# TURKEY (information) stay: 17/Oct/2006 ..29/May/2007 (19/Apr/2007 ..01/May/2007 in TRNC) ## General View //////////////////// I cannot type Turkish characters by my computer. So please realize using similar alphabet characters. Most people cannot speak English. They are very kind and reliable. Most Turkish are Muslim. But there are many alcohol stores and bars. Many people are smoking in public space. Sometimes there are power cuts and suspension of water supply. Customs officers are low skill. I got many troubles because of their mistakes. For example, they forget to go to work (I couldn't get on the ferry). They mistake to type the vehicle number to the computer (When the exit, it made terrible situations). They wrote wrong dates in the customs paper and passport (limit and so on). Customs officers who could speak English told lies (different translation) to hide their mistakes. And the above each problems are not one time, not one place. They are too early to join EU. At "Petrol Ofisi (petrol station)", you can get free road maps of TURKEY. At "Shell (petrol station)" you can get a Turkish flag badge. Mr. Nevran, who is a motorcyclist in TURKEY may help you. I recommend you to make a contact with him first. English is OK. (nevranb@gmail.com) Japanese tourist can stay for 3 months free.　Motorcycle can be 6 months in TURKEY. info: Ministry of Culture and Tourism (English, Japanese and more languages are there) TOP ## Economy //////////////////// $1=1.37..1.45YTL (YTL is growing up) ATM for VISA are many. accommodation (room); (dorm) 5.. (private) 10.., petrol; 2.7..3.0/L, beer; (500ml) 1.7.. (1000ml) 3.., Raki (Turkish liquor, 350ml); 13, locanta (restaurant); 4.., Internet; 1/h, water; (1.5L)0.5 (5L)1.5, motor oil (1L); (hydrocarbon)6.5..10 (synthetic blend)16 (full synthetic)20..25, hamam; (only sauna and self-washing ) 5.. (washing service) +4.., barber's shop; (cut)5 (shave)5, spark plug; (normal)12.5 (iridium)25, bus (Ankara - Istanbul); (return ticket)50 Petrol is very expensive! Internet is not so expensive. Medicine is cheap. MiGROS card (supermarket) (card)1/ You can buy the card at the counter. When you have the card, you can buy things MiGROS member's price. There are many MiGROS supermarkets in TURKEY. I recommend you to have it. There are some kind of MiGROS. "MMMM MiGROS" is the biggest one. "M MiGROS" is smaller than others. Please check the number of "M" TOP ## Food //////////////////// durum kebab (rolled kebab), pide (pizza), Ayran (salty drink yogurt), corba (Turkish soup), sutlac (rice pudding), Efes (beer brand), Raki (Turkish liquor) At locanta, the bread and pickles are free. Sometimes chai (tea) is also free. Durum kebab is from 1YTL. But I recommend you more than 2YTL one. Beer (BiRA); 'SKOL' is cheap (2.6/L), but not so tasty. 'Efes (pilsner)' is popular. But I recommend you 'Efes (draft).' It's almost same design can as pilsner. And not so many shops are dealing with it. Please try to find and taste it! TOP ## Accommodations //////////////////// They have parking area as long as there's no note. But the security is your own responsibility. note; There are many long-distance transport articulated lorry. So you can find their parking area near a petrol station. You can camp there free. If it's out of town, you may stay at a petrol station by negotiation. Teacher Home (Ogretmen Evi); Most town has a hotel for teachers. It is said, 'Teacher Home (Ogretmen Evi).' This is only for Turkish teachers. But some Teacher Hotels might have a system for visitor. The best point of this hotel is that everyone in the town knows the place, so it's easy to find. The hotel is middle class and 16.5..22.5 YTL for a bed. The room has 2 or 3 beds and sharing with other teachers. TOP ### in Nemrutdagi There are many accommodations along the mountain pass. They are C5 and room20..25. Hotel Camp