Van and Kars- Turkey



It is 8am and I am awoken to the sound of someone driving up and down the streets with a siren and a PA system repeating something over and over again in Turkish.  Accompanying this are helicopters relentlessly overhead.  Although I would love to ignore the commotion, I decide the smart thing to do is to ask what’s up.  The city of Van is located in southeast Turkey, the hotspot for the Turkish Kurdish conflict.  Things are noticeably tense, understandably so since a few days prior there was a bombing that killed some Turkish soldiers.  I head downstairs but unfortunately no one speaks English.  All they can say is it’s finished.  Good enough for me.  Later I learn it was parking control and the helicopters are normal for this region J 

Van is a nice city on a lake formed in a volcanic crater.  But I am still extremely guarded after my visit to Iraqi Kurdistan and I spend most of the time walking the city with my angry face on- don’t talk to me, don’t even look at me. 

My next stop was Kars in the far northeast, the main attraction being the ruins in Ani.  Another interesting area since it is right on the border of Armenia meaning there are distinct no-go areas that I am strangely attracted to...

Below are some pics for your viewing pleasure.  Although I am currently back in Cairo, I will post one more blog on Turkey to cover my final week there.  Thinking of home but happily abroad,

Carrie 

Van

Ani

 Kars