Turkey > Football party in Amasya

Turkey - The viewing platform over the canyon near Safranbolu

I slept very well last night. I didn’t even hear the call to prayer from the mosque right next door around half past four. I walk down the stairs to check if my laundry has dried. The two slightly damp shirts I hang out in the sun for a little while longer.After breakfast, we say goodbye to our host. From Safranbolu, we first drive north. There is supposed to be an old aqueduct here, but we cannot find it on the map. After about seven kilometers, there is only a sign pointing to “Kristal Teras.” We follow the signs. At the parking area, it is full of cars and buses. These people did not come via the same route as us—no one else was driving there.We follow the local tourists to a small counter. Could the aqueduct be here? When we ask, it turns out this is a glass platform over a canyon, and the aqueduct is on the other side of the parking lot. Because of scratches in the transparent surface, the platform has lost some of its value, but the view from the platform is beautiful. There are certainly eighty people on the platform. How many could it hold? If I jump a little, the platform moves, much to the displeasure of the onlookers.The aqueduct dates back to the Byzantine era but was fully restored in the 18th century.

Turkey - The old houses of Amasya

It was used to transport water to Safranbolu.After this visit, we set course for Amasya, over 350 kilometers away. At the gas station, the attendant is full of praise for our final destination. He talks nonstop in Turkish, and I hardly have any idea what he means.Today, the highway also passes through several villages. It remains a confusing mix of speed limits. Especially at roadworks, the signs are often contradictory. We always escape the police checks, but cars behind us are stopped. Perhaps they want to avoid language problems or spare tourists?In Tusla, about halfway along the route, we drive into town. We have lunch at a small eatery. We can’t make much sense of the menu. The five staff members—a lot for such a small place—promote everything. In the end, we choose some dishes from the display. The food goes into a wood-fired oven.Around four o’clock, we drive into Amasya. On the north side of the Yesilirmak River stand the old Ottoman houses, beautifully reflected in the water. Just behind and above this district lie the Pontic royal tombs. The Tombs of the Pontic Kings are carved into the rocks.As we climb upward, we are accompanied by numerous schoolchildren. The tombs themselves are not particularly remarkable, but the view from the hill is fabulously beautiful. Just as we are enjoying the view, the call to prayer begins—not from one mosque, but from dozens. The sound echoes over the city.The hotel is located near the tombs. Getting there by car is not easy. The street we need to drive down is blocked by a boom gate.

Turkey - Cars honking loudly through the streets after Bezitas won the national championship

When we show a police officer our hotel, the barrier opens. We drive down a narrow street to our hotel. The owner is already waiting. He is taking photos of us and our car with his iPad. An employee is sent to get some beer for us. We sit down in the courtyard. Before we know it, several snacks are on the table. Through Google Translate, we understand that one of the dishes contains roasted chickpeas.Later in the evening, from our hotel room, we hear cheering. Football fans are watching the last Turkish league match of the season. Every time a goal is scored, loud cheers echo through the city. Besiktas wins 3-1 and becomes the champion of Turkey. Cars honk loudly as they drive through the streets, and people hang out of their cars with flags. The celebration continues late into the night.