From the northern Greek city of Alexandroupoli it is approximately 300km to Istanbul. On the 29th of May I left Alexandroupoli and crossed the border into Turkey. I then had about a week to explore Thrace, the region of Turkey between Greece and Istanbul, and of course the incredible city of Istanbul itself.
By now I realised I had a few spare days to reach Istanbul in so I slowed my pace, except on 29 May when I rode nearly 150km from Alexandroupoli to Sarkӧy.
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[Previous stage - Greece]
 On 29 May 2011, after crossing the border into Turkey and cycling across the Evros river.
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The first street sign I saw showing the distance to Istanbul. Having ridden here from Vienna, I now felt on the home strait.
29 May 2011. |
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The route to Sarkӧy passed through a range of hills and this wine growing region.
29 May 2011. |
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I reached the coastal town of Sarkӧy on 29 May and stayed in this little guesthouse. It had been a huge long and exhausting day, one of the longest yet at148km.
29 May 2011. |
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The central pedestrianized street of Sarkӧy.
30 May 2011. |
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Sarkӧy
30 May 2011. |
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The coastline between Sarkӧy and Tekirdag.
30 May 2011. |
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I stayed in this little motel in the coastal village of Gazikӧy on 30 May 2011. |
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The little village of Gazikӧy. |
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The coastal road between Gazikӧy and Tekirdag. |
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The coastal road between Gazikӧy and Tekirdag. |
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Picturesque coastline between Gazikӧy and Tekirdag.
31 May 2011. |
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A little campsite east of Tekirdag. |
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The Dardenelles peninsula. This photo is taken from one of the hills that were bitterly fought over between ANZACs and Turks in the Gallipoli campaign of WWI. |
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The Lone Pine cemetry on the Gallipoli peninsula. One of the fiercest battles of the Gallipoli campagin was fought here in 1915. |
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The steep hills surrounding ANZAC cove. In 1915 ANZACs fought to gain control of these hills in the face of heavy fire from the summits by Turkish troops. |
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The military importance of these Gallipoli hills is obvious when you see the commanding views from the top. |
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This hill was the most important strategic objective of the Gallipoli war and control of this hill meant control of the Dardenelles. The ANZACs eventually took this hill with heavy losses in 1915, but were unable to hold their position. The Turks took it back a couple of days later, and the ANZACs never regained it prior to their withdrawal in late 1915. |
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The Blue Mosque, Istanbul. |
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The Blue Mosque, Istanbul. |
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The Blue Mosque, Istanbul. |
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The Blue Mosque, Istanbul. |
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The Blue Mosque, Istanbul. |
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The Blue Mosque, Istanbul. |
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The Blue Mosque, Istanbul. |
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The Blue Mosque, Istanbul. |
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The Blue Mosque, Istanbul. |
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Ayasofya, Istanbul. |
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Ayasofya, Istanbul. |
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Ayasofya, Istanbul. |
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Feeding the birds. New Queen Mother's Mosque. |
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View of the Bosphorous from the Topkapi Palace grounds, Istanbul. |
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View of the Bosphorous from the Topkapi Palace grounds, Istanbul. |
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A little street of restaurants and cafes in Sultanahmet, Istanbul. |
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A fort on the Bosphorous, Istanbul. |
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The Blue Mosque at night, Istanbul. |
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The Spice Bazaar, Istanbul. Yum! |
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