09.08.2020:- MOTORCYCLE Tour in the Northern Turkey & BLACK SEA / MOTOSİKLETLE Kuzey Türkiye & KARADENİZ Gezisi

MOTORCYCLE Tour in the Northern Turkey & BLACK SEA / MOTOSİKLETLE Kuzey Türkiye & KARADENİZ Gezisi Day.3 : 09.08.2020 Sinop >>>>>Amasya (250km)

The breakfast hall of the Hotel 117 is located on the first stage and looking over the Blacksea. The boats in the marina are looking nice and beautiful today. After having the breakfast I put my stuff on my motorcycle and drove away at 09:00. After 35-40 km heading south direction I took the direction to Boyabat, Vezirköprü. I wanted to try this alternative road instead riding via Samsun.

The roads are wonderful. The road conditions and the view is beautiful. At 10.00 I arrived at Boyabat. I took the unpaved road in order to get to the entrance of the old fortress. I started to climb the path to the fortress. It was hot but the view was beautiful. Someone could have nice view over the town Boyabat through the pine trees. It took around half an hour to be on top in the fortress. While walking in the ancient fortress I took also some pictures. 

Boyabat from the fortress

Almost one hour later I came down and continued to ride in the direction to Vezirkopru. Around 12:20 I arrived at the town Vezirkopru. Most of the shops are closed, because it is Sunday. The weather is hot, around 33 degC. I saw the newly refurbished Tashan (Stone Caravanserai). It look very artificial and the work is not good at all. The building is serving now as a Hotel. 

Carelessly and artifically refurbished Tashan Caravanserai in Vezirkopru

On the side street I saw some people handling tobacco leaves. They are like a family from one of the neighbored villages and working for tobacco agriculture. The government is recently giving support for the agriculture of tobacco. 

Processing of tobacco in Vezirkopru

Copper market in Vezirkopru

Street of Vezirkopru

Refurbished street of Vezirkopru

One of the villas in Vezirkopru

A few hundred meters away I saw another street with refurbished two story buildings. These were old houses of the style of Vezirkopru. After drinking tea I continued my ride in the direction to Havza. This one is a town on the main road between Samsun and Amasya. In the main square of Havza I saw a food shop doing lahmacun, and pide. I parked my motorcycle in the shade of a tree in the park and order my Turkish pizza (=Lahmacun). After this lunch break I continued to ride in the direction to Amasya.

My friend Hatice is originally from Amasya and nowadays she and her husband Stefan are living there for their agricultural business. They are located 15 km away from Amasya. It is the village Ovasaray. However, she had booked for me a Hotel right at the bank of the Yesilirmak (=literally Green River). I came in The Hotel called Uluhan around 14:30. Hatice 's original family house is now converted to a nice boutique Hotel and serving since a couple of years. Nice place to stay !!

Yesilirmak in Amasya

Amasya, Yesilirmak (=Literally Green River) and Uluhan in the backround

Courtyard of the Hotel Uluhan in Amasya

First floor of the Hotel Uluhan in Amasya

After relaxing almost one hour I walked through the streets and along the river in Amasya. I visited some of the old mosques and their side buildings. Amasya was an important city in old Ottoman time. Most of the sheikhzades (=sons of the Ottoman Sultans) were assigned to live here for training for being Sultan. 

Around 18:00 I came back to my Hotel Uluhan and took my motorcycle and I rode to Ovasaray village where the farmhouse of Hatice is located. They invited me for a BBQ and we enjoyed our evening there. This is my third visit at the farmhouse since 7 years.

Around 22:00 I was back in my hotel and sat in the yard and drank tea. I sorted out my pictures. 

