Food and Shopping

18/10/2025

We stopped at a large mall to spend the £170 we had left over from the van repairs. J came away with jeans and a top.

Still with cash left we stopped at a seaside resort next to a C15 bridge built by Sinan the architect to carry Ottoman troops. He features in a book club read … The Architect’s Apprentice.

Dinner a lot more expensive and very disappointing. I had Roquefort salad, but the cheese was flabby and tasteless. It certainly had never been to Europe, let alone France. Perhaps we should choose destinations by the food!

Fantastic Fanari

19/11/2025

Filled with diesel just before the border, as it’s just under £1/ltr. Paid cash. A quick two item purchase in a supermarket got rid of the rest of the cash.

At the border, James was allowed to stay in Jez rather than walk through as a pedestrian. Issue with the van reg … the vehicle had not been registered as entering Turkey from Georgia. We have had this issue at some motorway tolls. The 1 is a number not an i, said I. Aah, never seen that said he. I didn’t bother explaining about a private plate. Two cursory glances inside from the hab door. Didn’t even open the garages. We could have illegally imported the dog I had liked, as no one was interested in Corrie or wanted to see her passport. Took just over an hour.

Onward to Fanari where we stopped on the way to Tr. Two BG vans that later departed and a UK van. We’ve not seen a UK motorhome in 3.5 months. Mary and Tony joined us for a drink whilst we ate. And then for a nightcap in Jez. Lovely evening.

I WhatsApp called my father’s 89th birthday party.

We had a great time in Turkey, but we decided the SE corner that we missed out on due to van repairs in Ankara, could stay missed. I had particularly wanted to see the stone heads at mount Nemrut, but just not worth the driving distance. We may re-visit Istanbul at some point by plane, but out of tourist season!

Georgia we would bolt back to anytime. Loved it. Amazing diverse scenery for such a small place. And fabulous food.