Turkey / Ukraine

Istanbul Spice Market...funky sport, even with mucho tourists

Trabzon, Turkey

I really have no idea where I am going when I am doing these multi-month backpacking trips. There are pluses and minuses to this style, but the sense of freedom is easily worht the price of admission. I thought this trip was Canary Islands, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel. It became Canary Islands, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine.

After Istanbul and Cappadocia, I took a night bus to the north of Turkey to Trabzon...there is an Iranian Consulate there that gives out visas quite quickly, but for CDNs it was still a multi-step, week or more process. OK, do I go to Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, or north to Ukraine and points west. Always wanted to see Odessa on the Black Sea. Maybe go for a swim there. Cheap flight with Ukranian Air. Done deal.

Trabzon is an industrial, ugly done with one redeeming feature, the Sumela Monestary about 45kms from the city. Dorm mate Leo (China) and I headed up there and hung out with two Iranians for the day (Mehdi and Shahram). LOve meeting Iranians travelling. They are very friendly and thirsty for info on the West.

Leo playing pickup football with Trabzon Spor...I did not make the cut

I packed for shorts, t-shirt weather..am now wearing a lot of clothes

A little dip in the Black Sea before i head off to Odessa

Istanbul Again

I am actually in Istanbul for a few nights on the way to Odessa and our little crew gets busy at night (Peiyu-Taiwan, Scott-NWZ, Joe-Wales, Sophie-France)

The sign says ...Have you got naked today?... and is now part of the bar's Wall of Shame

Odessa, Ukraine

Was only in Odessa for a few days, but enjoyed myself immensely. Swimming, Champions League football, Opera, an interesting city and mucho political discussions with everyone in this very Russian town. Even met a UN-backed observer from OSEC. Everyone's opinion seems to be along the same line, the situation will settle, not blow up. Odessa was quiet, Eastern Ukraine was/is not

The other backpackers are a very eclectic lot, journalists, and serious world travellers, including buddy Luc who has traipsed the planet by bike to the tune of 78,000 kms. I enjoyed Odessa very much.

Turkey has basically one beer, Efes. Ukraine is filthy rich with beer choices. Yeah!

Regina was born in Lodz, Poland, and the housing complexes are like Spanish pensions, except the inner square is surrounded by a circle of apartment building. Nice enclosed space, and the only part of Lodz that I liked. Odessa is built the same way, I must have entered a few dozen of these

Buddy Denis, a local, chillin' after a swim in the Black Sea

I love opera and especially opea houses and the one in Odessa is beautiful. Saw the Ukranian 'Adele' here...Hiho Katamadze

Cheapest seat in the house, but as Duffy says...in the house. Me so happy. Good show...would have bought ticket just to get inside

Luc, about to head towards Kiev