Across Turkey Part Three
16:54Ankara to Erzurum (on the train)
If you have time (allow at least 32 hours), the cheapest way to reach Erzurum from Istanbul or Ankara is by train. Turkish State Railways (TCDD) is generally slow but a train journey will allow you to see a lot of the country and to meet the locals. Pullman seats are the cheapest, a bed in a sleeping compartment is a little over double the cost of a Pullman seat.
*From Istanbul, train leaves from Haydarpasa railway station on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, passing through Ankara.
The view
Our journey this time covers Ispir and Uzundere districts of Erzurum and Yusufeli district of Artvin Provinces and includes the valley of the Coruh river and most of its tributaries. The river flows southwest-northeast and has carved a deep slot south of the Kackar mountain. One of the main branches, called Tortum river, flows from south to north by passing through Tortum Lake and reaches to the main river near to Yusufeli district center.
To be honest, Erzurum is not a famous spot for Malaysians. Some locals were shocked when we told them that we're planning to explore the nature that covered the eastern region of the country. They were even saying that we might be among first Malaysians that ever visited Erzurum. They got lots of tourist but mostly Europeans.
Gotta get back to bed now, I'm going to travel again tomorrow. See ya!
0 comments