Images - Transiting Turkey

Turkey's Black Sea coastline near Hopa - very modern and developed Turkey's Black Sea coastline near Hopa - very modern and developed Into the mountains again Into the mountains again The Coruh dam - one of Turkey's numerous ambitous hydroelectric projects The Coruh dam - one of Turkey's numerous ambitous hydroelectric projects Artvin - reminded us of a Chinese city Artvin - reminded us of a Chinese city Another dam, another desecrated valley... Another dam, another desecrated valley... ...for the time being, this gorge is still beautiful ...for the time being, this gorge is still beautiful Not a natural lake! Not a natural lake! Turkish highways en-route to Erzerum Turkish highways en-route to Erzerum Sivas's madrassa Sivas's madrassa High up on the Anatolian plateau - not much to slow us down High up on the Anatolian plateau - not much to slow us down Colourful crops Colourful crops Local women in Göreme, Cappadocia Local women in Göreme, Cappadocia Colours at sunset, overlooking Göreme valley Colours at sunset, overlooking Göreme valley Ancient dwellings outside Ürgüp Ancient dwellings outside Ürgüp Murals in a cave church, Göreme Murals in a cave church, Göreme Cave with a view Cave with a view They were smaller in those days... They were smaller in those days... More sophisticated church paintings, Göreme More sophisticated church paintings, Göreme One of the day's many tour groups One of the day's many tour groups Le petit déjeuner avec Laurent et Thibault Le petit déjeuner avec Laurent et Thibault A tired local in 'Sword Valley' A tired local in 'Sword Valley' 'Sword Valley' 'Sword Valley' Arty monoliths Arty monoliths Despite the aridity, its still fertile farmland Despite the aridity, its still fertile farmland Enjoying the view Enjoying the view The politically correctly named 'Love Valley'... The politically correctly named 'Love Valley'... ...its not hard to see why ...its not hard to see why Off to collect hay Off to collect hay Cooking in the twilight Cooking in the twilight Early morning balloons over Göreme Early morning balloons over Göreme The extraordinary Tuz Gölü ('Salt Lake'), south of Ankara The extraordinary Tuz Gölü ('Salt Lake'), south of Ankara Backroad near Akçakoca Backroad near Akçakoca Pretty Black Sea estuary, near Akçakoca Pretty Black Sea estuary, near Akçakoca Typical Black Sea coastline Typical Black Sea coastline Approaching the Bosphorus Bridge - our last mile in Asia... Approaching the Bosphorus Bridge - our last mile in Asia... ...crossing the Bosphorus... ...crossing the Bosphorus... ...is that it? What a poxy little sign ...is that it? What a poxy little sign That's more like it - welcome to European traffic jams That's more like it - welcome to European traffic jams Typical kebab house - although rather different to the British equivalent Typical kebab house - although rather different to the British equivalent The Aya Sofya Mosque (museum), Istanbul The Aya Sofya Mosque (museum), Istanbul Pillars in the entrance hall, Aya Sofya Pillars in the entrance hall, Aya Sofya Islamic hoardings, hastily erected in 1453 to Islamify this former cathedral Islamic hoardings, hastily erected in 1453 to Islamify this former cathedral Some of the Christian murals were saved under the plaster, others lost forever Some of the Christian murals were saved under the plaster, others lost forever Waiting for a lift Waiting for a lift Chatting outside the Blue Mosque Chatting outside the Blue Mosque Not sure who upset her... Not sure who upset her... Sunset over Istanbul Sunset over Istanbul Typical Istanbul Typical Istanbul Our favourite lunch stop Our favourite lunch stop A long time since we've had a choice of oranges... A long time since we've had a choice of oranges... Posing on the Golden Horn Bridge Posing on the Golden Horn Bridge Sunday is fishing day... Sunday is fishing day... ...the fish aren't big, but it's a good view ...the fish aren't big, but it's a good view Theatrical ice-cream vendors Theatrical ice-cream vendors Colourful bowls; they're four times cheaper in Uzbekistan Colourful bowls; they're four times cheaper in Uzbekistan Locals crowding the watermelon vendor, outside the Blue Mosque Locals crowding the watermelon vendor, outside the Blue Mosque The Blue Mosque The Blue Mosque Inside, after lunchtime prayers Inside, after lunchtime prayers Crowds of tourists en-route to the Aya Sofya Crowds of tourists en-route to the Aya Sofya Marigolds decorating a trendy roof top bar Marigolds decorating a trendy roof top bar The Blue Mosque at sunset The Blue Mosque at sunset Our friendly evening kebab man Our friendly evening kebab man In the Grand Bazaar - now given over entirely to tourists In the Grand Bazaar - now given over entirely to tourists Enlightenment in the Grand Bazaar Enlightenment in the Grand Bazaar Dusting one's goods Dusting one's goods Lorries backed up before the Bulgarian border - this is 10km out Lorries backed up before the Bulgarian border - this is 10km out Turkey's uber-efficient European style border with Bulgaria Turkey's uber-efficient European style border with Bulgaria