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DAY 4
Had a great sleep and feel well prepared for the long bus trip towards Ankara, the capital city of Istanbul.
Breakfast wasn't bad, but not as good a selection as in Istanbul. On the bus at 7:45 and we're good to go. The landscape quickly changed to something resembling a trip to Coober Pedy with large expanses of nothingness in the heart of the Anatolian Highland!
Our first toilet stop was really lovely with wooden table settings indoors, clean facilities and a small convenience store. On the road again and the conversation changed to the responsibilities of parents when their children get engaged. Apparently the bride's family pays for the engagement, while the groom's family pay for the wedding. The grooms mother pays for the bedroom suite and the mother-in-law buys the dining room furniture and her say is the last, regardless of what the daughter-in-law wants! The kitchen cost is shared by both families.
We stopped for lunch at a local roadhouse in Eskisehir whose meerschaum pipes are world famous. Aleisha had pancakes with cheese, while I opted for pancakes with honey. A bit more work went into mine which is why mine cost double, I was told. We heard stories of the prophet who rode a donkey, is a local folk hero, and the reason why he rode it backwards. His statue is located at this roadhouse.
On towards Gordion and the next stop was the site of King Midas' Earth Tumulus. Actually there is no proof as to whether the remains are of King Gordion or King Midas, but legend believes because of the size of the mound (as it is the largest in the area) as well as the size of the remains that it's King Midas. Walking through the tunnel into the excavation area made me realise how much I long to visit Egypt. All the contents of the room have been removed and are located across the road in the Gordion Museum. An impressive coin collection was the first thing to catch my eye. Handmade coins from a long gone era would be very welcome in our coin collection back home!!
Next stop was the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey. When we first arrived we had to enter through a security screening just so they could view our faces (or record our images, I suspect!). We arrived just in time to watch the changing of the guard, which was interesting. Aleisha noticed how "weathered" their faces were from having to stand out in the sun all day. The museum was quite impressive and it was obvious this man was extremely important to the Turks. There was even a replica of Gallipoli depicted there, along with sound effects. The memorial was a huge building signifying his tomb, which is actually locked away in a secure are underneath in the museum.
We enjoyed a couple of Magnums each afterwards at a bargain price of $2TL each. Mine was a chocolate coated double blueberry - don't think we have this one back home.... Yummy :)
10 minutes away, we arrive at our hotel - the Barcelo Ankara Altinel. Definitely older than the last, the rooms have antique style decor. Our bar fridge doesn't work and cords hanging from a hole in the wall don't look safe! We have a great view of balconies of an adjoining block of units - complete with piles of garbage!!! However, the beds here are the softest so far, so sleep should come easily.
Before dinner we decide to visit the local supermarket across the road. Just across the road??? Yes but there are no traffic lights and it's like peak hour traffic here ALL THE TIME!! And if you saw how they drive here you would gave said NO WAY!! Aleisha makes a run for it and I nearly kill myself trying haha :). We noticed they don't sell salt & vinegar chips here (sorry Chris!) and trying to decipher flavours is rather difficult. We crossed the road again AARRGGHH!! and then walked about 20mins down the road before returning to the motel.
Dinner was a nice buffet spread and we shared a HUGE round table with our new American and Hawaiian friends. What did we talk about??... Travel of course!!
Off to bed....
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