tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50882467092461959402024-03-13T00:21:31.887-07:00Travels in MacahelDuring the summer of 2010, Chris Wills, his family and friends travelled for over a period of ten days through the little known region of Macahel. This blog is an account of their story and the people they encountered during their wonderful journey. Macahel is an exceptional region, positioned on the boarder of Turkey and Georgia and only accessible six months of the year. It is regarded by some as one of the most untainted natural environments in Eastern Turkey.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02163388801128962398noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088246709246195940.post-11995549818938669732010-08-29T05:30:00.000-07:002011-01-31T05:41:05.838-08:00Why the Lesser Caucuses and Macahel ?This site is the result of a number of journeys I’ve undertaken with my family while travelling across mountainous regions in Eastern Europe and the Himalayas.<div><br /><div> <div><i>If it's just pictures of Macahel you are after, scroll down or navigate to section </i><i><a href="http://travelsinmacahel.blogspot.com/2010/08/onwards-to-camili-main-village-in.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;">Camili - the main village in Macahel</span></a></i><i><a href="http://travelsinmacahel.blogspot.com/2010/08/onwards-to-camili-main-village-in.html"> </a>and beyond.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Our wild adventures started while my daughters were young, riding in Transylvania in the Carpathian Mountains. Inspired by this gripping experience, we took a trip to ride across the Balkans in Bulgaria. These trips prepared us for our most exciting trip, riding through the Caucuses in Tusheti/ Georgia on the boarders of Chechnya and Dagestan. Discovering<span style="color:#cc6600;"> </span><a href="http://travelsintusheti.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#cc6600;">Tusheti</span> </a>on horseback proved to be a life changing experience for all of us and we repeated the trip in 2008 when found ourselves embroiled in a war zone as Russia attempted to take control of South Ossetia from the ever-resilient Georgians.</div><div>Buoyed up by our Georgian experience we travelled in the winter of 2008 to the Chinese province of Yunnan in the Himalayas, living with ethnic tribes and travelling by minivan and mules. <a href="http://travelsinyunnan.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#cc6600;">China</span></a> was to be our final trip as a complete family. Our eldest daughter started out on her own amazing adventures in 2009/10 travelling through Turkey, Georgia, India and Nepal. Perhaps there's something in the water.<br /><br />Our time in Tusheti inspired us as a family encouraging me to discover more about the Lesser Caucuses in Southern Georgia running down the border into Northeast Turkey. This region had been ruled by the Georgians until the late 15th century and held a magical lure for me and my wife. However our youngest daughter was thoroughly fed up with mountains, horses and what appeared to be the only type of holiday she was ever likely to experience. With this in mind we teamed up with some old friends and their youngest daughter. My thinking was the combination of great friends with a different perspective on the world might act as the antidote to her irresponsible parents. Well it was worth a try.