Turkey is so not Europe.... It should be in 'Middle East'.
Anyway, few pieces of information which I recently discovered, while driving 3.500 km around East Turkey, 15th to 23rd August:
Anyway, few pieces of information which I recently discovered, while driving 3.500 km around East Turkey, 15th to 23rd August:
- Motel Mirkelam (Birecik) is closed, perhaps for good? There are no other reasonable options in Birecik. In Nizip (18 km W), there is Beger Otel, otherwise good but with an underpowered ac & fridge and some sticky (nicotine) surfaces.
- Cesme Pansiyon, Nemrut Dagi, is in ruins. Stayed at Euphrat Hotel. Power on/off, had to give up dinner after 2 hours of waiting...
- For Göksu Delta, Hotel Göksu (Silifke) was more peaceful than Tasucu options and not crowded.
- Cukurova Suit Hotel, Osmaniye, is recommended, just like Hotel Eden's at Van. In Muradiye, Hotel Gokdem Royal was closed.
- Iraq Babblers were plentiful at Birecik Northern Gravel Pits, with interesting mating behavior.
- See-see Partridges were best seen at Ugurcuk (N Birecik).
- At Ceylanpinar, 8 Red-wattled Lapwings were easily located at Altinbasak Creek (just below the first village, on the right, along the tarmac road to extensive agricultural lands).
- Mongolian Finches were seen at 1.5 km S of Ishak Pasa Sarayi (2), at Gülizar (2.600 m pass location S of Dogubayazit; 5 birds) and at Serpmetas Lava Fields site (2). At Gülizar I managed to see other goodies, too, such as Grey-necked Bunting, before being questioned and ordered to leave by military. At Serpmetas I parked my car so that it could not be seen by others and was left in peace. Saw a fine (Indian) Grey Wolf while approaching Caldiran.
- No security problems, except traffic on the Tacusu-Gazipasa-Alanya coast, a very unattractive tourist trap region.