We left our quiet overnight spot at the Men of Rock parking area and drove back down to the main coastal highway heading east towards the big city of Mersin (pop 1 million).
Not many cars on the road, and we think that might have something to do with the price of fuel. When we arrived in Turkiye January 22, we paid 13.5 lira per liter. Today, it is now 23 lira per liter. Yes, I know that is happening all over the world, but fuel was already expensive for the Turkish people at 13.5 lira per liter.
Now, at 23 lira per liter it has to be affecting how most people use their vehicles. It now costs about 10% of the average salary here just to fill up your car one time.
This doesn't take any expensive fuel!
Once we got into the outskirts of the city, there was still lots of traffic!
There is a toll road avoiding the city, but we've decided not to use the toll roads. They aren't really very expensive, but you have to buy a toll pass at the post office, and register your vehicle. Then put a credit on your account, which can be reimbursed once you leave the country.
But we find the side roads to be more interesting, plus Max seems to get better fuel mileage when he is going slower than typical highway speeds. And, we're not really in any rush to get anywhere anyhow.
The plan for yesterday was to find an overnight spot on the western edge of the city, and then get up early Saturday morning to drive through the city itself. We didn't really have any interest in seeing the city. We found a parking spot that others have used to overnight, but it didn't feel right. Lots of broken bottles lying around, and the neighborhood seemed lower class. We decided to move on. Sometimes you just have to trust your instincts.
We found a much better spot about 7 kms further into the city on the waterfront. A nice neighborhood, with street parking beside the waterfront park. There was already one German motorhome there who looked like he had been there for a while.
We parked up and went for a walk.
Waterfront looking towards the center of Mersin.
Really nice waterfront walking, running, and cycling paths.
Lots of freighters out in the sea waiting to come into the big port city of Mersin.
The waterfront parks are decorated with replica ruins.
They have enough real ruins, not sure why they would need fake ones!
Nice and sunny, but it was chilly and windy.
Instead of park benches, they have park swings.
Fancy glitter gold paint job on this Porsche.
This morning, we head through the big city!
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And in Canada...
Park swings - what a marvelous idea!! I could sit there for hours, reading and people watching.
ReplyDeleteWe loved the idea of the park swings, more places should do this. People were definitely using them too! :-)
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