 

07.08.2020:- MOTORCYCLE Tour in the Northern Turkey & BLACK SEA / MOTOSİKLETLE Kuzey Türkiye & KARADENİZ Gezisi

MOTORCYCLE Tour in the Northern Turkey & BLACK SEA / MOTOSİKLETLE Kuzey Türkiye & KARADENİZ Gezisi Day.1 : 07.08.2020 İstanbul >>>>> Cide (Gideros) (520km)

Because of the restrictions against international tours due to the pandemic disease I decided to plan my motorcycle tour for the Northern region of Turkey including some Blacksea towns. Departing from home around 09:30 I took the motorway in the direction of Ankara, capital city of Turkey. Instead of using the Bolu tunnel, I took the exit at Kaynasli and made a good ride via Bolu mountain. The weather was nice and the road conditions were beautiful. The temperature was approx. 29-30 degC. I stopped at the Filiz Restaurant on the east of  Bolu and made a lunch break. 

After the lunch, I continued on riding on D100 road and took the direction to Bartin-Amasra just at the lake of Yenicaga. The road took me to Mengen, Devrek, Caycuma, Bartın up to Amasra. Amasra was very crowded because of the week end visitors. The small town was foll of cars and people. Orginally, I was planning to stay in Amasra for the night. As soon as I asked for some prices in the hotels in the town I decided not to stay in this town. Room + breakfast for one person was offered as 50.-Euro which is obviously to much for Amasra. 

 I continued on riding to Kurucasile (town located on the East approx. 45 km). I searched through the town but I couldn 't find any pension or hotel to overnight. I decided to go further to the East in the direction of Cide. After 15 kms I came to the small and picturesque bay called "Gideros". I rode down  one hundred meter and found out that there is a small camping area. I came in and decided to set up my tent for the first night. Tent place is 30.-TL which is 3.50 Euro. There is also a fish restaurant where someone can eat local fish of the season. 

After having set up my tent I went to swim. It is only 20 meter from my tent and the sea water was a little bit cold. The facility is acceptable but not so clean and neat. The guy who is the owner of the camping area is fine and assistive. 

I took some pictures and then I sat at the restaurant in order to have my dinner. Fish, salad and beer was OK. 

After spending some time at the restaurant I went to my tent (20 meters only) and prepared my sleeping bag etc. Because of the children playing around I used my ear plus as well.

08.08.2020:- MOTORCYCLE Tour in the Northern Turkey & BLACK SEA / MOTOSİKLETLE Kuzey Türkiye & KARADENİZ Gezisi

MOTORCYCLE Tour in the Northern Turkey & BLACK SEA / MOTOSİKLETLE Kuzey Türkiye & KARADENİZ Gezisi Day.2 : 08.08.2020 Cide (Gideros)>>>>>Sinop (270km)

It was a sunny morning in the camping area in Gideros. It was calm and silent at the sea side and in the camping place. I knew from yesterday that there will be no possibility for having breakfast here. Those who got their own stuff they could prepare their breakfast but I did not have anything for it.

I decided, to pack all my stuff and ride to the next town Cide. The guy at the camping said that there are a few cafés and restaurants at the sea side of Cide and there should be some breakfast served.

It is only 10 minutes on the motorcycle. I sat in a café there and asked the young guys for a breakfast and tea. It took a bit long to have the breakfast but at the end I was happy with the plate.

Coast of Cide - View to East

Coast of Cide -to the West

After the breakfast around 10:00 o'clock, I continued to ride in the East direction along the coastal road. Just in a few kilometers I started to climb curving road . Almost at the top of the hill I took a picture of Cide. The weather was nice and the sky was clear and sunny. The view around the road is phantastic.

Cide-Top View

The Blacksea at the left hand side is mostly seen from above. The height from sea level is changing between 60-120 meters. Right hand side is covered with trees. I reached to Inebolu via Doganyurt at 12:00. Inebolu is a medium size town at the Blacksea coast. I drank a coffee there. I passed the other coastal towns like Catalzeytin. Around 15:30 I arrived at the city Sinop. It was hot in Sinop and because of the weekend the people where enjoying the summer. I asked a couple of hotels for overnighting possibility. But it was impossible at the coastal hotels in Sinop. I tried my chance at the Hotel 117.

This one is located in the downtown right at the fortress having a view over the fishermen marina.

