Road-tripping Across Turkey
The snow came thick and fast, hitting the windscreen with relentless ferocity. My wipers churned, desperately trying to clear the way as I sped up the icy roads, snow-capped mountains steaming away from me on either side. Five hundred miles. From the bustling streets of Istanbul to the ancient ruins of Olympos, this was the plan. The traffic had started off fierce; we had jostled for space amongst trucks and cars, horns beeping, wheels spinning on the icy roads, passing mosques and bazaars, silver clouds gliding above us as we crossed the bridge from Europe to Asia… Istanbul is the only city in the world which straddles two continents and, for centuries, has been the gateway to Asia. Silks and spices, trinkets and traditions, soldiers and merchants, spies and princes, all had flowed along this historical route. Leaving the city behind, the traffic had quickly died down, it appeared many Turks had opted to stay inside and I couldn’t say I blamed them; the snow was turning the roads...