TURKEY

Location - South east Europe/Middle East; Capital - Ankara; Population - 50 million; Currency - Turkish Lire MORE TURKEY

From Batumi in Georgia it's just over 15km by minibus to the Turkish border at Sarpi. From there I took a taxi to Hopa (minbuses were waiting to fill up but I felt they were going nowhere fast) then a 1.5hr bus ride to Rize, returning the same day - October 2019.

The 5 Turkish Lire note featuring Ataturk

The Black Sea coast at Rize

There's several seafront cafes and restaurants so it's time for Turkish tea, which is grown nearby - Rize

Comfy beanbag chairs overlooking the Black Sea - Rize

I chose Rize as it's the first appealing Black Sea town after the Georgian border, and doable as a day trip

A little further down are a few small marinas - Rize

Take a walk along the waterfront - Rize

The town centre - Rize

On the left is President Erdogan next to what seem to be lines from a military song - Rize

A spot of military propaganda set in front of the Turkish flag - Rize

Posters of current Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan are commonplace - Rize

Seyh Mosque, the town's main mosque, in the town centre - Rize

And Erdogan isn't too far away - Rize

A steep road leads up to the former castle, which is now a tea garden, the perfect place to sit back - Rize

The coastal views from here are fantastic - Rize

The local marina - Rize

Not a bad place for an outdoor cafe - Rize

Many of the hillsides have been converted to tea terraces, which is commercially produced in the region - Rize

A mosque minaret rises next to the tea garden - Rize

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is the founder of modern day Turkey and a much revered figure - Rize

The silhouetted face of Ataturk. There's direct buses from Rize straight to the Georgian border at Sarpi, no need to change at Hopa

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LINKS

www.goturkey.com - Turkish tourist board

www.evisa.gov.tr - online Turkish eVisa application

www.tcdd.gov.tr - Turkish railways

www.turkeytravelplanner.com - bus travel advice

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