It's my first time on another continent

After only dozens of kilometres, nature has been changed totally, like suddenly we are on another planet! We enjoyed in beautiful landscapes and we were very glad that we choose this road. Photos, of course can not describe view of human eye, beauty, space and nature around us.

By the way, on last photos, it is not turkish highway, it is regular national road, free of charge! Almost all free national roads till end of our journey through Turkey are on same level as paid highways in Serbia...
While we were in Turkey, we didn't meet any bad road, everything was more than great!!!

Before arriving to Ankara, we refilled again on Shell, so we won't lose time tomorrow morning when we will go to one of main points of our journey, amazin Cappadocia and city Goreme.

We arrived in hotel in about 15.00. If only we knew that we would finish this day so easily we would go directly to Goreme, so we had 2 days there, but when are already here, let check Ankara as soon as possible.

So, plan was first to go on lunch, that to check Ataturk's museum which is one of symbols of Ankata. We went to Gencilik park, "Park of Youth". After small walking, take place in one of many restaurants. As it is still Ramadan (it will be till end of journey) all restaurants are empty, plenty of free space.
We ordered traditional turkish meals, ice for my knee and again only soda, still no beer...

After meal we went by foot to Ataturk's museum, but when we arrived, whole park has been closed...
Heh...turn backward and go back...





By the way, Ankara, capitol city of Turkey, city from more than 5 million people hasn't attracted us too much. In comparation with Istanbul, it is too fancy, without "soul" without some inner feeling that we felt in Ankara. Although, we are here only one afternoon, so we can't complain. Also, we had great hotel, bad and breakfast with garage for motorcycles and more than polite stuff in hotel!
Than, we decided to find and buy beer!!

But, definitelly, while Ramadan we won't have beer in Turkey. But, I brought homemade "rakija" (serbian brandy from fruit, especcially plum. Google for it. )

The Saydes Otel looks OK. Quite good value and fairly central. I've bookmarked it, thanks. http://www.saydesotel.com/

@DavidM1 Yes it is. We had room for 4 of us, breakfast included for 55 eur, plus closed garage, in basement of hotel!
@flei Thank you. Enjoy reading. Many more to come...

5th day, 05.06.2018.

Planned route for 05th day: Ankara - Tuz Golu - Derinkuyu - Goreme. About 370 km.

As usually, we got up early, so we could reach final destination as soon as possible, although today is least mileage so fat. Breakfast in hotel is great, the best so far! First morning coffee we decided to take on exit from Ankara.
We sat next to parking, from where we can check our bikes, helmets etc. But, waiter don't know how to explain so he lead us to some other table, and showed us lake next to restaurant. That's what he wanted to say all the time. So we had good turkish coffee in interesting cups with great view on lake "Mogan".

After short brake, we moved on for next 100 km to 2nd largest salt lake in Turkey, Tuz Golu. It is salt lake which gives about 80% all turkish requirements for salt in one year! It is very shallow, and during summer almost no water at all, mostly just salt. Soon, we coming to turn right on parking lot, where is museum of salt, a lot of stores with salty products etc. So let's check it, and make some photos.

As we didn't approach with bikes till lake, we agreed if there will be chance again to pull over and to take photos. By they way, you drive next to lake about 70-100km! As we earlier read somewhere, usually in july colour of lake gets pink colour because of some algae, seaweed, so we didn't expect to see it. But after 50km we get to part of lake which is very beautiful pink colour, so we came over again to take those photos. Nature is really incredible!

Next station is underground Derinkuyu. From lake till there we had about 140km. In Aksaray turn left to Nevshehir, and in front of Nevshehira turned right totally new road about 10km. Very fast we came to Derinkuyu where we found underground city. One men approach us, and offered to be our guide. We accepted as tickets are very cheap for location like that. He explained us whole history of place. It was built partially in 07th and 08th century BC. Later during Byzantine Empire was built even bigger and during Roman Empire almost the biggest. People has lived there till 1964!!! It is incredible. Even grandpa of our guide has lived there, which you can't imagine when you are standing there and see where they have lived.

It is the biggest underground city in Cappadocia. Local citizens has used it as shelter from bad weather during winter and summer, but mostly during a lot of wars that happened during history. Whole city is connected with tunnels, where have lived about 20.000 people. They had "rooms" for animals, for wine, schools, ventilation system over 50 meter deep. Whole city was into about 60m depth in ground, about 10 floors, but today is about 8 floors available to visitors.

We spent about 2 hours there, and going out totally shocked how people lived during centuries, and how they fought for their lives.

After Derinkuyu, we were going back to Nevshehir and Goreme, about 40km away. Our stomach sends alarms, it's time for lunch, so first we went on lunch than hotel.
Again, we had turkish meals, chicken, beef, different meals...mmm!

All hotels in Goreme are in caves, so it is our hotel. Hotel, of course, charmed us totally, everything is in spirit of Cappadocia...

One of symbols, maybe even the biggest and most known symbol of Goreme is ballon ride. Because, tomorrow from Goreme to Antalya we will have 570km, Aleksandar and I won't ride, only girls. Price is usually 150 eur, we got for 110 eur per person. Everything will start tomorrow morning at 3.45am, when you should wake up. Pick up is in 4.15am, flight starts at 05am and they will be back in hotel till 08am. So till 10 am we should continue our way to Antalya.

After first meeting with city, we fall in love with it! Nature is incredible and we can't wait to go for sightseeing of city! All of us agreed that so far this is prettiest place and best day so far, that we have visited on this journey. Cappadocia charmed us totally. It was sunset that evening and when you combine it with our better halfes (motorcycles) and our wifes, you get great photos!

Evening we spent in beautiful restaurant with turkish tea "Elma cayi" (apple tea) and narghilas. Talking about whole day, we are very happy and satisfied. Best day ever!! Going for sleeping earlier, as tomorrow most kilometres on the way, plus girl are going on balloon ride before dawn. But from tomorrow we are on vacation in hotel, so it won't be problem!

6th day, 06.06.2018.

Planned route for 06th day: Goreme - Antalya. About 570 km.

Alarm rang at 03.45am. I heard Julijana that is prepairing herself and leaving, and I continued with sleeping. Wished her nice flight and nice time.
As our "cave" (room) doesn't have natural light, have no idea what time is it, but in about 06am someone was banging on doors, had no idea what is going on. Aleksandar woke up before me and got up...girls was back before they should be...

That morning, wind was soooo high, so it brought unexpected clouds. But clouds wasn't problem, but wind did. Organisation agency had aplication which gaves "red, yellow or green" flad. Balloon was already half blown up and almost ready for flight. But, unfortunatelly, aplication gave "red flag", and that morning all balloon rides were cancelled. All passengers, including our wifes were very dissapointed...
We are in Goreme only one night, so there is no second chance for next day. Only few hours later, we left Goreme to Antalya, our vacation destination.

One photo taken from internet, just to show you how it was suppose to be.

Anyway, balloon rides are available during whole year, no matter snow or rain. Only thing that can declain ride is wind. Price for ride is about 100-150 eur. We got 110 eur per person. In that price you get picked up from hotel, breakfast, insurance for riding, champange after ride and some certificate. Unfortunatelly for us and our girls, that morning was declained and money was returned. If nothing else, we have one more reason to come back to this wonderfull city.