Turkey 🇹🇷 ~Scenic Drive From Istanbul to Bolu to Ankara
We are enjoying this roadtrip very much. It is a lot of miles, but they are easy miles and most of them have been on the interstate, so far. We followed the Bosphorus River for a ways, after departing Istanbul Airport. The Bosphorus is a beautiful body of water, with Asia on one side and Europe on the other.
Eating dinner at a “Park” off the interstate
Interesting thing, as we began driving the interstate in Turkey, how signs coming up indicate “Park Alani” I’m thinking how nice there would be a park along the busy highway. 🤣 Ha! The “Park” means a place to park your vehicle, and enjoy restaurants, washrooms, and even shopping at outlets stores. These “Parks” are huge areas for the semis and their loads, as well as cars. There are no grass or trees. Park alani translates to “park area.” I love learning about new concepts from other countries.
By the way, we see more people wearing masks, here, in Turkey, then we have seen anywhere over the last six months in Europe.
This park alani we stopped at had a walkway across the interstate where we could eat cheap and get underway again, very easily. And, oh yes we did” 😋 For our quick stop for dinner, we enjoyed a burger and milkshake. It’s been almost three years or more since we had a Burger King. It was good and cheap; $10
We got right back on the interstate, and made it as far as Bolu, where, after dark, we found a hotel, first inquiry. We were pooped, and grateful to get in a room to relax. (we got a late start at 3:30PM).
Daryl drove about 200 miles, since leaving the rental car company at Istanbul Airport, and Bolu was the first city coming up when it was getting dark. We took the exit and hoped for the best.
We are in Muslim populations again, so the morning and all day, actually; the call to prayer is part of our life again. It’s been six months since we’ve made the “adjustment.” Little to no English is spoken here, and cash only at the hotel. Breakfast was included, so the big guy always enjoys that. It’s an average hotel, nothing special; free parking and clean are the bonuses we must have.
Bolu is a province of Turkey located approximately half-way between Istanbul and Anakara. Bolu is famous for its dense forests, fauna, and hot springs
The history of the province dates back to Phrygians, around 1200 BC. Then the Persians, Alexander the Great, Romans, Seljuk and Ottomans left their marks.
During the Hellenistic period, the area was called Bithynia, then Romans called it Claudio Polis, and finally named Bolu by the Turks.
Incidentally, this morning, we are feeling cooler temperatures for the first time since Greece, back in the spring. It’s a nice change, from the three digit temps.
For the record, yes, many people choose to fly to Cappadocia from Istanbul, (1.5 hours) but if you are a new follower with us, and don’t yet know, we choose all “other” modes of possible transportation, first, before we fly. While the time in the air might be faster, overall by the time you go to the airport for that “two to three hours before” requirement, fussing with bag weights, then getting off the planes, collecting luggage, getting local currency and SIM cards in said new country, after landing…. how much time does one really save? We love the freedom of driving our own car, packing our bags the way we want, instead of making the airlines happy, and we enjoying seeing the country as we drive. Much is missed, when up 30,000 feet in the air. When vacationing, time is of the essence, but when retired and living life as we do, the lifestyle allows for more time.
Daryl has an international Drivers Licence, which is required in Turkey, to rent a car. Very few countries require this, but the IDL essentially translates the country origins drivers license. The good news is I get to drive under Daryls IDL. I never got my own, because they cost money to acquire. (but they are good for two years).
Daryl: How many should I buy.
Me: Two hours worth! 🤣
#roadtripping
Our itinerary for this road-trip in Turkey will take us to Cappadocia first, then to Mount Nemrut, the Ancient City of Telmessos, Pamukkale and Ephesusus. Then, we drive back to Istanbul, drop the rental and fly to Austria, as long as their borders remain open!
We went off track to visit this lake, as we nested Anakara, but it was a fail. Too many people, and the road was blocked. The option in was to rent three wheel bikes with canopies. We weren’t into that kind of time, on this day. It is a Saturday, and weekends can pose more challenges than weekdays for us, as far as locals getting out and seeing their sites; which is great for families, just more people to contend with for us.
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Hello and Welcome to our Travel Blog Website, We enjoy writing about our experiences and taking photos of our adventuring along the way. Our names are: Daryl and Pen, but Daryl calls me “Bunny.” We met, quite randomly, whilst both… Read More
On the road again, hoping Daryl’s head is feeling fine
yes, and its going well. We both really love Turkey. Daryl’s says his heads does hurts a little and there is swelling.. you know the fat head thing. I am confident his head shape will go back to normal.