<br /><br />This account of our final adventure as a now diminished family unit before our youngest flees to experience the world for herself is a sort of introduction to the little know world of Macahel, which we travelled through over a period of ten days in the summer of 2010. Macahel is an exceptional place tucked away in the Lesser Caucuses. Half Georgian half Turkish, it is only accessible with a permit provided by the local authorities and regarded by some as one of the most exceptional regions in Eastern Turkey.</div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02163388801128962398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088246709246195940.post-3364809832180682382010-08-27T00:01:00.000-07:002011-01-31T04:23:06.914-08:00Off to Lakoban<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOGHu6SSk_y_QMZKSUAa9oX0LRarrGajguL_Hphh28lkShq8iBVC4O-7V2rFG75zsyzkh-8iJu55Jwu-zKyBjNdxhALRypRM5qmXzhi1aQjkWX-PX7_v4jmYk4hCdNyXlLbJRT4aCcC3M/s1600/Hussein.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521126420989454146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 360px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOGHu6SSk_y_QMZKSUAa9oX0LRarrGajguL_Hphh28lkShq8iBVC4O-7V2rFG75zsyzkh-8iJu55Jwu-zKyBjNdxhALRypRM5qmXzhi1aQjkWX-PX7_v4jmYk4hCdNyXlLbJRT4aCcC3M/s400/Hussein.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Our man Hüseyin naturalist and bear expert.</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The prelude to this journey can be found in the section called 'Finding Hassan' ( see links at the top of this page ) which ends after many adventures with my family and friends meeting up with our guide Hassan from Macahel at the town of Hoppa on the Blacksea at the border between Georgia and Northeast Turkey . We pick up the story after we found our driver Mavlute with his van along with our interpreter Hüseyin. Our journey to Macahel was about to begin.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After eventually finding Hassan the tension and anxiety of the past four hours swiftly drifted away. We had at last embarked upon our journey to Macahel. Our van slipped quietly into the busy traffic while </span><span style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hüseyin started to grill us with all manner of questions. He appeared very keen to understand this unlikely troupe and we later discovered his idea of English tourists was very different from who he had just picked up with Hassan. We were not typical hikers but two middle aged couples with their younger daughters. We later understood Hüseyin had only previously met English urban academics who in his book were unfamiliar with the type of world we were about to encounter and I suspect demanding requiring showers, hot water and all manner of creature comforts. As we made our way out of Hoppa, Hüseyin revealed his credentials and how he had come to be with Hassan. We soon learned Hüseyin Ambarlı, to use his full name, was and still is an academic studying for his PHD in Ankara. He was working as a wildlife researcher studying brown bear ecology and human bear-conflict in the region. Hüseyin had met with Hassan while using Macahel as a base and had got to know him well over that period. A couple of weeks previously they had met up again and Hassan had invited Hüseyin along for the trip to act as interpreter and guide. We were overjoyed to discover we had a professional naturalist on our trip. Sadly Hüseyin was only to be with us for the first part of our trip but his skill and insight was to be invaluable. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmLNiDNhJWUCZ2qdVkI9IyoMtijyp0L5N_zK7a3oGeFUxs-1NM0XpC8Tk9EgkTWWrFaYD71btOuP4zexaE6qabKIPqiepM5wnuliN4N104fbszJ729OH-S5FjWIdxA6HgS1pTknJVcp1Z/s1600/Mevflute+at+the+wheel.