Endülüs 'de Raks - Dance in Andalucia :-14-22 June 2018

Endülüs 'de Raks  / Dance in Andalusia
Day 01 : 14.06.2018
Istanbul - Madrid (via Turkish Airlines)  and Cordoba with Motorcycle

My exciting motorcycle tour in Andalusia started early in the morning on June, 14th,2018 with the flight from Istanbul to Madrid. I had arranged my rental motorbike (BMW R1200 GS)
by the company IMT Bike in Madrid.
Today I fly to Madrid in order to take the bike. I have got my medium size suit case comprising my helmet, motorcycle boots, pants and summer jacket. There are also some auxiliaries which I think would be helpful during my trip.
After arriving at the Madrid Barajas Airport around 11:00 o'clock I took a taxi to the IMT Bike rental office. I paid roughly 45.-Euro to get there. The guys of IMT Bike are nice and friendly they had already prepared my bike. While finishing the paper work in 10 minutes, a member of the company shared his suggestions with me and drew my attention to the nice riding roads around Ronda. I noted. The nice guy, Javier is also very friendly and helpful. He is one of the Technicians at the company.
Meanwhile, I changed my clothing and put all my stuff into the side cases and top case.
These are all included in the price (approx. 840.-Euro for 8 days). I left my emptied suit case at the company and departed around 13:00. I followed the route which is shown below.

There is no spectacular view in the South of Madrid. The landscape is boring and mostly barren land. The temperature was more then 31 deg C. It is the best thing to run away to the Sur (South). Toledo is within 100 km from Madrid. It is a famous and nice city to visit. 
Do not miss !!! I stopped almost at the top of the city Toledo. There is a look-out point to watch the city from top. Then I walked in the streets of the town where I found a place to get my lunch. The streets are from the old times. Narrow and with old looking buildings. Toledo is a famous place for production of steel arms production like knives, swords, etc. in the Medieval ages.

Right in the middle of the town Toledo.

Toledo Main Square

Sun shades on the top of the narrow streets in Toledo.

Picture taken from the look-out point at the top.

After 2-2 1/2 hour break in Toledo I continued my ride in the South direction. My next stop is Cordoba. I had taken the main route which took me in 2 1/2 hours to my Hotel in Cordoba.
I had booked the ARRIADH Hotel at Avenida de Cadiz N-58, on the South bank of the Guadalquivir river. I stayed there two nights in order to see Cordoba and surrounding.



As soon as I finished my work in my room I got out for the down town. It was hot outside. I walked on the south bank of the Guadalquivir river, which means broad river. There are also broad streets all along the river. I took the Roman Bridge in order to enter the old town. The bridge is roughly 200 meter and takes to the nearest point to the Mesquita (=Mosque) and Cathedral. It is an ancient building located at the city center. The Mesquita and its yard is free to visitors early in the morning. The temperature is also well in the morning. Therefore I planned to visit the Mesquita next morning.

I walked through the narrow streets of the town. I saw the ancient Jewish part of the down town.

On the South bank of the Guadalquivir, Mesquita in the backround

Cordoba, River Guadalquivir

Gate between Roman Bridge and the Mesquita.

A street at the Mesquita

One of the gates of the Mesquita

The tower of the Old Mesquita Cathedral

 

PATAGONIA Tour on Motorcycle-09 February 2018 Day 19

SOUTH AMERICA / PATAGONIA TOUR with MOTORCYCLE
Riding to EL FIN DEL MUNDO between 21 January - 10 February 2018.

Day-19 (09 February 2018) :  Rio Grande>>>Punta Arenas (416 km)

Last Day of our Patagonia Trip:- from Rio Grande to Punta Arenas

It will be a long day today. It is also our last day on the Patagonia Tour. We have got more then 400 km for today. We woke up a little bit earlier then usual. At 08:00 we had got our briefing. We departed from the Hotel around 08:15 and followed the streets in the down town. We moved to the coastal road and then started to follow the route all along the Atlantic Ocean. We saw some monuments related to the Heroes Malvinas (=Heroes of Falkland Islands). 
We were heading San Sabastian where there is the exit border of Argentina. When we came to San Sabastian we stopped at the small fuel station and I spent all my Argentinian Dollars by filling up my tank. Then we moved to the Argentinian border office and finished the procedures. At 10:00, we continued on the gravel road and after 14 kms we arrived at the Chilean border office. We finished the procedures there and after 45 minutes we were again at the café (=Hosteria La Frontera) where we had stopped 3 days ago.

