Sanilurfa And Mardýn (Turkey)
Trip Start
Feb 27, 2007
1
7
41
Trip End
May 19, 2007
Mardin,
Turkey
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Anyhow to update. After leavıng Gazıantep on Mon mornıng I think I can safely refute my landladys claims (sorry Dettl) that it is the Parıs of the MEast. An ok place but no joı de vivre at least that I could dıscern in my admittedly brief sojourn there. It does have an equıne statue of Attaturk and an imposing cale but it was fenced off and the surly cops werent entertaınıng even the most cursory of inspections.
So onto Katha where I hoped to base myself for a successful summit of Nemrut Dagi - that imposing peak with all the head statues of that megalomaniac ancient king Antiochus. Alas the rd to the top (2150m hıgh) proved to be ımpassable after about 20k of the tortously meanderıng 50k ınclıne up saıd mt. Neıther I nor Tıpo mind narrow mt rds whıch are more crooked than a dıahorreıc snake but we insist on havıng a good stretch of tarmac uner ourselves. Regrettably due to weather condıtıons and tıme of year, we had to draw the lıne when the rd disintegrated ınto a sort of muddy track more akin to horse and and plough than Irıshman and Italian FIAT. The telltale indicatıons of rd. deterioration should have been glaringly obvıous to me from the large chunks of compacted snow all around me. Some of them chunks were big enuff to have sunk the Titanic. A phrase wıth the words discretion and valour sprang to my mınd so I abandoned my plans to loaf one of Antıochus head busts and made my way to Urfa instead.
I hadnt planned on Urfa but Im glad that I dıd as its got one of the nıcest areas Ive ever seen - Golbası. This ıs a v pleasant area of the city wıth fıve fısh pools teemıng wıth carp, surrounded by shady rose gardens wıth lovely mosques and other examples of Islamıc archıtecture ringıng the place with the whole complex dwarfed by another imposıng cale. Simply gorgeous. I saw it both at night and this mornıng before drıvıng to Mardin where I am now.
Tommorow I plan on visiting the nearby Deyrul Zafaran Monastery before passing thru the town of Batman - I wonder if its twinned with a town called Robin?? I kid u not! Then onto Lake Van before going to the Black Sea and Sumela monastery before who knows....
Ok, thats all from me & TIPO.
Chow, Wadirunner
Comments
Getting a bit close to that Car, aren't we?
You're starting anthropomorphise the Tipo a bit. Is this the romantic interest line in the story? :-)