Tur (along the mountain pass) C5, room10 / self-contained, very clean restaurant, petrol station, English available If you want to stay in a room around here, I recommend this. Cheapest but clean. KARADUT PENSION (along the mountain pass) C5 / shared toilet & hot shower (very clean) W20 / self-contained?, breakfast nice view! restaurant, kitchen (by negotiation), Internet (by negotiation), English (a little) available If you want to camp around here, I recommend this. Be careful! There is 'KARADUT CAFE RESTAURANT CAMPING(C5 / No English)' close to this accommodation. This is duty. Kervansaray Hotel (along the mountain pass) C5 / shared toilet & shower (very clean)?, kitchen W25, (full-board)40 / self-contained? They have a grass field for camping. (dormitory) (at the top parking area) D10 / shared toilet, dirty, about 6 beds, At. 2051 If you want to watch the statues in the sunrise, this may be good. Hotel EUPHARAT (along the mountain pass) room40 GESME Pension (along the mountain pass) room20 / kitchen TOP ### in Kangal Yelitz Pansiyon (about 100 m from the roundabout, in the left back direction of the statue at the roundabout) W10 (You may discount for long stay!) / shared toilet & shower (solar power? hot water, so you don't expect hot water.), kitchen (refrigerator, stove) Each room is at the corner of the building. So they have two direction windows. Motorcycle is possible to park in the store. The owner can't understand English. Only this pension has a parking area for motorcycle in this town. Cemic (opposite to Yun Palace, the entrance is along the byroad) The hotel name is a little different from the above. The first character is not 'C.' But my PC cannot type the Turkish character. W10 / shared toilet & shower, kitchen? If you don't need a parking area, I recommend this. Excuse me, I may mistake the NAME, Cemic for Yun Palace. Yun Palace (opposite to Cemic, along the main road in the town) W10 / shared toilet & shower This is dirty. It's better to pay 10 YTL for another hotel. I don't recommend this. Excuse me, I may mistake the NAME, Cemic for Yun Palace. TOP ### in Erzican ERK petrol station (lorry park) (along the main road, about 15 km from Erzican to Sivas) Camping Free / public toilet, locanta There is a lorry park behind the petrol station. You can pitch a tent there and get water at the petrol station. ERKOONT CAMPING (next to the above lorry park) C5, room? / shared toilet & shower When I visited there, facilities were under construction. Rooms were also under construction. I thought the location was dangerous. In addition, there was no fence around the campsite. I recommend you above the lorry park than this. TOP ### in Erzurum There are many hotels. But they have no parking area at the hotel. The following hotels are also same. There are many cars parking on the road. Using a toll parking is another idea (refer to the toll parking after). Some hotels show bath fee. You'd better check the price including shower or not. (I'm not sure weather 'bath' is different meaning from 'shower.' It may be just another facility like hamam) OTEL ASYA (near 'Menderes Cad') D6 (3 beds), D8 (2 beds) / shared toilet & shower S12 / shared toilet & shower, TV drink & snack service OTEL SEMiH (near 'Menderes Cad') D7 (2 beds), S15 / shared toilet (& shower?) bath; 6 OTEL CINAR (next to 'OTEL YENI CINAR,' don't mistake it) S13 / shared toilet & shower W20 / self-contained OTEL YENI CINAR (next to 'OTEL CINAR,' don't mistake it) S20, W? / ? OTEL ARI (near 'Menderes Cad') D13 (3 beds), D15 (2 beds), S20 / shared toilet (& shower?) D18 (3 beds), D20 (2 beds), S25, W40 / self-contained bath; 7 #### toll parking; KALORiFERLi OTO GARAJI (east side of 'Caykara Cad,' near the north exit of the underpass) (car)5, (motorcycle)3 per day The problem is it's a little far from the cheap hotel area. TOP ### in