Sue and Ken Slater are from Melbourne, Australia. The MGs Beijing to London along the Silk Road, 2010 presented a great opportunity to travel in a convoy of six MG classic cars with like minded adventurers. Ken is a retired secondary school principal who spends his time with his sons, building and renovating houses and classic cars. His other passion is the Collingwood football team. Sue works as an educational consultant and enjoys life, family and friends.
8:17 am
#77 As we leave Turkey
Fashion at the Palace
Once over the border and into Turkey everything changed. It seemed like the world was back to normal. The convoy is no longer the huge source of interest, enjoyment and excitement, to the locals, that it was in The Stans and China. People pass us and may wave, just as they might if we were driving down the highway in our home state, but it is nothing like we experienced in China, and particularly in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. It was just incredible the response that the convoy generated in those countries.
The convoy has driven East to West in northern Turkey following the coast along the Black Sea and driving through the beautiful, rugged Pontic and Georgian Mountains. The driving has been good and the diversity of the country is extensive with grain, maize, rice, barley and a huge variety of edible crops for the table being harvested.
The contrast between Turkey and Iran is remarkable. Both have similar size populations, great resources and superb and diverse scenery with lots of inland lakes and mountain ranges.
But that’s where the similarities end. Turkey is a developed country with a per capita GNP just a little lower than Australia. Turkey is keen to get into the European Union as we are told that the country has a view that it can be a bridge between the East and the West.
It appears that one of the biggest problems facing the country is social and political unrest with the PKK, a subversive group, mounting random attacks. Since we have been in Turkey there have been reports of attacks which sadly have resulted in loss of life in Istanbul and in southern Turkey.
The Turkish people we have met are superb. They are happy, sociable and so courteous. Everything seems to be done with a light touch and lots of smiles. The males are charming to women guests in their country.
It has been refreshing to see the personal and religious freedom of people in this country. We have heard the call to prayer five times a day and note that people respond in different ways. Some of the women are in full Islamic garb while others often in the same family are in western gear. I saw one grandmother in full hejab, her thirty something daughter in trendy glitter and slacks and the granddaughter in skimpy shorts. They were walking down the street holding hands. It would have made a great photo. Guess that’s what is possible when you separate the church and state.
The highlights of Eastern Turkey have been the Ishak Pasa Palace, the Sümela Monastery and the Black Sea.Ishak Pasa Palace out of Doyubayazi is an Ottoman ruin started in 1685. After the Topaki Palace in Istanbul it is the most famous former administrative palace in Turkey.
Situated on a rugged mountain with three sided steep slopes it provided great protection and included a massive complex of administrative office, dungeons, harem , libraries and dining halls all of which were once rich with frescoes and other adornments
The Sümela Monastery stands at the foot of a steep cliff facing the Altındere Valley approximately 1200 metres and is a major tourist attraction
Founded in the year 386 AD legend has it that two priests undertook the founding of the monastery on the site after having discovered icon of the virgin.
The Monastery was seized by the Russian Empire during the occupation of Trabzon in the years 1916-1918. The site was finally abandoned in 1923.
Today the monastery’s primary function is as a tourist attraction. Its place overlooking the forests and streams below, make it extremely popular for its aesthetic attraction as well as for its cultural and religious significance. Currently restoration works are underway.
Sumela Monastery Eastern Turkey
Frescos at the Sumela Monastery, Eastern Turkey
View from our room. Fatsa on the Black Sea
Dear Sue and Ken, We have been in Hawaii for the past two weeks and are just now catching up on your unbelievable trip. We loved the photos from Turkey, one of our favorite places. Tom especially liked your contrast of Iran and Turkey plus the photos and information about the Orthodox Monastery in Eastern Turkey. We have experienced Islamic hospitality much as you have in Morocco, Egypt and Turkey. Sue is really enjoying your animal adventures-great idea-hope you will continue it in all of your travels.