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521126964603611090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmLNiDNhJWUCZ2qdVkI9IyoMtijyp0L5N_zK7a3oGeFUxs-1NM0XpC8Tk9EgkTWWrFaYD71btOuP4zexaE6qabKIPqiepM5wnuliN4N104fbszJ729OH-S5FjWIdxA6HgS1pTknJVcp1Z/s400/Mevflute+at+the+wheel.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Mavlute at the wheel to Lakoban</span></span></span><br /></p><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><span style="color:#333333;">As we shared our stories and discovered more about each other Mavlute steadily drove our van out into the lush countryside and up into the hills. The landscape began to soften and we came to a small town with a simple petrol station where Mavlute pulled up. To our surprise a sprightly young lad jumped aboard. We later learned this was Gem, Hassan’s youngest son who was going to accompany us over the next ten days and curiously many more people were going to accompany us along the way .Rarely introduced ,they would just become part of our group. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><span style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><span style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_-RPDgetH41l_abzRasyKwqxc8oKbfE4inWFDf9uecyKc5ZTjSF-1M7AIvuw5QfbhB0h3fudbLcjRAuupCI52mG_CggQ3HdE7a8Ny9U6LgvNVgIMPq7CUvc4P2Sd_Nj8Pgs1OMzB1fN2/s1600/Gem.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527626147326489298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 261px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_-RPDgetH41l_abzRasyKwqxc8oKbfE4inWFDf9uecyKc5ZTjSF-1M7AIvuw5QfbhB0h3fudbLcjRAuupCI52mG_CggQ3HdE7a8Ny9U6LgvNVgIMPq7CUvc4P2Sd_Nj8Pgs1OMzB1fN2/s400/Gem.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#cc6600;">Gem was to become an invaluable member of the team .Soon to be a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,102,0)"> great friend of the girls and a credit to his family. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><span style="color:#333333;"><span style="color:#cc6600;"></span><br />Mavlute hit the road and we continued to soak up the mountainous countryside.Small farmsteads littered the hills with their tea plantations hugging the slopes, all neatly clipped like topiary hedges softly following the incline of the hills. The late afternoon sun gently followed us high up into the hills ,castings its rays across this subtropical paradise. Swirling mists could still be seen in some of the valleys and Hüseyin told us how the warm Black Sea winds rise up into the mountains creating a heady and mysterious climate. The air was humid and hot but as we drove higher the heat gave way to a cooler refreshing breeze as we continued to climb passing massive excavations below Artvin ,soon to be a reservoir to feed Turkey's industrial ambitions for the 2001 st century.</span></span></span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkKdh3ClT-nhMpl_kxb0rZTHvhJbBbd1HotqeA5aErb_fd8cYHvPx1uDeZdcWDX4g11UqI-jq8mHyt6EfDsmD_5VzOJhzKkONUI67kHXBpVRl_7yYrsGZmNNQ0Mx0SLTlnW0sa2Ar4BzT/s1600/dusk+looking+over+Artvin+and+thenew+resvour.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526441077904937042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkKdh3ClT-nhMpl_kxb0rZTHvhJbBbd1HotqeA5aErb_fd8cYHvPx1uDeZdcWDX4g11UqI-jq8mHyt6EfDsmD_5VzOJhzKkONUI67kHXBpVRl_7yYrsGZmNNQ0Mx0SLTlnW0sa2Ar4BzT/s400/dusk+looking+over+Artvin+and+thenew+resvour.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Man's destruction or simply reservoir</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">excavations? The town of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Artvin looks down on these monumental excavations </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">as the sun drops below the mountains.