The way out of Antalya led past one hotel palace after the other, it simply did not stop. Resort, Palace, Hotel, Club, it was pure horror!
We visited Aspendos, which is near Antalya. There is a well-preserved amphitheatre and some ruins can also be found there.
Our legs itched unbelievably and we finally wanted to camp again in the nature and be on the way. Although Istanbul has drawn towards the end on the one hand, I will miss it. Still, there are so many great places.
I left Istanbul on a coastal road that reminded me a lot of Hollywood. A wide road for cars, a wide green strip of grass, palm trees and sports facilities and stop the sea. Not that I watched too much TV, but all I needed were the big cars with the stars, then I’d be in California.
The trip with the ferry ( about 180 km, about 50 km/h fast) was boring. When we arrived after 2 1/2 hours, it was already 9 pm and dark outside.
After just over 4400 km my first big stage goal was reached! Yes, I was so excited, full of joy and proud of myself!
We went out on the bikes and I suddenly heard someone call my name. My old colleague Cem was already waiting for us, great surprise. We didn’t talk much, he told us how and where to go. With the bikes along the sea to the next ferry and then into the Asian part of Istanbul (Kadiköy) over. It’s not far from there.
My first impression was incredible, as I have never seen such a city before: Everything lit up, a lot of life on the streets, oh, I didn’t know what to say or feel, I was positively crushed, although I’m not a fan of big cities. But somehow almost everything on my journey makes me happy.
I was really looking forward to Turkey and could hardly wait. I had no idea what to expect, how the landscape looks like, I only knew that the people are really nice (again a country with nice people 😀 )
Received the stamp and off we went towards Ipsala.
Welcome back to Euroland! Over the border and already I drove over a rather empty highway into the first village. What struck me directly, the houses have another style: Almost all are white!
Now it’s Bulgaria’s turn! For Bulgaria I had to pay 50 Cent entrance fee 🙂
First I got a little money from the machine in the border town of Nikopol and could happily drive a few kilometres until my navigation device pulled me onto the first hiking trails.
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Welcome to Romania! First impression: the people are super nice. I am waved at, I am always addressed. I think I waved more on the first 30 km than on the whole trip so far. Sometimes I have to chip the children’s hands while I’m driving.
I drove into Serbia without a dinar. First I wanted to go to the town of Šabac, find a hostel via WIFI and then decide what or how much money I would withdraw. Well, unfortunately, I imagined it too easy. Everything seemed too expensive and fully booked. I don’t want to pay more than 10 EUR just for letting me sleep once. For several days it would be different.
In the hostel in Gradiška was only the Rick from the USA, who has already made several rides on the bike. My English, well, I know it will get better in the next weeks and months 🙂
I found it interesting that he travels with 10 kg of luggage, keeping everything to a minimum, while I have about 25 kg.
But everyone has different requirements, because these 25 kg are my home for the next months or even years. So why should I have to do without my bathrobe and pyjamas? Of course it was a joke, but I cook, camp wildly, I need more clothes, a computer (over 3 kg), etc… It’s just my home for a long time. Read More
First impression of Croatia: The streets are lighter! Fun at the side, the first kilometres already showed some differences. I rather drove through hardly used side roads and saw no more pine trees, the rocks looked brighter, it was not so extremely green, rather brighter. Could be the difference in altitude. Of course there were a lot of birds and insects, also reptiles were back.
