We debate where next and agree to disagree on the destination. Craig wants to press on North and I want to stay south/west then head north. What a nice situation to be in! The D950 out of Mardin towards Diyarbakir is excellent condition. After a quick stop at Migros supermarket in the new city we head to the countryside. Pronouncing half the Turkish names is a struggle but throw in dual naming and we are completely lost. The majority of the towns seem to have both a Turkish and Kurdish name, poor GPS is even confused.
The whole Mardin province is an agricultural area producing wheat, barley, and sesame. Angora goats are raised for mohair and there is a small cotton and woollen weaving industry. In addition to Turks, the province has large populations of Arabs and Kurds, which is more evident as we approach Diyarbakir.
The mass complex of buildings and walls that stretches for miles is called a Diyarbakir. The name given to the city by the Arab Bakr tribe and means ‘place of the Bakr’. This huge city is an area the FCO recommend you avoid unless essential. It can be a highly volatile city with sudden Kurdish protests and demonstrations. This is the city were 1000’s of Kurdish refugees fled in PKK war in 90’s. It is also renowned for pick pocketing and badly behaved kids. After having a bad experience of kids the other night, we glad sail through the city without even a glance.
The street are full of veiled, henna-tattooed women, and men wearing baggy trousers and traditional headdresses or flat caps. It clearly is predominately Kurdish. Concrete apartment blocks and half built houses line the highway. Crowded pavements as kids squat inches from the traffic and men drink tea. We expect military and police presence, but nothing. With all the hype around Kurds and the amount of military check points near Mount Ararat, we expected more. We are surprised – we try and rationalise but can’t. Clearly something does not stack up but chancing of finding out what will be impossible. The check points are replaced by giant billboards, the first we’ve seen in Turkey.
At Diyarbakir, we change to the D360, a shuddery road that shakes and rattles us to pieces. Well at least we have a wash on in the garage that should be nicely swooshed. By 5pm we reach our destination, Nemrut Dagi. We park up at the visitors centre and make a mad dash for it.
Our Bumble free parking spot at Nemrut Dagi GPS position N037.969023, E038.731573
The route from the centre to the top of Nemrut Mountain (about 1 km) must be travelled on an official minibus, which costs 5TL. It drops you next to a ruined building, which once served as a ticket booth, but is now a rubble scar on the landscape. From here, you climb to the top of Nemrut along one of two paths that lead quite steeply uphill. You have to walk the last leg of the trip, which takes at least half an hour if you are brisk (click to enlarge).
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- Mount Nemrut
We made sunset just in time and the views were amazing but we really didn’t get chance to see the famous heads, so we will be back tomorrow at sunset!
I want to tell you why I think your blog is the best I found so far, on the subject of traveling and adventure. First of all, you are being yourselves, fun, adventurous and cool (instead of pretending to be something you are not). This shines through your work beautifully. As a reader, I find this to be genuine, fun, informative and inspiring. Showing life as it is happening. Your message is clear and at the same time entertaining. This is a very positive aspect because your writing and other content are making a positive difference in readers’ lives. I would encourage you to write a book about traveling (you will influence even more people who will find your story very inspiring).
Secondly, I find your website to be very clean, inoffensive and showing a great deal of respect for others. This type of content is not so easily found. But, it makes your website very appealing to keep returning and to enjoy the traveling experiences along with you. The genuine, adventurous, informative, inspiring and pure blog and photos is what makes your website the best adventure and traveling for us motorhomers.
Oh my, lost for words Dave, thank you so much x
Hello I hope this message finds you well. Excellent post and photos as always but Inhave a auestion for you… I would like to say your posts have been super helpful in regards to motorhoming. I would like to know if you have a link to Amazon solar panels, I would like to purchase some
If not I understand
We didn’t get the solar from Amazon and it wouldn’t be right to give you a link to product we have not used. But here are the details of the panels we used. https://ourbumble.com/solar-panel-installation/
Amazing photos and adventures as usual, really admire your nerve, as always
Wow.. where in Turkey is this please? l didn’t see these when l was there. Thanks
The Turks refer to it as Nemrut Dagi, if you scroll to the bottom of the post there is a map of our location
Wow!! Joanne I think your travels this year have been amazing. I don’t know how you find all these amazing places. This one looks like a film set.
Love the travel photos, when are the videos being posted ?
Haha no videos Jay otherwise we’d have no time travelling
Fantastic Joanne your seeing places way off the normal tourers places. Thanks for your updates
Good to hear from you Phil x
Oh wow! Turkey never ceases to amaze does it Joanne!!
It is brilliant Gillian