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><span style="color:#333333;">Mesmerised by the drone of the van our world swiftly took a jolt as Mavlute turned off with a lurch from the main mountain road onto a rough track and still we climbed.</span></span></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><span style="color:#333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDFfxifb8C38nTZGbtzgL8juPje08noPTal0w_mpGtIBqZL-FmJ36WXmLa_yZrDzyBsvs5YjolKDvbkPLAbK6mK3l8e-Bl2H6MncVW6M3Ly8QClQaRZWP570fmuZ9N_uVqlpuBQ4dfNkA/s1600/Van+on+the+trail+to+Lakoban.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524839403593310338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDFfxifb8C38nTZGbtzgL8juPje08noPTal0w_mpGtIBqZL-FmJ36WXmLa_yZrDzyBsvs5YjolKDvbkPLAbK6mK3l8e-Bl2H6MncVW6M3Ly8QClQaRZWP570fmuZ9N_uVqlpuBQ4dfNkA/s400/Van+on+the+trail+to+Lakoban.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#cc6600;">The road turned to a rough track as we climbed higher pursued by the swirling mist.</span> </span></span></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><span style="color:#333333;">As the sun slipped behind the mountains the track grew narrow and uneven and still we climbed. The road got steeper and each bend in the track revealed the valley far below vanishing into the dusk. Soon all we could see was the world picked out by Mavlutes headlamps and the thought of the terrifying drop down the side of the mountain only heightened our sense of adventure.</span></span></span></div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><span style="color:#333333;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToCtZ8huUB2uS1Jwdnes13ox7e7jxcLCVBcD1oG0r-1UXUEP0CESRIPCUsM8Q0sHAIUp9vtCWWb9563NJrS9HkclgkM0CmlwIXXO2JwD6bma3Oug3-Kq8dETMPInscfOJNqh0a6fbzoP0/s1600/Night+drive+to+Lakoban.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526438683410459490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToCtZ8huUB2uS1Jwdnes13ox7e7jxcLCVBcD1oG0r-1UXUEP0CESRIPCUsM8Q0sHAIUp9vtCWWb9563NJrS9HkclgkM0CmlwIXXO2JwD6bma3Oug3-Kq8dETMPInscfOJNqh0a6fbzoP0/s400/Night+drive+to+Lakoban.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Our track picked out by Mavlute,s headlights</span> </div><div><br />After a while we lurched from the road into a farmstead surrounded by the sound of cascading water. The rush of the river around us seemed to exclude all other thoughts with only a single light from the house picking out the details of the farm. This was a trout farm and we were collecting our fish for tomorrow but at the dead of night. Hassan was welcomed by our trout farmer and they quickly went to work in what seemed pitch black catching fish with a large net torchlight . The trout ponds were seething with fish which provided a surreal backdrop to this unexpected event. In what seemed tens of minutes we were off again in Mavlutes van with the next days lunch flapping frantically at Hassan’s feet. The road continued to climb and the trees began to thin until the headlamps could only pick out the swirling mists amongst the scrub beside the road.<br />By now we were tired and thinking of the possibility of a bed and a long sleep after an exceptional day .Our van lurched hard to the right and we could see dimly in the headlights shacks squatting high up on the slopes, had we arrived? After a great deal of conversation between Hassan and Mavlute we drove slowly up a steep track. The mists made it difficult to pick out any of the shacks but this at last was to be our home for tonight and a little longer than expected.