Day 7 - Eastern Turkey

19 hours on a train in your own cabin isn't that bad actually! I rather enjoyed it! The gentle but persistent rocking of the carriage and rhythmic 'clatter clatter' of wheels on track had something of a womb-like quality about it and didn't grate at all. The views as the landscape changed from green to brown to desert kept me entertained throughout and I caught up on some much needed sleep. Theres a guy down the corridor who looks after you. I got a key for my door (had to ask), everyone else seems better prepared than me but no surprise there. I'd do it again tomorrow if I had to, no problem.

As pleasant as the train was, Erzurum isn't. By far the major attraction of Erzurum is the train station. Second would be the telegraph pole next to the station. Everything else I have laid my eyes on so far, including my hotel, comes an extremely poor third. It puts me in mind of a grim 70's BBC drama like 'Survivors' or 'Threads'. Except in the case of the latter, a 1970's post-nuclear holocaust Sheffield, with all it's horrors, depressing future and dead whippets, would have been a more preferable place to visit than Erzurum on a Sunday night. 

No-one and I mean no-one speaks English. If someone tells you 'yes' they do, they're lying. They just know the word 'yes'. It does make finding a bus ticket office frightfully difficult, then there's actually buying the ticket. Again, awkward. Still, my vehicle impressions are coming along a treat. It took me 3 hours and an abortive bus ride (miscommunication between me and a policeman) to finally get tickets for the next leg under my belt. The alternative would be for me to learn a few words of Turkish. I feel a bit guilty that I haven't. 

In case it doesn't come through in my words, having a great time. 

Dinner has arrived.