Turkey to Iran

Göreme - amazing underground cities and churches cut in to the hills to explore! We camped here for 3 nights, then on to Sivas (4th June) and camping next to a huge lake. A really cold night here and I managed to have an accident that meant a visit to a Turkish hospital.

5th June, our Wedding Anniversary - love to Jan. Travelled to Erzurum and stayed one night in a small hotel in the centre of town. Then we set off for the famous Doğubeyazıt (also know as doggy biscuit) in the shadow of Mount Ararat, famous as the resting place of Noah's Ark. I stayed in a cabin as I couldn't be bothered with camping after such a long trip.

Saturday 7th June off to Iran, a long border crossing and on to Tabriz with our Iranian guides aboard. Next day to Zanjan where we spend the evening partying with the local people! Now in the capital, Tehran, where I now sit typing my blog after a long journey and a few hours at the British Embassy getting a letter for my visa for Pakistan.

Coming through Turkey and Iran has brought in to contact with literally hundreds of people. Some have described themselves as Turkish or Kurdish or Iranian or Sunni or Shia or Christian. Many have gone out of their way to help us when we are lost - yes, the Oz Bus does get lost nearly every day. No matter what, people have shown us courtesy and kindness. They have laughed with us and stared at us, they have offered us food and drink and time to talk, they have wanted to speak, listen and practice their English skills.

A great example of this was just last night in the Iranian town of Zanjan. We went to a local fairground at 8pm after a meal. We go on a Swinging Boat and the ladies opposite us, all dressed in black veils, copy us when we start to put our hands in the air. We all start to laugh. This continues throughout the ride and we are followed to the Big Wheel and then the Swan shaped paddle boats. We laugh and laugh together. The locals take pictures and Darren shows the luck of the Irish by winning on a Wheel of Fortune. We are stopped and photographed and a great time was had. We even managed to share our candy floss with a little girl! A highlight of the trip for sure.