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><span style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); LINE-HEIGHT: normal">Greeting us at the door was a wonderful family, all smiles and I guess happy to see us, if rather late. Inside the house it was every inch a log cabin. The walls and ceiling all made from sturdy wooden boards and all quite new. Before we could settle down we wearily unpacked the van with our rucksacks and were shown our rooms. Simple and cosy with ample duvets. We soon learned the old house had burned down a while ago and we were in new house which our hosts had built with the idea of taking paying guest, hikers.</span></span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal">Tables were swiftly moved and we had a dining room table fit for a feast within minutes. Our host’s wife and a couple of other women started to load the table with food . After such a long day we were all relieved to eat supper and when finished we piled into our beds. I wished Melissa and Iona good night , I could hear rain tapping on the roof but I had no idea the following day was going to reveal so many surprises.</p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><br /></span></span></div></span></span></span></div></div></span></span></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02163388801128962398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088246709246195940.post-18613038661874954842010-08-26T11:49:00.000-07:002010-12-06T08:35:08.672-08:00Lakoban and a journey delayed<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJktJwIaIvWDksCY9LCRHNwPyb8hoYUaax5d9zOpVVKIdw2n8U4rMdwQ_627KtuHesIM5DQbf4fI-P-aA47BEwgbV9Blre-nf2TMcCkqKTreLUw2PXAs6pTtVTRWQBkqT9tg5OA7cbQmCz/s1600/P1016182.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526865050266951746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJktJwIaIvWDksCY9LCRHNwPyb8hoYUaax5d9zOpVVKIdw2n8U4rMdwQ_627KtuHesIM5DQbf4fI-P-aA47BEwgbV9Blre-nf2TMcCkqKTreLUw2PXAs6pTtVTRWQBkqT9tg5OA7cbQmCz/s400/P1016182.JPG" border="0" /></a>We woke up in the morning with the sun gently rising into a clear blue sky with no sign of what had occurred during the night. While we got dressed and ready for the day our hosts looked anxiously at each other what's more Hassan appeared troubled. The TV was on with a very earnest reporter pointing to flood damage close to Macahel. Hüseyin beckoned to me explaining six people had been caught in the floods during the night and died, furthermore the road to Lakoban was impassable and we would have to stay where we were until the road was fixed.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWbRcVajL29UyWxS6X_5yQHC1p4Ubn94JdvQ4CQEMXFm7smGcM8tBEy5AHKwYFzA-6HxNrQ5UXGMuR7lVN_HP7GdPqzek-5eGDGev1PthIS9nHWum6d2nMKhht9HqabtOculXqPCbmSXU/s1600/P1015874.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526864273803858482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWbRcVajL29UyWxS6X_5yQHC1p4Ubn94JdvQ4CQEMXFm7smGcM8tBEy5AHKwYFzA-6HxNrQ5UXGMuR7lVN_HP7GdPqzek-5eGDGev1PthIS9nHWum6d2nMKhht9HqabtOculXqPCbmSXU/s400/P1015874.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmtMveskh0T5kbPFIp5DXviVlCO8Tgm2MOSOyc3ho8XMDuTloPhF1v_YY8D_k7e61v6AgcVeU5Bhg758-kv0lZWERu4_tbwPesLtGVrTcWCYFla0gWYfh6Mbbkmlh4znh-bKRdQUeZTmD/s1600/P1015873.JPG"></a>This appeared all the more remarkable since the world outside appeared a bit damp but certainly not drenched by any wild downpour from the heavens.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_zW62w58mOBhiWTC1Up9zDmbrqH5Sdk_cR0UlvRX65Qb4Ych2PDPUAC-_Ie9VcQLKbi-jJbmLDlTcFuww3JxqrrewhGpVJlAdW307sdd49I9b0HX_bQZaKByRpEGLslXfZDeHyuRb88R/s1600/Women+in+the+kitchen+Lakoban.