Ireland-2-Turkey 2024

Another night with little sleep. I’m sitting here in the hotel reception (sticking to the usual Hancock trait of always being early) waiting for my taxi.

In the hotel reception there is an old phonograph

As well as an old telephone

I don’t think either work now but it’s a nice touch. I’m really excited about heading to Gelibolu. Finally, I’ll be able to visit the Gallipoli peninsula. I have no family connection to Gallipoli.

I was first introduced to the significance of Gallipoli as an undergraduate student at Swinburne University. It was in the first ever subject I took with who eventually became my PhD supervisor, Dr Love.

Although a defeat for us Gallipoli had a significant impact on defining our nation’s character!

My taxi will drop me off at a central bus station on the European side of Istanbul. Then (if all goes well) it will be a 3:30 hour bus ride to Gelibolu.

Dare I say it. I’m actually looking forward to the bus ride and seeing some of the Turkish countryside. My taxi arrives early which l didn’t mind as l was ready to go. A quick customers selfie with my driver.

My driver was from Geyikli and was all over Gallipoli.

His English wasn’t the best but that didn’t stop him from sharing his knowledge. He just used Google translate to convert his Turkish into English. He just spoke into his phone then handed it to me to read (all while we were driving). Luckily early Sunday morning there was little traffic to contend with!

The taxi driver even pulled up short videos on his tablet as we made our way to the bus station.

I pulled up Eric Bogle’s song “The band played Waltzing Matilda” for the driver. He then showed me a song from the Turkish side.

After arriving at the bus station l received my ticket for the trip.

Now the challenge of finding the right bus given my habit of hopping on the wrong bus! I’ve been assured the is the right bus!

The registration number of the bus matches that written on my ticket. The bus is only a single axle drive.

I’ve settled in for the bus ride to Gelibolu!

And we’re off (only 3 minutes after our scheduled departure time)! The freeway is quiet on a Sunday.

Passing a few high rise accommodation on the way out of Istanbul.

A photo of wind turbines in the distance.

More wind turbines. Turkey has embraced wind turbines! They’re dotted throughout the countryside.

Different design for high voltage transmission line towers.

The bus trip even comes with a cup of tea and a sweet biscuit.

Ships anchored in the Sea of Marmara.

I recall our guide saying something about ships heading to the Black Sea for the Sea of Marmara need to sail through the passage that separates the European side of Istanbul from the Asian side.

If my memory is correct ship sailing to the Black Sea have a 12 hour window to use passage. Then the ships sailing to the Sea of Marmara have a 12 hour window to sail through the passage. He also said if a ship needed to sail through the passage against the 12 hour window. They are required to pay something like £5 per tonne. This would make it very expensive!

Our first stop was n the outskirts of Tekridag. The stop was long enough to water the horse and a smoke. I can’t believe how many people and, pay the young who smoke in Turkey. By the way, there’s no separation of smokers and non smokers in restaurants here in Turkey.

I took a photo of an old fashioned shoe shiner set up outside the bus terminal in Tekridag.

Then a photo of a paddock sown in something. Like in Europe, paddocks here also tend to not be fenced.

The service on the bus is great. On my second round of hot drink and a sweet biscuit.

There was an unscheduled stop. Police in the side of the road stopped the bus. A policeman hit on board and checked everyone’s ID.

Luckily, l has enough time to put on the seatbelt should have been wearing. Turkey has a great network of freeways. But, with thus comes tolls!

More wind turbines along the way.

A photo of typical undulating country side as we near Gelibolu.

I arrived safely in Gelibolu. A quick photo of the span bridge that crosses over the Dardanelles Straight.

Then in to a taxi at the bus terminal and, of course, a customary selfie with the driver.

It was only a short ride (100 liar worth) and down a back street.

Most of the time was taken up with the driver searching his phone (while driving at the same time) for the names of Australians who he’s looked after previously to establish his credibility.

We arrived at the Gelibolu Hotel safely I might add!

Then after conversing with the elderly owner via his translation app on his phone l was checked in and shown to my room.

A short passage inside the front door to my room, then this is my bed for the next three nights.

This is the bathroom.

It’s a nice cozy place. Way larger than the place l stayed in when l was in Istanbul!

I quickly settled in and then made my way to the beach to explore Gelibolu. A short panoramic video of the Dardanelles.

Then l walked along the sand and saw the remains of a jelly fish.

Then l had the idea to take a photo from crouching down … here it is.

Then l kept walking and came across Gelibolu’s version of Bondi Rescue!

I kept walking and saw this unusual shape a little way off and thought l better check it out.

When l finally got close and worked out what it was my first thought was this is about the Australian submarine HMAS AE2 lost during the Gallipoli campaign.

But no! it related to the loss of a submarine after it hit a ship in 1953.

There were several torpedoes and sea mines in a grassed area adjacent to the submarine structure!

I kept walking and discovered an area covered in Turkish flags.

With the structure is a grave.

I’ll let you read about the significance of this site which is set out just before you walk down to the site.

It was getting close to 3pm. I’ve been up since 5:30am and have been running on 1 coffee, 2 small teas, two sweet biscuits and, a snickers chocolate bar.

It’s time to find somewhere for coffee and a meal. I settled on this place.

I had the hamburger and the season salad.

I must have been hungry! I ate a fricken olive …normally the first thing l flick off a pizza.