Dogubayazit Cheap hotels has no parking area. Only parking on the road. Everything is along the main street, 'Carsi Cad.' At the beginning of this street, there is a yellow small taxi box. HOTEL SARUHAN (along 'Carsi Cad') D5, S7.5, W10 / shared toilet & shower Japanese info notebook, parking on the road, The manager can speak English, popular among Japanese tourists HOTEL ERZURUM (next to 'HOTEL SARUHAN') S7, W14 / shared toilet & shower, TV parking on the road HOTEL URARTU (along 'Carsi Cad') S15($10), W25 They have a parking area with no gate lock. HOTEL iSFAHAN (after 'HOTEL URARTU', turn right from the main st. and right side of the second block.) S20, W40 / bar They have a parking area, though the gate lock is only a chain. popular among overlanders? HOTEL GRAND DERYA (along 'Carsi Cad', almost nest to 'HOTEL URARTU') S25, W40 / breakfast, restaurant & bar They have a parking area with no gate lock. though they say they are watching the parking area.. TOP ### in Digor There is no hotel. TOP ### in Ardahan OTEL NOKTA, OTEL BASAK (along the main street, both are close to each other.) S15 / shared toilet & shower parking on the road BELEDiYE TURiSTiK HOTELi (along the main street, at the corner) S20 They have a parking area with no gate lock. OTEL KOSK (along the main street) D10, S15 parking on the road / This may be a house of ill fame. HOTEL SEVGi (along the main street) S:$10 parking area with no gate lock (the gate is narrow, only for motorcycle) TOP ### in Artvin They are around 'ATA PARK' (refer to 'town') and you may park.your vehicle around the taxi rank. TRABZON OTELi (near ATA PARK) S10, W15 / shared toilet & tepid shower parking on the road OTEL SABAH (near ATA PARK) D10, S20 / shared toilet & shower This may be a house of ill fame. HOTEL KARAHAN (near ATA PARK) S40 parking area without a fence. OTEL GENYA (near ATA PARK) S40 parking on the road TOP ### in Hopa When you come here from Artvin you'll arrive at T-junction at the seaside. The following hotel place descriptions are from this intersection. OTEL HUZUR (300 m to the northeast from the intersection, near 'OTEL SATO') S15..20, W25..35 / breakfast, shared toilet & shower, TV You can park your motorcycle inside of the entrance, if your motorcycle is not so big. OTEL EVGiN (800 m to the southwest from the intersection, 1st floor of 'Petrol Ofisi (petrol station)') S30 You can park your vehicle at the petrol station. OTEL FLASH (300 m going back to Artvin from the intersection) S30 parking area without a fence. OTEL PAPiLA-2 (200 m to the northeast from the intersection) S30 parking area without a fence. OTEL iMREN (400 m to the northeast from the intersection) S25 In front of the hotel, there is a public? parking area without a fence. OTEL SATO (300 m to the northeast from the intersection, near 'OTEL HUZUR') S15 parking on the road TOP ### in Trabzon Sancta Maria Church (in the north of 'ATATURK ALAI') off-season close room; (donation) / self-contained, kitchen (stove, refrigerator, shared living room with TV, laundry You can park your vehicle in side of the gate. The security is good. I recommend this. TOP ### in Sumela (between Macka and Sumela) There are several accommodations between Macka and Sumela along the main road. I think the following campsites along the main road are no value of 10YTL. When you stay around here you need to finish shopping at Macka. SERMET RESTAURANT (sign at the main road) Camping Free / toilet at the restaurant, restaurant, Internet (by negotiation) This is a big and beautiful restaurant. You can pitch a tent at the restaurant area. To sleep at the first floor (=inside of the restaurant) is also OK. But the problem is there's no shower. fried fish; 3.5 I wonder why the manager said it's free. Because of the off-season? Anyway I recommend this. SUMER RESTAURANT (CAMPING) (sign at the main road) C10 / shared toilet & shower, restaurant www.sumerrestaurant.com / info@sumerrestaurant.com different from 'SUMERAS CAMPING' SUMERAS CAMPING (sign at the main road) C10, cabin50 / shared toilet & shower, meal service different from 'SUMERA RESTAURANT (CAMPING)' TOP ### in Fatsa (between Ordu and Unye (Samsun), about 40 km? from Ordu, 10 km from Unye) akpet petrol station (lorry park) (along the main road, 7 km from the centre to Unye) Camping Free / locanta, toilet is at petrol station or locanta There is a lorry park behind the petrol station. You can pitch a tent there. You may sleep inside of the locanta there (by negotiation). locanta; (pirau) 2 (ayran, corba) 1 DOLUNAY HOTEL (along the main road, 3 km from the centre to Unye) S40, W? / self-contained, restaurant, nice view of Black Sea TOP ### in Unye GULEN CAMPING PLAJ, UZUNKUM BEACH PLAJ RESTAURANT CAMPING (about 4 km from the big intersection to Samson direction, along the main road) Excuse me, I checked only the sign. camping?, bungalow? / restaurant? bar? beach? (GULEN) 0-452-324-73-68 TOP ### in Goreme (Cappadocia) Cheaper hotel is D5.., S20.. note; I recommend you to check the following points before the check-in. 1. bed Some accommodations have a single room with a W bed, a double room with a W bed and a single bed. A couple can stay in a single room. 2. Cave Cave room or not. The price is different from each other. 3. heating system (in winter) Wood heater cannot keep warm all over the night because you need to add woods often. Solar power system may not provide enough hot water because in winter it's often cloudy. Electric hot shower system provides tepid water in winter because the power is low. 4. meal and Internet service Restaurants and Internet-cafe in this town are expensive. Meal service, kitchen for tourists and Internet service are important elements to compare with accommodations here. (Internet; 2/h, restaurant; 10.. in the town) ANATOLIA CAVE HOTEL & PANSION D10 / shared toilet & shower, cave room S20, W35 / self-contained S30, W50 / self-contained, cave room Internet free (If you have a LAN cable, you can also connect your own PC), including breakfast?, meal and laundry service, TV, kitchen? (by negotiation), parking area, library including Japanese and Korean books and so on. The charge seems to be different from each tourists. www.anatoliacave.com / bekirokur@hotmail.com / 0090-532-512-80-55 Dream Cave Hotel & Pansion D10 / shared toilet & shower, cave room S20, W(T)30 / self-contained, cave room or normal room Internet free, kitchen (stove, refrigerator), parking area without a fence, TV, drink service and so on. nice view! Motorcycle can park inside. www.dreamcavehotel.com / 0384-271-22-82 Maron Cave Pension D7 / shared toilet & shower, cave room S(W)25, W35, T50 / self-contained, cave room Internet 1/h, Korean meal service, parking on the road and so on. Paradise Caves Hotel & Pension D10, S25, W40 / cave room free Internet, kitchen, parking area without a fence, motorcycle can park inside, meals & drink & laundry service www.paradisepension.com / +90-384-271-22-48 KOSE PANSiON D10 (5euro) / shared toilet & shower, mattress or sleeping bag hut15 (7.5euro) / shared toilet & shower, rooftop wooden hut, 2 beds S15 (7.5euro) / shared toilet & shower, small T16 (8euro), W25 (12.5euro) / shared toilet & shower, balcony, W room is twin beds. T20 (10euro), W25 (12.5euro) / self-contained above prices are 'per person,' credit card payment; +6% kitchen, meal & drink service, popular among European, swimming pool and so on Motorcycles can park inside, 4 wheels park on the road www.kosepension.com / dawn@kosepension.com / 0384-271-2294 Shoe String D10, S(W)20 / shared toilet & shower, cave room S(W)25 / self-contained, cave room no kitchen, swimming pool, parking area without a fence, TV, Internet, library, drink & meal & laundry