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527140035118394114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_zW62w58mOBhiWTC1Up9zDmbrqH5Sdk_cR0UlvRX65Qb4Ych2PDPUAC-_Ie9VcQLKbi-jJbmLDlTcFuww3JxqrrewhGpVJlAdW307sdd49I9b0HX_bQZaKByRpEGLslXfZDeHyuRb88R/s400/Women+in+the+kitchen+Lakoban.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;">Some of the ladies in our host house making magnificent pasta. Move over Italy, this is the real thing</span>. </p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRk0D3YnFLKRsXS54p2F-Ofx7NHGgb4yrRgDcp5w6t4RVHvuNq6D_8v4Ltd5YKcvBhW_vYancCmHY3hNN8PiVDahT2n5Xd2x4LwitXj9JwZIJKIbHiaqfBBZpKpmy6aX-KG935bEkP1D8/s1600/Pasta+making+in+Lakoban+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543786028972945618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRk0D3YnFLKRsXS54p2F-Ofx7NHGgb4yrRgDcp5w6t4RVHvuNq6D_8v4Ltd5YKcvBhW_vYancCmHY3hNN8PiVDahT2n5Xd2x4LwitXj9JwZIJKIbHiaqfBBZpKpmy6aX-KG935bEkP1D8/s400/Pasta+making+in+Lakoban+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteg83o3ZZ-jTvqwsp6Feui1_DE6slv9a2K2JcPqDvtD0iQIJFFLtxuagudvAt_yuOhe7EOnt9GO6674uu6VexLQ3mdWifBUIu1gQWHZWxNLyCUgsuzauR0aGr6w-mS0uMM1DMqjBtYCPY/s1600/bedroom+in+Lakoban.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528358899536658786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteg83o3ZZ-jTvqwsp6Feui1_DE6slv9a2K2JcPqDvtD0iQIJFFLtxuagudvAt_yuOhe7EOnt9GO6674uu6VexLQ3mdWifBUIu1gQWHZWxNLyCUgsuzauR0aGr6w-mS0uMM1DMqjBtYCPY/s400/bedroom+in+Lakoban.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"> The light in our bedroom was coloured by a yellow skylight which cast a warm glow over the room .Very comfortable and clean with a proper shower .</span></p><br /><p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUrlN_34JK8yzbwFA69g1tujOs7Sz8PGtZEf7ohxbYyYhA3jd4574SMrJCXFMkNTU8XMsVreqcEw3cXQkRgMKNLbOR6ocXbSGgYxbCVN5lrrTg1tH8sgSVsgRwT2de-NEPdfNd2Gtrb4Z/s1600/P1015872.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526882729364408946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUrlN_34JK8yzbwFA69g1tujOs7Sz8PGtZEf7ohxbYyYhA3jd4574SMrJCXFMkNTU8XMsVreqcEw3cXQkRgMKNLbOR6ocXbSGgYxbCVN5lrrTg1tH8sgSVsgRwT2de-NEPdfNd2Gtrb4Z/s400/P1015872.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />During breakfast we agreed with Hassan on a plan . While we went for a walk in the mountains the men in the village would attempt to mend the road with what seemed the most basic of equipment.<br /><br /></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w5x-bu9Wu5oMwspLuwsl1WqmG7D9oQP8_T4drLJva7x7FN8ne7Ac5NBksbSnRO82ns0Y2g8_EfLR8WN1SpOMoQzfwFVcNuOPCK5mWTMtTkc9Hvuns4ZRlTC_sYBCzZjYqxSHVUD4hyphenhyphenfh/s1600/Tools++for+the+job+in+lakoban.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527139617900506146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w5x-bu9Wu5oMwspLuwsl1WqmG7D9oQP8_T4drLJva7x7FN8ne7Ac5NBksbSnRO82ns0Y2g8_EfLR8WN1SpOMoQzfwFVcNuOPCK5mWTMtTkc9Hvuns4ZRlTC_sYBCzZjYqxSHVUD4hyphenhyphenfh/s400/Tools++for+the+job+in+lakoban.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The news of the flooding and road no longer passable, although unexpected, seemed in keeping with events so far. So while the men form the village went off to mend the road with what looked like the most basic of equipment Mavlute took us up to the head of the valley from where we could see Macahel and the mountain range before us.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFxxtqAou6E7wxRamKaZYhLQqvpJJTBdshNiaO-TZN8AI8Zo3YmDohIvgQTy_jwW1N7WG1hKDTgPCr6_yGY-8GgBCc1ItLTEobIgTRTDps6lgxCWi3GmAfB9VTP2-Fo66CjtPlX1nn86N/s1600/The+men+in+lakoban.