Having left behind the tomato/aubergine growing valleys along the coast as we headed for the mountains we passed through vines and then cherry orchards.
We stayed for twonights at the Sabak Pensiyon whilst Pete and another group of birders got their totals increased! It was fabulous scenery and similar to the Picos so we had some lovely walks and cooled down a bit after the heat of the coast. The family were lovely and Cath had breakfast with them whilst the birders chased snowcocks.this was in the mountains behind Silifke at a place called
From there we went to Gaziantep (pistachio country) calling at a lovely valley on the way for more birds...met up with the other two groups we had seen before.
Finally found hotel recommended in Rough Guide more by luck than judgment..Cath did some brilliant driving through the city !Met a friendly policeman who was delighted to practice his english . Found somewhere for yet another kebab then turned in...was an exciting night with some altercation going on in the next room..a woman shouting and running out onyto the street finally the police were called and it all calmed down (don't tell Mum this bit !!)
It was a shame because the hotel had been really helpful finding us a parking place and people offering to get in the car with Pete to negotiate the one way system.
So off we went tne next day to Birecik near the Syrian border for more birding but also a lovely little town once we got the hang of it. Stayed in the motel by the petrol station ..strange place there was never anyone on reception !! Pete early birding produced a good list and we both walked up a little gorge later on then retreated to the motel to avoid the 33 degrees in the afternoon, Found the owls in the tea garden then went for somethingto eat. Next day more birding and ate at alovely place by the river ...so lucky to be by such an historic river (Euphrates) had one of those moments watching the sun set on the little houses on the opposite bank. Went early this morning back to the gorge and managed to miss standing on a snake(DTM) and also had a surreal conversation with a man with a gun about peanuts we think he was probably after the birds we were trying to find...he was very pleasant though and gave us a vine leaf and pistachio fruit each,
We are now at Nemrut Dagi and have been up to see the burial mound of Antiochus and the famous heads. fabulous views from the top all around ...the flat plains of the Mesopatamia on one side and mountains as far as you can see on the other.
Must go now as the meal has just been put in front of me at our Pansiyon in Karadut village.