The Black Sea At Last
Trip Start
Feb 27, 2007
1
18
41
Trip End
May 19, 2007
Trabazon,
Turkey
Sunday, March 25, 2007
This morning after an omelette for bfast I left Gumshane and headed up another serpentine mt. pass - this one called Zigna - cool views all the way up and down. Max elevation - 2030m.A good drive. All İ can say is what a differnce the weather makes. yesterday we drove over the KOP pass in a freezing blizzard and I was fearing for my life but with clear skies above and a warm breeze its a whole different ball game - window down & a relaxed cruise up then down the mt. Excellent.
And the bonus was that as I passed the town of Marka at 1145am I saw a sign for Sumela Monastery - one of the must see things on my trıp. So off we headed. And the weather was good - up to a poınt - just as I left the monastery, the worm turned and by the tıme I reached TİPO my hands were so frozen that I physically couldnt turn the key ın the door. So there was only one sensible option for it - head up to the nearby restaurant and have a nice bowl of lentil soup by the fireplace. That soon warmed me up and with my digital dexterity restored I opened up the drivers door, swept off the 2 inches of snow that had fallen on TIPO and headed for Trabazon.
But to Sumela itself. Id gıve it 8/10. Unlıke Petra which I wouldnt mind going back to see again I dont think Id go back to Sumela. Its exterior setting ıs by far its biggest drawacard - the monastery ıs literally hewn into a sheer cliff face. And I mıssed the vıew on the uphill slog - so intent was I on putting one foot in front of the other and eyes down. But I rectıfied that on the descent.
But the ınterıors were no great shakes. Most of the frescoes are either fading or riddled with graffiti and ıts obvıously undergone a lot of restoration - carefully done too no doubt - but the overall effect on me at any rate was a mere OK Not Bad But Ive Seen Better. Maybe Im getting all monasteried out. I need to take a break from ancient Armenian churches and ruined monasterys.
Ok so tommorow I think Ill have a wander around Trabazon and throw a ginger hair ınto the Black Sea to lighten its colour!
Cheers, Wadirunner & TİPO
Comments
Photos and sad *astard!
Now I'm beginning to feel sorry for you...no comments so far, but where are the pictures guv'nor??? Don't tell me you can't work out how to download them after all those PD sessions at HCT!
We need some visual aids. Monasteries, mud tracks and feezing your bollox off every day aint going to cut it without the jpgs...
So get on it. There is obviously no shortage of internet cafes in Turkey.
Now good luck to you.
Bullworker
Have you gone for a swim in the black sea yet?
Or would it be just a turn too many in the whole freeze/thaw cycle for your two best friends?