Ani - the ruined city, River Aras, Erzurum

Trip Start Jun 06, 2009
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Trip End Jun 27, 2009


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Where I stayed
Kral Hotel - what a laugh
(Erzurum hotels)

Flag of Turkey  ,
Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Off to Ani - I can't wait, the ruined city where we will spend about 3 hours exploring the ruined churches, mosques, shops, houses and streets. The first thing that hits you between the eyes is the huge wall around the city, then the smell and sight of beautiful flowers everywhere. Butterflies float around whilst workmen toil to renovate one of the mosques. in exchange for looking at some coins they have found I give them some sweets. this is great, quiet, undisturbed history that we can ramble across. We are on the Armenian border (the river by one of the mosques).

After wards we drive through lush valleys of flowers and harvests, very green with large rivers. We stop to watch fishermen in the river at a village called Koprukoy.

Onto Erzurum - great city full of life and students. Mosques are lit up at night, street traders are out selling fresh fruit, bread, t shirts, tissues, you name it they are selling it. Hotel is hilarious, from the reception area (2nd floor) you'd think that the place was being revamped, or to be more precious needed revamping, but when you walk into your room, it's large, very clean, modern, and posh. The bar area is a must for a visit in the evening, EFES beers are large and the place screams of a bad 1970's film, has to be seen to be believed, but a must for a stay.
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