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Our Second Big Trip Three Months Travelling No Return Ticket And Experimenting With Bus Travel And Booking Hotels
As We Travel The East Coast Of Greece And All The Coastlines Of Turkey And More 2017 August through November

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Samsun Turkey Ayasofya Mosque Trabzon Turkey Sumela Greek Orthodox Monastery Sumela Greek Orthodox Monastery
Traditional Ottoman House and Museum Unye Wooden Hut On The Beach Unye Independence Day Sinop Turkey Sinop Castle and Bar
Street Scene Sinop Turkey Sinop Fortress Prison Sinop Harbour City Walls Amasra Turkey
Kemere 9th Century Bridge Amasra Amasra Harbour Amasra Castle Arch Fatih Sultan Mehmet Monument Amasra
Turkey First Stop Samsun Black Sea Coast
  • Next stop Samsun on the Black Sea Coast.  Not a great deal to see here.  Interesting as it is the main shipping port of Turkey on the Black Sea and has two major universities.  
  • Onto the next bus to Trabzon.  The main attraction here is the Trabzon Ayasofya Mosque.  Built originally in the 13th century as a church and over the years also used as a Mosque for about 500 years, repaired  in the 19th century.  During the First World War it was used as a depot and hospital then served as a Mosque until 1958.  After restoration 1958 to 1962 it now operates as a museum.  We then had a day out in a small group to Sumela Greek Orthodox Monastery.  It is a mountain top monastery around 1000 years old.  One of the oldest and most historical in the Christian World.  At this stage you can only see it from a distance as it's closed for restoration.  We visited a small chapel below it and saw a video about it.  Also visited Karaca Cave at Gumushane.  An interesting mix of different shapes and colours with stalagmites, stalactites and travertines.  No photos allowed.  Interesting but not as impressive as China.  
  • Onto another bus to Unye.  Only stayed here one night.  Very old area with historical Ottoman style houses some completely renovated.  We were talked into visiting one that is now a museum and a recreation of the Ottoman era.  If you're there visit the copper making shops.  Good stuff to see and buy.  
  • Back on the bus to Sinop.  Interesting old castle originally built around the 8th century. Great to wander through and the town is built into the walls and there's a great little bar at the top with a good view.  Also visited Sinop Fortress Prison.  Originally constructed in the 7th century.  Very large area and good to see and has a fairly mixed history and was eventually closed in 1997 and now operates as a museum.  Several statues of Diogenes.  
  • Onto the next bus to Amasra.  Just a beautiful little hilly city on the coast with a Byzantine Castle at the top.  Split into different sections a lot of repair work was done to it during the 14th and 15th centuries during the Ottoman and Genoese periods.  Find out more on the internet.  Great little museum there too showing the extensive history here.  We also had a great little sail around the area in a little cabin cruiser beautiful.  Now to the pièce de résistance. Click on the next link:  On the bus to Istanbul.