The place and the hotel conditions are very nice. To be suggested. The only negative thing is the neighbored ancient mosque because of which you wake up very early in the morning (morning pray !)

I paid 250.-TL incl. breakfast (approx. 30.-Euro). 

View from the Hotel 117

Around 17:00 I went out for having sight seeing. I first walked to the Old Prison. Sinop as a well-known exile town from the ottoman time was famous with its prison as well during the Turkish Republic. The Old prison is now serving as a museum.

After the visit to the Old Prison I walked to the West side of the peninsula. I walked in the streets of Sinop. There are a few old shops and interesting old places. Historically there are also some important buildings and mosques in Sinop. In general, Sinop is a modern city and mostly populated with modern people.

Inside of the Sinop Alaaddin Mosque 

Kitch in Sinop :- Public Phone Cells

 
Port of Sinop

Just at the Hotel there are a lot of restaurants, cafés and tea gardens. The people are walking at the marina and it is a good idea to sit in the beer garden. I ordered a beer and muscles with potato.

I enjoyed my dinner and my beer there. 

After having another beer I started to walk. On the other side of the fortress there is a long and wide recreational park. There are a lot of people walking and chatting around. There are also a lot of street food sellers around. Corn, muscle, candies, snack, refreshments and a lot of similar stuff. I walked to the Gazipasa Street No. 22-23.  There is an ice cream shop there.

It is in my opinion the best ice cream in Sinop. Specially the one with mastika is very tasty.

After the walk, I returned to the Hotel and I sat in the open bar of the Hotel looking to the marina.

I took some drinks there and after that I went to sleep to my room.

Republic of SOUTH AFRICA 5th Day:- Cape Town to Johannesburg- March,26th,2019

Republic of SOUTH AFRICA     

5th Day:- Cape Town to Johannesburg- 26.03.2019

Our flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg was at 06:20 in the morning. We woke up very early and took our breakfast package prepared by our Hotel. We were on time and we went to the gate. I ate some of the foodstuff which I had selected out of my breakfast package at the Hotel.

It was around 08:30 when our plane landed at Johannesburg airport. Our bus took us from the airport and drove us into the city. It is a very green city and the climate looks friendly and calm. The city is extending to a wide geography and the population is said to be around 17 Million. Johannesburg is well known with gold mines. The bus drove in the city and we saw the Mandela Square and a little part of the down town. We stopped at a view point which looks over to the North of the city. That part of the city is covered with green trees and gardens.

The northern part of Johannesburg

Mandela 's House in Johannesburg

Gravel stones with messages at the side of the Mandela 's House

Then we stopped at the corner of the Mandela’s House. This one is the house where Mandela lived until his death. It is a nice looking, moderate house under security control.

After that stop we came to a big souvenir shop. We spent almost 1,5 hour and bought some souvenirs. I also bought a small pocket knife decorated with giraffe bone. In addition to this I also bought two colorful African masks and a small wooden frog which is a kind of musical instrument.

Our guys made an extra plan and we continued on the bus to the Lions’ Park. It is a large natural park owned by a person and there are a few lions’ families living in nature. So far I remember it is an area approx. 180 hectares.

There we ate our lunch and then visited the baby lions in their enclosed garden. The watchmen, there, are allowing the visitors to touch and pet baby lions. I only took pictures though. Then we had been taken by some special trucks secured with cage type enclosures all around to the field. We saw three-four different lion families in the field. A cheetah family, few wild dogs and a couple of ostriches were also animals we met.

Wild dogs

Cheetah family

After finishing the visit at the Lions’ Park we continued to our Hotel “Park Inn Sandton”. This one is a modern city hotel and the rooms are comfortable and big. Our room is on the 4^th floor. After putting my stuff in the room I went down to the lobby bar and drank a local whiskey (Bains’). Then we ate in the restaurant of the Hotel which is on the ground floor.

Then we went to sleep.

Johannesburg is not a safe city. Especially after darkness it is not suggested to go out from the hotels in general. There is a lot of crime happening in the city. We stayed at the Hotel and ate in the Hotel ‘s restaurant.