STEBO'S BLOG

We were well-rested the next morning, as much as you can be at 06:30 in the morning. As we were just opposite the bus station, we left with 30 minutes to spare. The bus was late, and seats 2 and 3 were occupied when we got on; we had actually reserved the seats. The journey to the border took 2 hours, passing lots of soulless towns, but also past lots of tea plantations. The Georgian side of the border At the border, we had to take our bags off the bus, go upstairs to a kind

Trabzon in the morning In the morning, we both woke up suffering from the bad effects of the mold and stagnant water. I didn't even want to shower because it would create a swimming pool. Shopping street At 09:00, there was a knock on the door to tell us that breakfast was ready. I went upstairs to see a lady happily preparing two dishes containing bread, olives, boiled eggs, an omelette, tomatoes, and cucumber, and of course, tea as well. Stanislav didn't trust their hygiene

Early morning bus We got up really early, this time at 04:00, as our taxi was expected to arrive at 05:00. He didn't arrive, so I got the male receptionist to phone him using my own phone. He assured us he was on his way, and while we were waiting, the staff brought us Turkish tea and some bread rolls. Sunrise Yildiz, the friendly driver, came shortly and looked still half asleep as he drove us to the bus station. We waited in the dark of the early morning for our bus. Some h

The bus to Sivas Our bus to Sivas was scheduled for 08:00 from Ankara, and we were there an hour beforehand, skipping breakfast for it. When we arrived, our bus was canceled, just canceled. They told us to just book another bus with another company, and we would have to wait until 10:00. As we were one hour early, this meant we were basically hanging around the station for 3 hours. Destination Sivas The purchase didn't load in the app, so all I had was a screenshot of the boo

Swan statues Our usual hotel routine: turn up for breakfast—bread, cheese, olives, salad, eggs, and Turkish tea—and write the diary. Satisfied with breakfast, except for the lack of coffee, we went to the metro station and bought metro cards. I actually put too much money on them. The metro station It was just one stop by metro, and we exited, passing by lots of armed soldiers on the street. The city seemed highly militarized. We climbed upwards, following the instructions fr

Not far from the hotel We went down to the breakfast room. It had large windows overlooking the street, which was entertaining. However, coffee was a problem as they had cheap instant coffee sachets, which didn't really do it for me, but I drank the Turkish tea, which was in abundance. While sipping the tea, I realized just how close we were to Syria; it was just a two-hour drive away. Mosque We had a few hours after breakfast to tour the city by foot, buying local treats and

Kerrygold in Nicosia Airport After waking up and packing, we made our way to the bus station. Our bus was to leave at 10:45, so we had lots of time, and Stanislav picked up some water and supplies at the nearby supermarket. We were way too early at the airport and couldn't check in, so we grabbed a coffee until the 3-hour check-in time. The airport was by no means crowded, so check-in and security were very fast. In the duty-free, Stanislav bought me a bottle of Saperavi and

Breakfast We woke up in our tiny hotel room, packed, showered, and then went back to the luxurious Agatha Christie hotel, but unfortunately, the prices were also luxurious for just a buffet. No matter how good the food claims to be, a buffet ruins it for me. We did find a nearby place which was small and cozy, and we had a nice breakfast which always includes tea, but ordered coffee too as I need coffee in the morning. Shopping at the airport We picked up our bags at the hote

Flatbrad Today's mission was to pick up the previous day's laundry. As we had a metro card for 3 days, we were planning to make good use of it that day. Breakfast time At 10:00, like good Dutch citizens, we turned up only to see the laundry place abandoned and no lights on at all. A guy in the restaurant next door called the lady, and we were told to return at 12:00. "Omelette" We had breakfast at a nearby place because the price looked good; however, we discovered all the hi

Breakfast view At 05:00, I was woken up by quite a loud call to prayer from the mosque. This would start to be a thing for the rest of the journey. I drifted back to sleep, and we arose at 08:30. The first task was to bring my dirty laundry to a laundromat that I located online. Part of the Aegan Breakfast But first things first, breakfast with the wonderful Turkish name "kahvaltı," breakfast with a view of the Galata Tower in Hotel Barnathan. Veggie breakfast Stanislav order

Sofia I didn't sleep well. I heard a bin lorry arrive outside my hotel window, and the workers were making mocking sounds, but at this stage, I was paranoid. In the morning, the place looked far less threatening. When I arrived at the bus station, they were still very rude. I was asking where the bus to Istanbul was leaving, and I got a few grunts and a hand gesture. The bus I got talking to an English couple who now live in Wales, and we actually discussed how rude they were