OCT 1-5
We left Istanbul and headed east to Safronbolu. This is a small village that has history dating back to 3000BC, but so does about everything in Turkey. It is located over the hill from the Turkey's largest steel mill. The towns main draw now is fairly new homes, compared to it's long history. They have preserved the Ottoman homes built in the 18th and 19th centuries and the village is declared a World Heritage Sight in 1994. In the 1600 hundreds it was a stop on one of the many trade routes from Asia to Europe. The Ottomans guaranteed safe passage for a fee. Thus, the beginning of the Turkish insurance business.
Ancient Turkish baths
Nice shoes. You have to put these on in museums and mosques
This guy actually walked back and forth guarding the gate
Where the hell is taking me now?
This the smithie.
All the items were made inside
This is actually a famous guy but we lost his card. He taught in Maine and California for short periods and was featured in many articles that he showed us. His work was beautiful.
This is a hotel and was in the 1600's when the caravens parked all there goods in the courtyard over night and then went the baths next door.
Starting to see a lot of this. He is taking pictures.
From there we drove over the mountain to the start our Black Sea adventure at Amasra. Nice little small fishing village.
Another Turkish coffee
Don't come home drunk. You might walk down the hall to far.
We continued on down to Inebolu another small town. On the way we came by this boat building operation.
These guy were hand building some nice boats, epoxy over wood, but the ocean is down there.....
We got to Inebolu about 5 and checked into the Yakamoz motel right on the beach. This is a long complex that occupies most of the sea frontage, but all of it, but the motel and restuarant, are closed for the season.
This room was like a Motel 6 with a view.
Vicki rushed down to stick her hand in the black sea.
Yep, November is the high season
They were so bored they even were glad to pose for a picture.
Traditional breakfast
Next stop was Sinop. A rather large town that has grown out of the little fishing village. The waterfront was packed with local people having lunch or just tea. The only other tourist we spotted was a group of from Chicago shooting footage to use for some drug company in America.
The fish monger actually came out on the street to talk to us. His english was very good he told us because there had been a small U.S. Army and Navy here for years and he had many American friends. We had a very enjoyable visit and he offered to help us with anything we needed.
We pressed on to the big city of Samsun. Population 500,000. I had done only a little research for a place to stay and what little I found gave nothing rave reviews so we were pretty much winging it.We made our way over to the shore line and found a nice small hotel on the water. When any hotel quotes their prices in currency other than that of the country, then I know that it is expensive and over priced. This one was quoted at 100 to 195 euros. That is $140 to $250!!! It was not that nice and I was not that tired. So, we pressed on until we found the Otel Tauna. Seven stories on the beach with the fine price of 135 TL, $70, with breakfast. The room was the largest I had seen in Europe, on the 6th floor with big wrap around windows looking at the sunrise. This is for me. The breakfast buffett had more stuff than anyone needed to chose from. Including cereal and french fries.
Seen out the window.....
Did I mention the 2 toilets?
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