A good start to the day, hitting the road about 10.00 hrs and picking up a lift in a truck to my requisite junction. There was quite a long walk after that and around midday I sat in the shade with a group of garage workers for about half an hour.
I soon found a lift to Silifke with an oil tanker driver and his kid. After recent experiences, I decided to make it clear from the start that I had no intention of paying for the ride. In fact, on this occasion I would have been happy to. The scenery was quite spectacular –
…at first, flat plain; mountains beyond; then right across mountains; green trees; brown/grey earth, blue sky, white rock, just rising steeply, ruggedly and even subtly, and falling likewise; little dwellings here and there…shepherds, ponies with packs, old shawled women in oversize dresses…
We arrived at Silifke around 16.30 hrs:
…usual tea in garage, with squirrel pissing on my map!
After a short walk, there was more sitting in the shade, this time with a man and lots of little kids. He took me to see some capitals from Roman and Byzantine columns in a museum garden. My travelogue records they were not very interesting, but it was kind of the man to show me.
Back in the road again around 17.00 hrs and a child gave me a red carnation, which I used to adorn my backpack. I stopped for more tea in a cafe and then met three young guys with bikes. One gave me a lift on the back of his bike for half a mile, and then he let me ride it alone for another half a mile while he walked alongside. There was then a walk of another 2 or 3 km until I arrived in the small town of Tasucu around 19.30 hrs and soon found a cheap hotel. I had a meal of what I described as…
…four tiny bits of “beef burger”, with lemon juice and two slices of tomato.
Today’s more sophisticated me understands this was probably kofta.
And where will I be ending up tomorrow?
Clues: Heading west to a seaside town famous for bananas and strawberries.
Psychologist on the Move 