Day 34. Friday 24th July. From Yeravan, Armenia to Ardahan, Turkey.

Breakfast in Poki outside the guest house, in the street was a fruit laden one. The usual porridge but with strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raisins and banana. 

On the road by 10am and our first destination, Another Holocaust Memorial, on the outskirts of Yerevan. 

It’s an imposing edifice. Grey basalt structure but mostly at lower levels to the car park. While walking to view a memorial wall, some chap walking around shouted at me…”what are you doing”?  “Do I need permission to look at the names on the wall, I replied angrily”? Maybe he thought I was going to steal the wall..:)

A great start to the day. 

I have to say, the Armenian people are not friendly. There is never a smile when greeting or making a purchase. It’s purely transactional. When trying to purchase some fruit at the market last night, one of the sales people shouted at Jen. It didn’t go down well. Perhaps it’s the result of being under the Soviet yoke for so long…or am I just over sensitive…:)

I have a lot to write regarding the memorial, but think it prudent to keep it to myself for now.

Heading for the border.

Leaving the memorial we drove directly to the Georgia border 200+ k’s away. A beautiful dual lane highway recently built with funds from the Asia Bank, and gorgeous countryside. Thirty k’s from the border, the lovely road stopped. What followed was more like Africa. Semi trailers, cars, vans all swerving from one side of the road to the other to avoid at times, massive pot holes.

Once out of Armenia, into Georgia, where another shouting match took place, with one of the customs people. For residency reasons, Jen’s name is the only one on the vehicle papers. It’s always fraught, as passengers usually have to go through immigration remote from the vehicle. Of course when I show the vehicle papers and my passport they want to know why my name is not on the registration papers. We usually get by but this time the smart arse officer would not listen to my explanation, despite having gone through the whole explanation with his associate, started shouting at me. My heated response quietened him down and we managed to exit without further aggravation, or arrest…:)

Back into Turkiye.

The decision required, which way back across this vast country, will we go?

Having taken a rather central inward course, we decided a Black Sea coastal journey would give us a different perspective of the country. Plus, we are hoping there will be more camping places.

By 4.15pm and with menacing clouds and the light fading by the second, finding a place to camp was becoming paramount. WEe had just driven through a torrential hail storm that threatened to smash the windscreen. Below the road and about 50m from it, the shell of a stone cottage beckoned investigation. Inside it was flat and grassy, but also covered in stinging nettles as Jen quickly determined. “How will we get down to it, and into it” Jen pleaded!

Photo taken the next morning, which dawned beautifully sunny.

It was a tight fit, getting Poki through the gap in the wall, but we did it. Hurriedly erecting the Caranex and not a minute toon soon, as the storm we had driven through, caught us up. The buildings walls provided great protection from the strong winds and privacy from the main road.

Who had lived in the cottage, and why had they left? Maybe the answer to that will follow in a later edition?

Many will know that my daughter and family have been exploring South America in their Mercedes, converted French fire engine camper. Sarah has been recording their journey by blog. Grand daughter Charley has made her first contribution to the journey in what I felt such a beautiful way, I’d like to share it with you. Click on the link: Continue reading, and share your thoughts.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY – by CHARLEY

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