Sorry the photos are still not loading but that just means I might be able to come round and show you my snaps when i get back.

Still moving at a fair rate as have now flown through southern part of the country - last evening up MOUNT NERMUT to see the collection of larger than life busts and heads of gods which were placed up there almost two thousand years ago......and then the helter skelter ride down the mountain side with a driver who was more interested in talking to one of the women in our group than watcching the road as closely as the rest of us wanted.

Today a gentle start at 9am then a three hour drive to Gazieantep where we have spent the rest of the day hunting for the best baklava in Turkey. Found in and ate more than enough before then coming across a local baker who invited me into his shop to see him producing Turkish pizza and who asked me to taste his herb and cheese stuffed pita bread...and all that after the filo feast.

Forgot to mention the night before when I and Stavros wound up standing on the corner of a street near midnight with a paper plate of baklava, a plastic fork having bought our dessert from the local store.

Ramadan is taking more of a presence as we drive further away from the cities and into rural areas. In teresting to see all the restaurants laying out plates of dates and dried fruit ready for those due to break fast at dusk. In this city a cannon is sounded at the end of the fasting period so its a drummer at the beginning and a boom at the end.

Now hearing of the floods in Istanbul which appear to have wiped out the road from the airport and the small fish cafe I ate at just ten days ago. Pictures on TV seem quite alarming but we have checked to see that some of our group who went back there two days ago have arrived safely although when they will get to the airport is something else.

Tomorrow, off to try and get through the Syrian passport control. Could be fun as three of our number dont have a visa.