What was happening during the last days? Nothing special, actually, at least with me, but İstanbul has been special again. Let's hope the madness will soon stop. A big elective body has a chance to return peace to the world next year… I'm far from supporting terrorism of any kind, and yet, the terrorism, sometimes described as Islamic, then again as Arab, but neither the first nor the last description is good, is easier understood by me than the terrorism of economic, political, or army elites. This analysis is perhaps a bit out of the context, as the theme has been over-discussed already, but still let me put a question – just for thinking – What is the difference between partisan movements during the WW II and the guys that are "landing" occupation choppers in Iraq?

OK, let's leave the theme. I saw many Roman stones during the last few days. First in Efes (Ephesus), then in Hierapolis above the village of Pamukkale (Cottonvillage). Distances here are not to be compared with those in Slovenia where a hundred kilometres can mean to almost cross the country. If something is a hundred kilometres away, it's close, as I get there in a mere hour or so. Let me say at this point that the cruise control is of immense value here. Without it my right leg would be dead already as I'm doing a few hundred kilometres daily at this stage, at a constant tourist-economy-sightseeing-pleasant speed of 90 kph. The cruise control is just fantastic and if you are interested you can learn more about it at www.waeco.de.

The people here are immensely pleasant and hassle-free (I constantly compare these countries with Morocco or Egypt, where you're seen just as a huge purse to the majority), and lastly my Partner isn't centre of focus any more, as with all its gear, it's among the less interesting here. Every monovolume in Turkey has curtains for long-haul travels to Germany and back, and the majority of Peugeot Partners have light-metal side-steps, longitudinal and transversal roof-racks (without any cargo, of course), spoilers even where my imagination would never expect them, lowered chassis, they are equipped even with back-door ladders! Sincerely, I don't know where they take you to; it seems to me they are just another 50 USD esthetical detail. The south can be smelled here. And of course, honking all the time, everywhere. Not short, but looooong, so that you sometimes wish to step out of the car and…

The temperatures are low (this morning it was below Centigrade zero), but the sun is so pleasantly warm that I can live in short sleeves without problem even at 7 or 8 degrees Centigrade. I was planning to approach Syria on the coast, but the interior is so much more interesting! Turkey is simply too big and too beautiful to research it properly on this kind of journey. I'll have to come back again (who knows, maybe on the way from one to the other extremity of Slovenia?), but this time I will only use it more or less as a transit route. Well, I've been planning from the start that the pace be lowered only in Syria!

The Ramadan is slowly approaching its end, and Aid Saghir, called Bayram in Turkey , will be on Tuesday. I would like to be in Syria by then, but Kapadokya is still waiting me, so I will probably leave Konya this very night and take a night ride. At last I managed to discipline myself and despite every night's "reading-classes" I wake up around sunrise (before seven A.M., GMT+2) so I can take the maximum advantage of these days that end so early on my sadness (but on happiness of the fasting locals), already around 5 P.M.

I can't wait to finally meet Helen and Richard www.oceannomad.com who should be somewhere in Syria at this time, on their way back to the U.K.

I have attached a few photos without comment that should be understood more as an introduction to the beauty of Turkey than a diary of my journey.


#gallery0#gallery1#gallery2