I did the Mediterranean when I was in Antalya
The Aegean in Izmir
The Marmara in Istanbul
which leaves me with the black sea, which I conquered in a little place called Amasra.
Amasra was lovely, just like most other places in this country, but moreover, Amasra was another great example of social differences between here and home. We went only for the day, and stumbled across a tour group that was going on the same expedition. As soon as we boarded the bus, we immediately smelled something familiar. No, it was not just the pungent turkish BO that permeates everything in my existence now, it was something like a childhood memory. soon enough, we sniffed out another American, and quickly bonded with our new friend Aaron, and his girlfriend Dem.
An important fact about this trip is that it departed at 7 in the morning on a Saturday. Also, the bus ride was 5 hours long. In America, this would mean a silent, snoozeworthy bus-ride up, as everyone relaxed after an (assumed) crazy friday night the night before.
Not in turkey!!
a 5 hour, 7 am departure, means poorly mic-ed kareoke!!!
AND GUESS WHO WAS SITTING FRONT ROW!
even earplugs couldnt mask the dramatic runs of all turkish music, and just as we thought hell was closing in on us, they decided to stop kareoke....and instead blast techno music at full volume....at 8 in the monring....on a saturday.
now, in america, if such a situation was to happen on a bus full of strangers, the majority of the bus-patrons may explain, using certain choice language, that kareoke at 7 in the morning is not a pleasant experience, and kindly ask the offending patrons to take their seats. However, in turkey, such a distraction is well accepted, even encouraged!
when we finally got off the bus at Amasra we were happy to get the hell away from the rest of the tour group, but not before we indulged in our all-you-can-eat fish salad! well, at least thats what we assumed when we say "balik salata" on the poster for the tour. In reality, it was all you can eat fish AND salad. The salad was good, and the fish was too, if you could get past the look in their fried little eyes as they gazed up at you.
The rest of the day we explored the town, going on a boatride and hiking up to the scenic overlook. It was all very beautiful, so beautiful, that we needed to celebrate its beauty. for the last 2 hours in Amasra we proceeded to get wasted on Efes, to prepare ourselves from the sure hell that would be the busride home.......and seeing how the bus driver refused to stop for bathroom breaks....hell it was.
Below are some pics! enjoy!
G
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