Gallipoli to Istanbul Eight

Leave the Houses at 6.30 to ride the 7kms to Anzac Cove with our tail lights shining in the dawn.Slightly surreal to arrive so easily to this much-seen view on TV and we are the only ones here. All is very manicured since the Anzac’s landed 100 year’s ago. The horrible daily reality of battle and just survival, can still be appreciated however. We then rode to Lone Pine. Seriously, how often have we heard of that place in our lifetimes? Again, the place to ourselves. By the time we arrived at the memorial to Ataturk, a few cars were joining us.  Eerie to understand that there are still the remains of unfound soldiers amongst the hills we were riding through.
Back to the Houses for a scrummy breakfast prepared by our host.
Back on the wide highway for an hour or so and then a right hand turn towards the coast. A local bumpy road through small hillside and coastal villages. Lovely ride that ended at a rustic cafe by the sea for coffee. After the cafe we ascended into the hills for a dramatic windy road through the hills that hugged the coast. Expansive coastal views and also Sunday Turkish drivers! Another seaview venue for lunch and further fresh food using the local produce and seafood.
Now we began to reach the outskirts of Istanbul. We were still 2 hrs away from our hotel but the congestion had started. We were gradually introduced to the realities of coping with 80 million people. The Sunday traffic was relentless on this four sometimes six lane artery. The number of high rise apartment buildings kept my gaping mouth open. As we were getting closer to the city, think Docklands x 100 and then I might be underestimating. The size of the public buildings and several universities!!! At least 35 cargo and tankers anchored offshore. Kilometres of parkland along the Bosphorus lined with trees and with a picnicking family under every one of them. The scale of everything blew my mind.
Suddenly Tony said “We are here!” We turned from a coastal road into the Old City that hugged the end of the European  peninsula and with evidence of the original protective wall. What a relief to turn into the garage and to park and walk away from the bikes. The terrific Primoz would look after them.
Our room has a sneaky view of the sea and we have a sea breeze.
Showered and cooled down, Nicko led us into the old city for dinner. Under the stars we enjoyed refreshing drinks and were highly entertained by Mike trying to get some smoke from his Bong!