EuroAsia

Turkey

A woman’s work is never done…

Posted by on 1, May 2015 in 2015 - Iberia and Morocco, EuroAsia, Morocco, North Africa, Taffy, Turkey | 0 comments

 ‎It certainly seems that way here! When we open our blinds in the morning the women are already out gathering cattle feed from the ditches and loading it onto their backs, or if they’re lucky (or possibly widowed, as if you see a man going this work he invariably has a donkey) onto their donkey. They’ve already made the 9 loaves in the outdoor wood oven, fed their families and have the washing to look forward to when they get back down at the local steam with all the other women. Later on they’ll get to cut the corn by hand and make flour before making tea for all. All...

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From Russia with Love

Posted by on 19, Jul 2010 in 2010 - The Caucasus, Eastern Europe, EuroAsia, Europe, Russia, Turkey | 0 comments

From Russia with Love

We were in bed and asleep by the time the ferry left Trabzon and we awoke to blue skys and calm seas, wtich was very welcome. We are right in the center of the ship and despite the mill pond of a sea its hard to walk straight in the van as the ferry rolls from side to side at any opportunity. We’d hate to be on it in heavy seas! We arrived in Sochi at around 17:30 and then began the somewhat slow process of clearing customs. First the footies are seen at the bottom of the car deck ramp but not allowed to set foot on Russian soil, then almost like starting a horse race they are given...

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Captains log, supplemental…

Posted by on 18, Jul 2010 in 2010 - The Caucasus, Eastern Europe, EuroAsia, Europe, Turkey | 0 comments

Captains log, supplemental…

We’ve now been on board for 8 hours and had a lovely time talking to a Russian and a Syrian muslim about everything from Palestine to relationships to politics! It was fascinating to hear their views on us and the west. One thing always seems to Be constant though whoever we talk to in the muslim world and that is how much they like Britain and the west. As it was getting on for midnight we said our goodnights and returned to a lashed down Taffy and checked the ships onboard automatic navigation passenger information system (ie looked over the stern) to see how far we had got and sure...

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Nothing for it, it’s back to Europe then!

Posted by on 20, Jun 2010 in 2010 - The Caucasus, EuroAsia, Turkey | 0 comments

Nothing for it, it’s back to Europe then!

After 2 extra nights in our lay-by watching it rain and the dolphins consider becoming land species we decided it was time to head back to Europe. So, 40 minutes later we were jostling for positions at the Turkish border with a dozens of other vehicles. On the way to the border we past miles and miles of parked trucks. As we edged forward one car space every 5 minutes or so we thought it must take weeks for those lorries to cross the border. It was in the end pretty painless especially on the Georgian side but as usual the Turkish controls were bedlam. Once again as we crossed the line on...

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Hold tight… Ooops!

Posted by on 16, Jun 2010 in 2010 - The Caucasus, EuroAsia, Turkey | 0 comments

Hold tight… Ooops!

After a lovely night in our roadside plot up by the crashing waves of the Black Sea we were just having our customary tea in bed when the heavens opened in what can only be described as a storm of apocalyptic proportions. Within a few seconds the water was coming through the air con unit as if someone was pouring a bucket of water straight into the van. Clearly our tiny roof drains were totally inadequate and it was all hands to the buckets. It is hard to imagine how much water was gushing into Taffy but suffice it to say I never want to go into a submarine! Quick thinking was required...

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The Black Sea coast

Posted by on 15, Jun 2010 in 2010 - The Caucasus, EuroAsia, Turkey | 0 comments

The Black Sea coast

The drive along the coast to Trabzan is lovely. The road passes through numerous towns, some of which looked much nicer than Unye with promenades along the sea shore and cafés in parks with plenty of trees and grass. It is certainly much nicer than our guide book lead us to believe. It was in fact nice to be driving as today it is so humid and hot its almost unbearable. Putting the electric cable away this morning I had sweat running down My face in just a couple of minutes and was glad to retreat to the air conditioned luxury of Taffy. Its not the heat that gets you its the humidity. We...

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