept me awake on the drive (Brisbane-Gold Coast)! Now, I have just put the kettle on and am going to read your log...you are living my dream!
Heard you on AAO
G'day there Jenny et al. I love listening to the various travellers on Macca and you were no exception. Congratulations on being asked 'to hold the line and we'll keep talking' as he normally hasn't got the time to do more than a frantic few questions. You obviously caught his interest, AND you certainly caught mine! Brave lot you are, and good on you for doing what you're doing. My other half and I are travelling too, but only around Aus, and working as we go. Leaving Kalgoorlie within a month to head up to Newman and the heat. I guess you would certainly know what THAT feels like! I will keep you in my favourites folder and look forward to the updates. Safe travels!
Cheers from Jan O
First Time!
Hi Jenny etal., heard you for the first time this morning and won't miss anymore! Have travelled to all the places you have - sounds as though you are finding it every bit as fascinating as I did! What a wonderful place Turkey and it's people are! cheers
Catching up
Hi Again Jenny, After many enjoyable nights of travelling with you and enjoying your photos, I feel as though I am finally 'catching up' to you.Keep well all of you.
Ria