We did not roll the dice. We planned more with the idea that plans are able to be changed. We decided to cycle through Europe again. As we already travelled through a large part of Europe by bike, there are still peripheral countries to discover. Our experiences, ‘overtourism’, capitalist Western Europe, high season with hot temperatures are all included. After careful consideration, we have discarded the idea of cycling in the south outside the borders of Europe. Exploring North Africa, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco by land is difficult or impossible. The border between Algeria and Morocco is closed.
After a winter full of wonderful meetings with familiar people, our children and friends, we really have the travel fever.
The proven starting procedure runs smoothly. We really can recommend the airline Sunexpress with its friendly stewardesses and stewards, as well as comfortable seats with legroom at the emergency exit.
After a three-and-a-half hour flight at 9pm, we land and check into the Hotel Mai Inci, located on the edge of Antalya’s old town.
We soak up the Turkish hospitality. A good start is made at the Sanli restaurant with live music just a street away.
The week-long ‘105 Years of the Turkish Parliament and Atatürk Children’s Festival’ comes to an end on the main square with a final concert and fireworks. Pure joie de vivre!
Atatürk, born as Mustafa Kemal in 1881, was elected 1st President of the Turkish Republic in 1923. He secularised and Europeanised the new state in a tour de force. In 1934, parliament honoured his achievements by naming him Atatürk (= Father of the Turks). If that is not a reason to celebrate!
We have not cycled a single metre yet and have already taken a rest day!
We get a good night’s sleep and Rolf screws the bikes together the next morning. The morning is so bright that we stay another day in the cosy hotel and the vibrant city of Antalya. Since 1970, Antalya has developed from a sleepy little town with around 40,000 inhabitants into a modern economic metropolis, and in the 1980s it became a big name in international tourism. At the beginning of the 1990s, it already had 450,000 inhabitants, in 2021 the population was over 2 million and there is still no end to its growth. We let ourselves drift through the alleyways, enjoy the wonderfully warm air and remember the Turkish customs we learnt about on the Black Sea coast in 2023. There is tea and Simits, picnics in the park, well-known supermarket brands and Efes.
We leave the beautiful city of Antalya.