Our second camp in Turkey and we are in the Cappadocia region of Goreme. Woke up this morning with frost on my tent and the sound of a very big animal breathing far in the distance. The area is famous for its natural stone formations and ancient stone homes made from them. Stuck my head out of the tent at 7 am to see over 50 brightly coloured tear drops hanging in the sky. Hence the noise of the very big beast which was the burners lighting up to keep the balloons in the sky. Each basket holding around 20 or so happy folks meant that over 1,000 people were floating just below the rim and high into the clear morning sky.
We've had a couple of big drives recently and the crossing the border into Turkey was so long I thought we might get employee numbers we were there that long waiting for permits and stuff ha haa.
Into Turkey and a contrast of countries again. Arriving in Istanbul late on Tuesday evening following some great driving from ex Para Trooper Jim (still not seen the whites of his eyes or seen him erect a tent so we think he must hang from a tree at night). We scramble to our various rooms at the Hostel 'The Orient'. So eight guy and girls sharing just four bunk beds, drop all their bags on the floor to have a late dinner and se what 'Isty' has to offer We are here for three full days and my gosh there is so much on offer. On our feet from 08:30 to beer o'clock in the afternoon, then again out to dinner until late into the night. The busy Bospherous is like the M4 at rush hour but on water, all manner of shipping are jokeying for their own space including, tankers, cruise liners, container ships, fishing boats and water taxi's.How they avoid hitting each other is any bodies guess.
So three ful days in 'Isty', what to do? The grand bazar where women in black Burhas are looking for another colour darker than black, the Topkapi Palace, Bacilica Cisterns, Hagia Sofia an french quater were all given some serious site seeing, as well as the local beer, red wine, Raki, shish, salads and tasty breads - we even managed to have a buffet breakfast for lunch which was full of local people one day. The streets are themed with one just one item, be it, plumbers, lighting, clothes, fantastic fresh fruit and veggies or local fish - great if you just ant one thing.
So back to today, we were al woken up early to do drill and paractised putting down tents by numbers, folding sleeping bags and ensuring all zips line up with your tent buddy or.......you've guessed it, its the back locker for you. I'm begging to think it sould be called the 'cooller' instead!
I'm beggining o warm to CJ the other burly ex Para Trooper and beloved leader. He keeps us all in shape and I'm convnced that one day th vein on the side of his head (you know the one that bulges when peopl get angry) will pop if I look at it hard enough one day, ha haa - only kidding folks.
Anyway, so I'm chilling today and may have a nice hot shower and stroll into Goreme, assuming of course I'm le out the 'cooler' in time........
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