service, etc. shoestring@superonline.com / 0535-947-9210, 0384-271-2450 Backpacker's Cave Hostel D10 / shared toilet & shower, cave room S10 / shared toilet & shower, cave room, no heating system S?, W? parking on the road, Motorcycle can park inside ANDROMEDA PENSION MOTEL (HOSTEL) D5 / shared toilet & shower, cave room S(W)25 / self-contained kitchen (stove, refrigerator), TV, Japanese books, popular among Japanese, parking on the road This is the cheapest dormitory in Goreme, I think. A woman tourist should be careful not to be thought as a prostitute. It's well known among the local men in Goreme that women tourists staying here want to play with the local men. This is because there have been like such women often. TOP ### in Istanbul SULTAN HOSTEL (Toward the entrance of 'Topkapi Sarayi' going down the slope on your right hand. Then turning right at the second intersection. You'll find it on your left hand) D15, S35, W45 / including breakfast, free Internet, shared toilet & shower, restaurant & bar, nice view? from the roof, It seems that they should change the price often. Parking is on the road. The street from here to 'KONYA PANSiYON' is a dead end. Around this block, there are many accommodations and bars for European. Tree of Life (near 'OYAK BANK.' You can find the sign from the bank The sign is along the branch. 'OYAK BANK' is near 'Cemberlitas' tram station) D; 5 Euro / shared toilet and hot shower, kitchen, air-conditioner, Internet, Japanese comics, Japanese Info notebook, LonelyPlanet Internet; 1.5/h Japanese typing possible http://www.ttis.jp.org/treeoflife/index.htm (click 'English' at the top page) This is popular among Japanese tourists. There is a monthly toll parking in front of this. You may park there by negotiation (8/12h?). KONYA PANSiYON (at the back of 'Orient Youth Hostel,' that is close to 'SULTAN HOSTEL') terrace bed or garden dorm; 15, W40, self-contained room; 50/ Internet Internet; 1 Euro /h, 1 YTL / 30min Parking is on the road. The street is a dead end in front of the pension. This pension was famous among Japanese tourists. But when I visited, there was no Japanese, no Japanese books and Info notebooks. TOP ### in Ipsala (at the border control) (about 6 km from the centre of the town, about 250 km from Istanbul) The border is 24 hours open, and you may pitch a tent at the parking which is inside of the control station. TOP ## Town //////////////////// #### Hamam (Turkish Public Bath); I recommend you to enjoy Hamam. Most town have it. Basically daytime seems to be for women and after 1700 or 1800 o'clock for men. At the entrance there's a sign men or women. Some hamams have a private fitting room. All they have free towel for you. You wear the towel all the time in the bath room. (flow) taking sauna by yourself (Sometimes it's not a room but just a hot stage in the bathroom) Keseji (rubbing staff) rubs your scurf Keseji washes your body and head at the same time Keseji massages you wash your crotch by yourself finish (you can have new towel) You can be relax and have a rest outside of the bathroom There's no bath tab. You can choice full-course (Keseji rubbing, about 15..20 YTL) or self-service course (about 5..10 YTL). Keseji expects a tip. About Keseji, some are good but some are not good. I recommend you to visit several hamams. Hamams for tourists seem to be more expensive. TOP ### in Gaziantep This is a big city but no tourists. Internet; 1/h, beer (500ml); 1.9..2.5, sandwich kebab; 1.75..2.5, locanta; 4..5, petrol; 2.7..3/L, motor oil; 10..20/L TOP ### in Nemrutdagi There's no shop. Only restaurant and accommodations. It's 50 km? from Kahta (big town). Nemrutdagi; (admission) 4/(24hours) The parking area (At2051m), The east side statues (At2173m) TOP ### in Kangal small town. There is an ATM but when I was there VISA card was not accepted. CitiBank card was