Author: ivo

Traveling the world with a GS: a GlobalSmile
By ivo

Bad luck on the way

My engine is covered in dust when I leave Göreme in the morning. When I drive out of the village with burning eyes, I hesitate to clean my lenses by the side of the road, but that once cost me a lens and I'd rather not do that. Fortunately, the tears do their…

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By ivo

Fairytale Landscape in Cappadocia

Just before I arrive in Göreme, Cappadocia, the landscape changes drastically. Erosion-worn rock formations with the strangest shapes now define the landscape and the closer I get to the village, the clearer it is that something is going on here. Traffic consists largely of luxury taxis, vans and large coaches and the…

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By ivo

An impressive day

Near the town of Yalvaç is the site of Antioch in Pisidia, a town from the Hellinistic period with excavations and an aqueduct, which I drive to immediately after breakfast. Unfortunately, the site is fenced and closed, but the aqueduct is freely accessible. Impressive to see how water was used in those days…

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By ivo

Destination unknown

At 6.30 am I get up because then dozens of hot air balloons fly over the limestone terraces and the village. Half an hour later I am at the entrance of the park, because that is where I have the best view. The balloons rise just behind the hills and land again behind the village, a flight of less than…

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By ivo

Pamukkale and Hierapolis

When I open the curtains of my room, there are at least 20 hot air balloons hanging in the twilight of the sun that is still rising. What a beautiful face. The Cappadocia region, which I will visit later, is known for it. Never knew that this is also daily practice here. For that the…

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By ivo

The site of Pergamon

I will remember the pension in Akçay for a while, because it has been a while since I slept so badly. There was a pub in the alley below my window, which just had a live musician on the program tonight. Turkish folk songs played only with guitar and vocals through a mega-amplifier, loud and out of tune, to…

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By ivo

I'm in Asia!

I must mention it separately. As of today I am officially in Asia! A small part of Turkey is located in Europe and the largest part in Asia. The imaginary border is formed by the river that connects the Black Sea with the Aegean Sea. This is ao the route of the grain ships from Ukraine…

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By ivo

The Arch of Freedom

What a change today! When I leave at the lake in Batak, surrounded by pine trees, it is a lovely 20 degrees. Half an hour later I drive through a valley that still resembles the Belgian Ardennes and it is a cool 15 degrees. Another half hour later I drive over…

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By ivo

More in Bulgaria

The border crossing from Greece to Bulgaria goes smoothly. For the first time I am asked to take off my helmet at passport control. It is not crowded and within minutes I am in Bulgaria. First exchange some euros for the Bulgarian LEV and that is very easy to convert because 1 euro…

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