We drank coffee and I bought some snacks and then we left altogether in the direction to Cerro Sombrero. We followed the route as indicated on the map above. Gravel roads were of good quality. The weather was nice and the sky was blue. When we arrived at the fuel station of Cerro Sombrero it was 12:45 and we had waited for the end of lunch break. We finished all or work at the fuel station in 45 minutes. It is always like this with the group.
Everything takes long time. Long and long ! 

There was strong wind between Cerro Sombrero and Bahia Azul. The ferry took us from Tierra del Fuego to the mainland, Punta Delgada. On the other side we stopped again at the same restaurant and ordered our food and cokes. The lady is very smart and fast with the orders. She takes first all the orders and give them to the kitchen and then she starts to collect the money from those who have already ordered and waiting at the queue. While paying the bill in advance the food is prepared in lots in the kitchen. Almost in two-three minutes after finishing the payment ceremony we could get our food.

As soon as we finished our meal,we informed Christian about our departure and he said that we have to wait for the rest of the group at the big COPEC fuel station at the entrance of the city Punta Arenas. Then we departed at 15:00 with Sadik in advance. Since Sadik was still suffering from his neck problem it is always better for us to go first but slow.

We followed the Route 255. We passed Ea. San Gregorio and all those places we had done 3-4 days ago. There was also a stormy weather on the way which we have experienced in 4-5 km zone. We had got some shower and it was also cold.

After Gdor. Philipi we took the road to South in the direction Punta Arenas. The quality of the roads are fantastic and under severe wind we reached to the COPEC fuel station at 16:45. 
We waited for our guys and I started to pack my rain gear during the waiting time.
I drank a coffee which I bought in this modern Copec station. We filled up also our tanks. We had to give our bikes with full tanks. After almost 45 minutes our guys came to the fuel station. Then we all moved to the garage/service company where we have left our bikes.

Our big suitcases were also there which we had left 20 days ago in Osorno and these were shipped by Edelweiss to Punta Arenas. We packed all our stuff into our suitcases and then taxis took us to our Hotel Diego de Almagro.  

So we had finished 20 days motorcycle tour in Patagonia and we were now at our hotel for the last night of the tour. Punta Arenas is a big city compared with others which we had seen during our Tour. Punta Arenas is at the foot of the Andes on the western side of the Magellan Strait. This city was founded in 1848 for military purpose. Because of the short cut 
for the ships through the Magellan Strait the city had gained a lot of fame and position on commercial way. As the best and largest port for thousand of miles, Punta Arenas still attracts ships from South Atlantic fishery.

View over the sea from the window of Hotel Diego del Almagro

 Around 19:30 we met at the lobby of the Hotel and walked out into the down town. Our tour company had already booked a restaurant for dinner. And we ate altogether in that restaurant. After the dinner we came back to the hotel and we went to sleep because next morning will be starting for us at 04:00. 10th of February is the day for me to fly back to Turkey.

PATAGONIA Tour on Motorcycle-08 February 2018 Day 18

SOUTH AMERICA / PATAGONIA TOUR with MOTORCYCLE
Riding to EL FIN DEL MUNDO between 21 January - 10 February 2018.

Day-18 (08 February 2018) :  Ushuaia>>>Puerto Harberton>>>Rio Grande (290 km)

First partof our route from Ushuaia to Rio Grande : Stop at Es. Harberton for Penguins

After having the breakfast at our Hotel Canal Beagle we walked to the park at the sea side which is around 150 meter away from the Hotel.There, we made a group picture altogether.
(I do not know why that picture is not available !!)

After that photography ceremony we came back to the Hotel and took our motorcycles and departed from the Hotel in the direction back to Rio Grande. The streets in the city are under construction and therefore there are lots of detours in the city. It is also dusty and with lots of bumps. But as soon as we get out the city the asphalt road (Route3) took us in 25 minutes to the junction to Puerto Harberton. After the junction we had got gravel road in the forest through the valleys. At 10:00 o'clock we were at the Pt. Almanza (approx. 67 km from Ushuaia). From here there is a view over the Canal Beagle and far on the south someone can see Pto. Williams which is on the Chilean side.

At Pt. Almanza:- The other side of the canal belongs to Chile and there is Pto. Williams

Then we continued to ride in east direction. The view is fantastic. We were riding along the coast but we up and downs on the gravel road. The road was well pressed but in some sections the grader was working and we had to be very concentrated on the road. Around 11:00 o'clock we came to Harberton Museum for Sea mammals. Meanwhile we saw that, the front tire of Kevin (from Shangai) was flat and Thomas repaired it on site.

Since our penguin tour was scheduled for 12:00 o'clock we visited the museum and saw skeleton, bones and pieces of the sea mammals like wales, dolphins, sea lions, etc.