OK. Every Sunday is market day. Internet; 1/h, beer; (500ml)2.0 (1L)3.1, locanta; 3..4, coke (2.5L); 2.5, rice (1kg); 1.75..2, bread; 0.25 HAMAM (Turkish public bath) entry; 4, Keseji; +5 This is very cheap hamam and good Keseji. I recommend you to visit this. Balikli Kaplica (hot spring, 15 km from the town) free There are fish in the hot spring. This is good for skin sickness. But I got a skin disease after visiting. Cafe In (Internet) 1/h There are some Internet-cafes and the fee is all same. Only at this Internet-cafe, it was possible to install Japanese language. TOP ### in Erzurum Cold town. Beginning of November there was snow. durum kebab; 1, laundry; (including dry, everything is done by the staff)5, Internet; 1/h #### supermarket; MMM MiGROS (along 'istasyon Cad' near the railway station) Alcohol is cheaper than small shops, credit card acceptable for payment beer; (bottle Efes, 500ml)1.69, (SKOL, 1L)2.6, wine; 16.9/750ml, coke; (2.5L)2.2, rice; 1.75..3.8/kg TOP ### in Dogubayazit This is a gate town to IRAN. Everything is along the main street, 'Carsi Cad.' The beginning of the street, there is a yellow small taxi box. You can watch Mt. Ararat here. Internet; 1/h, locanta; 3.5.. TOP ### in Ardahan locanta; 4.., water(1.5L); 0.55, Internet; 1/h TOP ### in Artvin ATA PARK (From the river (bridge) going up the mountain pass to Erzurum) Just a small square. Around this, there are several hotels. TOP ### in Trabzon Meydan (central square) is same as 'Ataturk Alai' here. This is centre of the town. #### Information; Near the mosque at Meydan. The staff can speak English. You can get a street map here. #### Internet; There are many. Everywhere 1/h WORLD INTERNET (upstairs of Mac Donald, at Meydan) 1/h / Japanese typing possible #### Fast Food; You can find many fast-food restaurant along 'Uzun Sokak' and 'Maras Cad.' street. PiRAMiT FAST FOOD (between 'Nikon' and 'PUMA' sign, along the south side of 'Uzun Sokak' street, close to Meydan) hamburger; 1, sandwich; 1.25.. SOFRAM PiDE BANK (along 'Uzun Sokak') PiDE; 2.. This is popular among the local people. KIR PiDES (near PTT, along 'Maras Cad.') PiDE; 1.. Osmanli Sofrasi (near PTT, along 'Maras Cad.') hamburger; 1.. #### Parking; There are many toll parking. The sign is 'OTO PARK.' (motorcycle) 5.., (car) 7.5.. per day #### Hospital; K.T.U. FARABi HASTANESi (University Hospital) dorumus for 'TIP. FAK. (yellow sign)' (0.9YTL from Meydan) #### Hamam; MEYDAN (along the south side of 'Maras Cad. (Karamanmaras)' close to Meydan) (self-washing) 7, (Keseji) 12.5, (Keseji including massage service) 16 not so good TOP ### in Sumela Sumela Monastery (46 km from Trabzon, At. 1380) admission; 5 At the trail head you can park your vehicle free. There is a hotel, restaurant, PTT and so on. I visited on beginning of December. The temperature was 2 degree. A part of the road was covered with snow. But I could go by motorcycle anyway . #### restaurant; Along the main road between Macka and Sumela there are some restaurants. Fish meals are popular. Why don't you have it? fish dish; 3.5.. TOP ### in Goreme (Cappadocia) In off-season, some shops are close. Locanta for the local people is not there. On Wednesday and Sunday there will be a market. The local people can speak English here. Internet; 2/h, restaurant; (spaghetti) 4..5(very little!), water (1.5L); 0.75, potato chips; 2..2.5, beer; 2, bread: 0.25, wine; 4.5.., vegetables; 0.6/kg The prices are a little expensive than other towns. Basically reliable shops show the price tags. I recommend you to have meals in your accommodation than restaurants. They costs almost same price, but you can enjoy home made meals at accommodation. Be careful of the following shops. They may charge more than two times of the price of other Goreme shops. They are near the mosque. greengrocery, cake shop, grocery (near the mosque) #### ATM; Deniz