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527139610876986642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFxxtqAou6E7wxRamKaZYhLQqvpJJTBdshNiaO-TZN8AI8Zo3YmDohIvgQTy_jwW1N7WG1hKDTgPCr6_yGY-8GgBCc1ItLTEobIgTRTDps6lgxCWi3GmAfB9VTP2-Fo66CjtPlX1nn86N/s400/The+men+in+lakoban.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We now had time to kill and had planned to explore Lakoban so every detail we encountered was exciting – even the cows with their wonderful headdresses were a novelty.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8arRTKjJ6Cbwd4u_Bug9cQSgWw6lf81ZRf3lmFFXSPchDj7nsm7s3Nj5wcvBDaDptljk6f7bmWYfVwBao62o7ryRv9ahE4sRD4qYCBfyE7wLnudkfacxx7H_ThViF6oSvWcCFfiAEow0/s1600/P1015894.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526883327068102418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8arRTKjJ6Cbwd4u_Bug9cQSgWw6lf81ZRf3lmFFXSPchDj7nsm7s3Nj5wcvBDaDptljk6f7bmWYfVwBao62o7ryRv9ahE4sRD4qYCBfyE7wLnudkfacxx7H_ThViF6oSvWcCFfiAEow0/s400/P1015894.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was apparent the weather was about to close in on us so we swiftly made our way to Lakoban’s famous glacial lake but not fast enough. The rain began to fall as we scrambled back to the van. It wasn’t much fun seeking refuge in the van and we were itching to explore the area.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfLSdW_1Jt7HdnbEg1v11yG8OTkJEnV_SZpEHCtu8NBHM1Cx8ZgLRD_ITfU7cA3zarzLG5EidDz6QibAYAfLhIiT32DCxkMz8l-u5pnoqFJBeePqow6esqNMIbhFhEGbPb-mPaLOSgdy5/s1600/lake+in+Lakoban.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527444448032674866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfLSdW_1Jt7HdnbEg1v11yG8OTkJEnV_SZpEHCtu8NBHM1Cx8ZgLRD_ITfU7cA3zarzLG5EidDz6QibAYAfLhIiT32DCxkMz8l-u5pnoqFJBeePqow6esqNMIbhFhEGbPb-mPaLOSgdy5/s400/lake+in+Lakoban.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigD7V2DV1ShI4wMJfm6naTEOH2FPnCy9boEev4-jQFFS8UNlkgugCJFw9lsKgA3VKtOkpNycDkXWpJGOZPlHILL55gPkYd3ATgvXG7TRjL3oIPq-FYse31Hh_IHU2PrmIWy0PkOXosVdHN/s1600/lake+2+in+lakoban.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527444431738584146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigD7V2DV1ShI4wMJfm6naTEOH2FPnCy9boEev4-jQFFS8UNlkgugCJFw9lsKgA3VKtOkpNycDkXWpJGOZPlHILL55gPkYd3ATgvXG7TRjL3oIPq-FYse31Hh_IHU2PrmIWy0PkOXosVdHN/s400/lake+2+in+lakoban.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As we watched the mists rise up from the mountain range Mavlute took to the track making his way down to the a less exposed spot where we made camp and Mavlute and Hassan cooked us a trout collected the previous night . Fortunately the weather cleared as swiftly as it had arrived.<br /><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesYpO5Jryj__j894PFXDXVZE8BouZ-VZdGhaKhhVf-dOIVUPBLu67PAVbNdRdkPBYOIcQD6OZPkvKRGeU64DS9RWGnL2SUxYflCQp-Jg_D_1wW4GMmF8hIVDKomquu7bxQVCBbDeQ29wB/s1600/view+from+Lakoban+over+the+mountains+towards+Macahel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528358920844582354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesYpO5Jryj__j894PFXDXVZE8BouZ-VZdGhaKhhVf-dOIVUPBLu67PAVbNdRdkPBYOIcQD6OZPkvKRGeU64DS9RWGnL2SUxYflCQp-Jg_D_1wW4GMmF8hIVDKomquu7bxQVCBbDeQ29wB/s400/view+from+Lakoban+over+the+mountains+towards+Macahel.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"> The view over the mountains from the lake not only illustrated how high we were but some cruel weather was boiling up and could be coming our way .</span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ti14NEM64-glkvi2fW4ebGeo_cbByhzbKVV1MGKkPzMhD_IQmAB_503cSHrK5ZLSf0CzR6vxm2AREU3Qnd9lNesZ6m1tYOoueAxPbQjfFMfcg7WAqEwPlRroDbhiFuQAwfGA5K3-RfDX/s1600/Lakoban++near+the+lake.jpg"><span style="color:#cc6600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528358910695085522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ti14NEM64-glkvi2fW4ebGeo_cbByhzbKVV1MGKkPzMhD_IQmAB_503cSHrK5ZLSf0CzR6vxm2AREU3Qnd9lNesZ6m1tYOoueAxPbQjfFMfcg7WAqEwPlRroDbhiFuQAwfGA5K3-RfDX/s400/Lakoban++near+the+lake.