We have been driving in Turkey for about 5 days now and will drive for a couple more days before dumping the coach in favour of a sail boat for 4 days...I know...its tough! We could have happily stayed at our water front pension in Kas for another night. After all the view from our balcony was special, the kayaking day trip exciting, the beer exceedingly cold and the town wonderfully laid back. So why move on you ask? Well, it was just too nice and not at all like travelling. After breakfast this morning we looked at each other and decided to drive up to Pamukkale...4 to 5 hours later, some fun along the way and here we sit in a very nice little pension that costs $45 CDN with breakfast! Not bad for 2 people. Turkey is not as cheap as it was on my 2 previous visits, but by N American and European standards...its still cheap. We seem to be here between the spring traveller bump and the summer tourist stampede...at least that's what they tell us. Able to drive up to almost any pension and get a room with a negotiated reduction in price. This will change in about 10 days, but by then we will be in Istanbul and close to the end of our time together...but I digress.
So you want to driving in Turkey? Well best be prepared for some very unusual sights and experiences. Definitely not as crazy as third world driving, but interesting none the less. For example as we drove through Denzile, today being Sunday and a big wedding day here, we were almost run down by a wedding party and supporting racers! Have you ever seen the chuck wagon races at the Calgary Stampede? They don't just drive through town with cars all covered in flowers honking their horns, they drive through at high speed hanging out the windows...kids included...and race to see who will be first to the next light! All very colorful craziness!
Then there are the cars driving down your side of the highway at high speed in the parking lane...did I mention that they are going in the opposite direction? They aren't so bad once you get used to them, its the ones doing this in reverse that I'm still having fun getting use to...usually means the driver missed their exit! Of course standard procedure is to pass on the sharpest corner at speed...doesn't really matter if its on your left or your right side! Lining up for a light...the game is to see how many cars and motor bikes can fit in across the stop line, and if you even hestitate for a second when the light goes amber and then green, the horns begin with a great loud noise! Of course in many places red lights are only a suggestion...tail gating is the norm and its all for fun...everyone for themselves! And it is fun...such a good time driving here after slow Victoria. Basic drivers education should include a week of driving instruction from a Turk...we would all be better for it...and the Canadian Young Drivers course would all make just a little more sense!
Well off to the museum and the terraces with a sunset then back to our pension for a night dinner and a cold beer. After all it is Father's Day. Happy Father's Day Dad!
So you want to driving in Turkey? Well best be prepared for some very unusual sights and experiences. Definitely not as crazy as third world driving, but interesting none the less. For example as we drove through Denzile, today being Sunday and a big wedding day here, we were almost run down by a wedding party and supporting racers! Have you ever seen the chuck wagon races at the Calgary Stampede? They don't just drive through town with cars all covered in flowers honking their horns, they drive through at high speed hanging out the windows...kids included...and race to see who will be first to the next light! All very colorful craziness!
Then there are the cars driving down your side of the highway at high speed in the parking lane...did I mention that they are going in the opposite direction? They aren't so bad once you get used to them, its the ones doing this in reverse that I'm still having fun getting use to...usually means the driver missed their exit! Of course standard procedure is to pass on the sharpest corner at speed...doesn't really matter if its on your left or your right side! Lining up for a light...the game is to see how many cars and motor bikes can fit in across the stop line, and if you even hestitate for a second when the light goes amber and then green, the horns begin with a great loud noise! Of course in many places red lights are only a suggestion...tail gating is the norm and its all for fun...everyone for themselves! And it is fun...such a good time driving here after slow Victoria. Basic drivers education should include a week of driving instruction from a Turk...we would all be better for it...and the Canadian Young Drivers course would all make just a little more sense!
Well off to the museum and the terraces with a sunset then back to our pension for a night dinner and a cold beer. After all it is Father's Day. Happy Father's Day Dad!
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