Bank (near the otgal) You can withdraw US$ and Euro cash. #### excursion; by tour I recommend this. This is comparatively low in cost. Calculate the all admission, petrol and so on, and you'll understand tour is a good price. I wonder this is because the admissions might be different from the private tourists. by (rental) motorcycle and car Don't forget that petrol is very expensive. by (rental) bicycle If you have no experience of bicycle travel, you should not choice this. You will waste much time and power. In addition, fewer spots you can visit per a day. Goreme Open Air Museum and Tokali Kilise (Goreme) admission; 10 / credit card acceptable Cavusin Church (Cavusin) admission; 5 Zelve Open Aire Museum (Zelve) admission; 5 chinaware shops (Avanos) ? / if it's a tour, you can watch the studio and so on. Turasan (winary, Urgup) wine; 15?.. / tasting possible, credit card acceptable Panoramic View Point (between Goreme and Urgup) admission;2 Castle Kale (Ortahisar) admission free Castle (Uchisar) admission; (adult)2.5 (children)1.25 underground city (Kaymakli) admission; 10 / credit card acceptable underground city (Derinkuyu) admission; 10 / credit card acceptable Ihrala Vadisi (Ihrala) admission; 5 / valley trekking It's far from Goreme. If you visit there by a private vehicle, you need someone who moves your vehicle from the trail head to the end of the trail. Or you need to find a taxi at the end of the trail which takes you to the trail head. TOP ### in Istanbul They say there are many swindlers and sleeping pill robbers. #### ATM; TEB (bank). (near 'Byyazit' tram station and an entrance of the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi)) You can withdraw US$ and Euro cash. Be careful! Around the ATM, there are swindlers who try to steal your card, I heard. #### Internet; PERON? bekleme yerler? (not sure) (opposite block of Mac Donald, that is near 'Sultanafmet' tram station. upstairs of a duty building along the back street) 1/h Japanese typing possible #### memo; Bosporus Bridge, The Second Bosporus Bridge (=FTS, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge) toll; (from Europe to Asia) 3.75/car or motorcycle, (from Asia to Europe) free Walking and bicycle are prohibited. Car and motorcycle are OK. When you drive the bridge, don't lost the sign, 'welcome to ASIA' or 'welcome to EUROPE' mackerel sandwich This is popular, especially among Japanese tourists. Because it was introduced in a Japanese novel ('Shin-ya Tokkyu (The midnight express)' author; SAWAKI Kotaro). Near 'Garata Bridge' is famous. In the past, the shops cooked in the boats and sold at the quay. But today it is prohibited. They cook on the ground. 3 YTL. But near 'Beyazit' tram station is 1.5 YTL. The mackerel is from NORWAY (not Turkish mackerel). TOP ### in Ankara (capital) (bus terminal) There is an Internet radio. It is from 'relax life' Internet-cafe in the terminal. You can guess the radio password easily. But there's no plug around there. TOP ### in Ipsala about 6 km from the border Bank, ATM and supermarket are there. But you may not exchange foreign currency here. At Kesan town, that is about 30 km from the border, there is a forex-bureau. TOP ## Government Establishments (visa) //////////////////// ### in Erzurum IRAN consulate (along the bypass, there is a red petrol station, 'Petrol Ofisi.' turning to the South there and after several hundred meter (before the signal) on your left. There is a consulate sign, but no flag.) 2 weeks visa / 50 euro, 2 photos issue: the next day? open: 830..1230, 1430..1630 / close Fri., Sun. TOP ## Border //////////////////// #### Keryneia - Tasucu (entry from TRNC in CYPRUS); (TRNC side) No money is charged. The customs document will be checked which you received on your entry. If you came here from CYPRUS, you received it at the port customs in CYPRUS. The