Teeth (?) of a big Greenland Wale

It is very strange that there were lots of people visiting this museum. I think this place called Pt. Harberton is a famous site for those who are interested in sea mammals and penguins.
Then we took our motorcycles and we moved to the site Harberton where from we would be driven to the penguins' island. 

 

We sat there half an hour and drank a coffee. I took also some pictures in the nice weather and blue sky. Then we departed with the boat (2 x150 HP engines) to the island on the Beagle Canal. The travel on the boat took roughly 25-30 minutes.

As we arrived at the penguins' island we got out and walked on the island among the penguins. Our guide for penguins explained a lot of behavioral things about the penguins.
Their family life, waiting for their nests which they dig in the ground, guarding the eggs etc.
We were right at the time when penguins were changing their fur. Most of them were slowly moving or maybe mostly sleeping. They may not swim and dive with their unfinished furs.
The cold water might cause them trouble because the thermal protection is not enough with the new furs.

We said 'bye-bye ' to the penguins and left the island again with our boat. We arrived back at the Harberton jetty after 30 minutes. We rode with our bikes to a nice restaurant on top of a hill which is only 400 meter away from the Harberton Houses.

We ate nice food at the Harberton Restaurant. After the lunch we returned back on the same road to the junction to Rio Grande. It is about 70 kms from here and we turned back 

to the asphalt road (Route 3). 

We came together with the whole group there and then we departed for Tolhuin which is on the mid point of the road to Rio Grande. We used the same road back to Rio Grande. We passed Passo Garibaldi in the reverse direction. The road conditions were very good even there was mild wind getting closer to Rio Grande.

Around 16:00 we arrived at our Hotel Grande in Rio Grande. It is a modern Hotel located in the city. The city is without trees and looks like a city in the desert. After we set up in our room with Sadik I took shower and changed and then went to the lobby and ordered a pisco.

While enjoying my drink there came our luggage with the van of Moto-Avventura.

I took them to our room and then I continued my drink at the lobby.

Around 19:00 we moved to the restaurant of the Hotel for dinner. The whole group were together at the dinner and this was our second from last night together with our group.

PATAGONIA Tour on Motorcycle-06/07 February 2018 Day 16-17

SOUTH AMERICA / PATAGONIA TOUR with MOTORCYCLE
Riding to EL FIN DEL MUNDO between 21 January - 10 February 2018.

Day-16 (06 February 2018) :  Cerro Sombrero >>>Ushuaia (392 km)

After the breakfast in the Hotel we left to buy fuel. The only fuel station is right up there in the down town. It is only 300 meter away from our Hotel. We bought furl and then came back to the front yard of the Hotel. We had got a briefing about today's trip to Ushuaia.

We will have gravel road starting at the Hotel and it will go on until we reach the Ea. San Martin on the Argentinian side at the Atlantic coast.

The weather was sunny with few clouds. The temperature was 12 deg C. We departed from the Hotel around 08:50 and took the gravel road to Cullen. This one is the road on the north side of the town and goes through valleys and flat areas to Cullen. This part of the land is also well productive with oil wells. We saw a few oil wells as well. However we saw also a couple of Lama families around us.

Guanacos

At the junction point near Cullen.

Around 10:30 we arrived at the Hosteria La Frontera in San Sabastian. It was a distance of 100 kms. WE made in average 60-65 km/hr.  We took a rest there and drank coffee. Just a few hundred meters after the café there is the border office of Chile. We finished the exit procedure and then continued on the gravel road which connects us to Argentinian border office.It is about 14 km between the border offices. This is the town called San Sabastian.
The road is better paved now. It is asphalt but little bit windy. On our left we had open view over the Atlantic. We took the direction to Rio Grande but we by-passed the city. At the South end we filled up our tanks in the Estación de Servicio Circunvalacion. I bought also some water and biscuits. After a short rest at the well furnished and equipped fuel station 
we continued our trip. Together we Sadik we rode away before our group. We talked to our guide Christian and agreed on waiting them at the fuel station at the entrance of the city Tolhuin. At 14:00 we were at the fuel station and we waited for our friends. As soon as they came we followed Christian and found the Panaderia La Union which is a bakery shop in Tolhuin. I recommend for everybody. A baker from Malaga, Spain arrived here in 1984 and liked this town. He settled down here and opened this business. 

The inside view of the Panaderia

Our friends sitting in the Panaderia

When we came out the bakery shop there was little rain. But there is no need for wearing the rain gear. Again we departed with Sadik in advance. We made a very smooth ride. The view was also getting better. Big lakes and forest was very spectacular around us. We left the long lake Lago Fagnano on our right and passed the mountains on the south side of the lake. It is the awesome Paso Garibaldi which we enjoyed very much. The asphalt is good for riding and with nice and open curves. I enjoyed very much :) We stopped at the top somewhere and took some pictures.

