Posts Tagged ‘Kastamonu’


This valley in Turkey is famous for turkey and garlic. After an interview with the local rag, we may become famous as the ANZACs in this valley 100 years after the Çanakkale victory. After meeting the local English teacher, James may become famous as the New Zealander of Boyabat.

Selling garlic

Selling garlic

Sitting in front of a small shop in Hanōnü, we were being asked the usual questions – where are you from? Where are you going? What is you name? The answers were being written down, and it soon became apparent that this was for a newspaper. From Australia and New Zealand? Great!! That’s the story – 100 years since the Çanakkale victory, two ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) return on bike. Then the camera was whipped out, and before we knew it, we were posing with the bikes in front of the local iconic buildings.

Me getting interviewed

Me getting interviewed

Our lovely warm showers host Yalçin – a philosophy teacher at the school – invited the school’s English teacher over for tea. The excitement mounted when we heard that they were studying New Zealand in the English class, and they invited James to talk to the students at the school.

Thank you, Yalçin for your great hospitality and for an enjoyable evening of food, photos, tea and stories!

Yalçin - our host

Yalçin – our host


A kerfuffle at 3am as a strange man stumbled around the hotel corridor in Araç. He was shooed away by the man responsible for the corridor wood stove. Other than that the usual – climbing over a pass and down the other side – this time to Kastamonu. A shave at the local barber, a talk with some couch surfing students, and a nice warm comfortable hotel. 🙂

An oily snow field

An oily snow field

The day was cloudy and cold – especially at over 1000m. James and I both agree we have had enough of mountains for the time being, and are looking forward to reaching the flat Black Sea coast.

The pass before Kastamonu

The pass before Kastamonu

One has to look one’s best at the beach, so, time for a shave.

A shave in Kastamonu

A shave in Kastamonu

I think there was some language barrier confusion with our Couch Surfing host, and James and I are now staying in a nice hotel in Kastamonu. The weather forecast is for much warmer weather, and we are looking forward to the next chapter in the trip. Swimming, camping on the beach, cruising along the coastal road. But tomorrow Boyabat and then one last pass to the coast.