document will be also checked at TURKEY mainland customs. (Tasucu, the Turkey mainland side) tax; 8YTL, insurance; 25YTL/year, The customs document will be checked. It took half a day for the clearance. The customs officer cannot understand English. You don't need the carnet. #### Ferry; (Slow Ferry); (person) 66 YTL or 21 CYP, (motorcycle) 60 YTL or 20 CYP (departure) Mon..Fri; every 1200 (noon), Mon & Fri; 2400 (midnight) / 6 hours non-reserved reclining seats only (Fast Ferry); (person) 71 YTL or 23 CYP (Maybe no vehicle transport) (departure) everyday 930 / 2 hours The port tax 19.05 YTL is including above the charge. Don't forget to receive the tax receipt. You can buy the ticket at the port. There are two ticket offices but almost same price. Credit card is acceptable, though when I visited the system was down. The fee is based on YTL. CYP price is estimated at the current price. You need Turkish Lira at the customs in the TURKEY mainland. I suggest you preparing for some Turkish Lira in TRNC. #### Mersin (TURKEY) - Gazimagusa (TRNC) Refer to CYPRUS Island #### Ipsala (Istanbul-Thessaloniki) (leaving for GREECE); (TURKISH side) No charge. 24 hours duty-free shop, bank, Forex Bureau, ATM, parking area inside of the control station. border exchange rate (May/2007) 1.90(bank), 1.87(FB) = 1 euro Kesan town (about 30 km from the border in TURKEY); 1.80(FB) = 1 euro At Ipsala town (6 km from the border) there is a bank but you may not exchange foreign currency there. And be careful that you can exchange YTL only in TURKEY. In GREECE, you cannot exchange YTL (GREECE side) No charge. Green Card Insurance will be checked. At the border you cannot get the Green Card. You must prepare for it in advance. Even though in the town, the insurance company trades only for a vehicle which is registered in GREECE. petrol station is about 6 km from the border. The petrol in TURKEY is very expensive. You should fill up here. TOP ## Road //////////////////// All paved, though I passed some under construction sections. Erzurum[0 km]--Dogubayazit[273 km?]: beginning of November, Temperature was -4 degree. I caught cold easily Dogubayazit[0 km]--(less than At2000m)--Digor--(At2300m, snow, icy)--[Kars]--(At2000m)--Ardahan[282 km?]: beginning of November, snowing, some sections are a little covered with snow and ice. Temperature was -8 degree. I caught cold easily. Ardahan[0 km]--(At2400m, snow, icy)--Savsat--(At500m)--Artvin[100 km?]: beginning of November, some sections are covered with snow and ice. Around the peak, the temperature was -8 degree. The foot of the mountain, the temperature was 14 degree. Especially the north side of the mountain, the road is icy. Unye[0 km]--(D850: icy)--Akkus(+4 degree)--(At1380m, dogs)--Niksar--Tokat[156 km?]: In beginning of December around Akkus, a part of road was covered with ice. The dogs often appear and chase you. TOP ## GPS (download) //////////////////// Read Me First! (for GARMIN 'Map Source' file) turkey.gdb TURKEY and Thessaloniki (Greece) israel-cyp-turkey.gdb Jerusalem - CYPRUS Island - Tasucu (TURKEY) (GPS eXchange format file) You need to rename the file! turkey.rtf TURKEY and Thessaloniki (Greece) israel-cyp-turkey.rtf Jerusalem - CYPRUS Island - Tasucu (TURKEY) (HTML Plain Text, only the main waypoints) TURKEY TURKEY and Thessaloniki (Greece) Jerusalem - CYPRUS - Tasucu Jerusalem - CYPRUS Island - Tasucu (TURKEY) #### route & track; NEMRUTDAGI Sumela Monastery St. MARIA church (Trabzon) Cappadocia (Ihrala, Urgup, Ortahisar) ************************************************************ (End) (English Home) http://www.seagulljapan.info/index2.html / (Japanese Home) http://www.seagulljapan.info/index.html All Rights Reserved: (c) seagull (seagulljapan@gmail.com) Copying is free as far as my copyright is specified. That's welcome to leave the copy at accommodations.