Looking to North from Paso Garibaldi:- Lago Fagnano

After an enjoying riding on the Paso Garibaldi

Then we continued riding down the mountains. It is still awesome. When we came down we were very close to our target. Suddenly we saw the gate to the city Ushuaia. Last time, in 2008, I came here by plane. But now I am approaching with motorcycle. And this is a totally different feeling and experience for me after 10 years.

Our group :- standing >>Christian (our guide), Daniel, Michael, Martin, Philipp,
sitting>>Sadik, Cem, Ulrike, Winfried

We continued further into the city. There was a road construction and we took the dusty gravels detour. We came to the center. And we took a few picture before reaching to the Hotel.

After having made some pictures we moved to our Hotel Canal Beagle which is located at the main street along the coast.

Our aim was also to change money.  Gentleman at the reception showed us on the map a change office. And we went there. On the way we discovered some friendly bars, Pubs and restaurants. We sat in a bar at the San Martin Street. There we bought to IPA and drank with Sadik. The guy in the Pub was friendly and changed some USDs for us.

The bar/restaurant in the corner where we sat for beer

View in the down town of Ushuaia

At 19:30 we were back in the Hotel. Our guide Christian had booked a restaurant for all the group and we walked to this restaurant on the San Martin Street.

The restaurant Villaggio where we ate altogether:- Very fine food including lobsters.

 After the dinner we walked together with Sadik in the city. We sat in Hard Rock Café and I drank two Mojitos. It was late but we continued walking in the city. On the Av. Maipu I found Ramos Generales, Pub/Restaurant. I had visited this place in 2008 and I had got good memories about it. It is really good to find this place again and to sit. It was approx. 01:00 when we came back to our Hotel.

Day-17 (07 February 2018) :  extra day in Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego N.Park-52 km)

We have a day trip to the Tierra del Fuego National Park. It is about 30 km on the west of Ushuaia. Tierra del Fuego National Park was created in 1960 and is located against the border with neighboring Chile. Departing from the Hotel Canal Beagle we took the road in the direction of the airport. We passed the junction to the airport and continued on the gravel road. Last time, in 2008 I had taken a bus and I had been on this way together with other tourists. Now I am riding on my bike to the West of Ushuaia.

After 8-9 kms we came to the historical Train Station. We took some pictures and I bought some souvenirs for my friends. It is a clear and sunny day and this makes our pictures clear, too.

After the break at the Station we continued our ride on Route 3. After 10-15 minutes we came to the Parks 's post office which is the most southern post office on the world. I bought a few postcards and stamps. I am planning to send them to my son who is studying in Brighton/UK and to some of my friends living in Istanbul. There we had got also a nice view over the Redonda Island. 

View from the point where there is southernmost postoffice. Looking over the Redonda Island.

After half an hour we moved to another place where we walked on the wooden platform to see the panorama. Then we took the road to the restaurant in Alakush. We sat there and we bought some food. After finishing our lunch we departed with Sadik for Ushuaia. After half an hour we were in Ushuaia and we filled up our tanks at the fuel station just in front of our Hotel. After that we came to our Hotel and we went for rest to our room. 
later we went out with Sadik and walked in the down town in the direction to the Maritime Museum. As I had visited this place in 2008 I want to show to Sadik this place and the prison building here. There is an old and interesting building built as prison.
The entrance fee is 400.-A$.

The construction of this prison started in 1902. The jails had five pavillions with 79 exterior facing cells each. There were 380 cells for single but there were maximum 600 convicts at one time.

 After we had finished our tour in the prison we walked back to the down town. Sadik went to Hard Rock Café and I have left him there. I walked in the city and I bought some souvenirs. 
I took also some pictures in the down town.

I sat in Austral Modern Café and drank a coffee and ate some cakes.It is a nice coffee shop and located in 9 de Julio 74 Street. I recommend this coffee stop.
I left the coffee shop and I started to walk on the Av. Maipu. I saw some people at the side of the street where they were dancing.

Tango is life in Ushuaia.

At the coast line of Ushuaia.

Then we met with Sadik at Ramos Generales. After finishing my beer we started to walk to 
the restaurant which we had fixed in one of our previous walks. 

Shelves of Ramos Genereles.

We came to the Restaurant Paso Garibaldi on the Street Deloqui. We enjoyed the dinner and we left with good taste. Then we came back to our Hotel.