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"> On the way back from the lake the winter snow can clearly be seen as a reminder of the winter past.<br /></span><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrb_9h_e5QU_vnjb6GZmbuLk7UeTgkjl7jcOBYuFeiSWjA2dWwS7C3eZAdaZpBkBHZJQ3zDh1XxbIq2hhZoF9wQysWfr8SaRnJs3zc0ClEUWeClx-u0IJvLhnQ1LmO6YYXLMnIQmYlIJT9/s1600/Chris+and+Helena+in+lakoban.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528358907563785378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrb_9h_e5QU_vnjb6GZmbuLk7UeTgkjl7jcOBYuFeiSWjA2dWwS7C3eZAdaZpBkBHZJQ3zDh1XxbIq2hhZoF9wQysWfr8SaRnJs3zc0ClEUWeClx-u0IJvLhnQ1LmO6YYXLMnIQmYlIJT9/s400/Chris+and+Helena+in+lakoban.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"> As the sun burned through the mist the sun lite up the valley revealing Rhododendron flowers . Very late in the year . At this altitude I would have expected them to be over .</span><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9mDxJllNszKwFw9QrOxTXTOcEhTm1xis4aZZraQrb520XoDbT5aoRGJ_OEY3aU6wIoJZ2epnMGQTso8hGl5HEegEAE7mgCILK1LkcaT3H0GWN4wUX5SdQg76MO-A9ZkD0JWlG7YEtPTC/s1600/Mavlute+with+Trout.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527139601700929362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9mDxJllNszKwFw9QrOxTXTOcEhTm1xis4aZZraQrb520XoDbT5aoRGJ_OEY3aU6wIoJZ2epnMGQTso8hGl5HEegEAE7mgCILK1LkcaT3H0GWN4wUX5SdQg76MO-A9ZkD0JWlG7YEtPTC/s400/Mavlute+with+Trout.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our lunch spot provided Richard and Helena with their first taste of the Caucuses with the abundance of wild flowers and swirling mists.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUDDICu_cBioG_uAOK3gpzSYYEdg3FKtfFZR5PYgvM7YBtQo0c7abwJjcd6pC_Olx_gt89uqO68asb8Q_fuclGlxaHBTZZUAHsNS0tTv85SgdeU3HNLtLlkjBQcPQ99QKSSRKS8HtDoG8/s1600/Mists+approaching+Richard+in+Lakoban.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527445302419771458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUDDICu_cBioG_uAOK3gpzSYYEdg3FKtfFZR5PYgvM7YBtQo0c7abwJjcd6pC_Olx_gt89uqO68asb8Q_fuclGlxaHBTZZUAHsNS0tTv85SgdeU3HNLtLlkjBQcPQ99QKSSRKS8HtDoG8/s400/Mists+approaching+Richard+in+Lakoban.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">This image was very typical of our first impressions of Lakoban. Mists and cloud descending with little or any notice . You can see Richard walking into the mist and within seconds he had vanished from sight.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><br /></span>After lunch of wonderful trout lunch we made our way back down to the village to see if the road had been fixed.<br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QibQ7Ozs8EvTyhj0y84wReg5L7Be3WGrxkUSJo6wCnsvtNybkEeB1YBSFRqNqxOXTfoiCrgPwDOmMqrzEIf7lMYzQ44uXo0YhI3WioaOeCLsdtiQCN9hRR0Bc_tLsCX-FiH9j5ZF3ZI6/s1600/lakoban+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527445280943195778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QibQ7Ozs8EvTyhj0y84wReg5L7Be3WGrxkUSJo6wCnsvtNybkEeB1YBSFRqNqxOXTfoiCrgPwDOmMqrzEIf7lMYzQ44uXo0YhI3WioaOeCLsdtiQCN9hRR0Bc_tLsCX-FiH9j5ZF3ZI6/s400/lakoban+3.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>With no news we went to explore another small hamlet over the brow of the hill before our guesthouse , a magical place where Melissa made friends with some of the local ladies. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBcdfp2dDXwuBp5S0NroBZ6LI0HOLT10rPF0FH3xpW-refRrtOqIv9aAR42C_eeAqZr0rkT4MKfBM4SurSEDjPyd-v6i_2_V3L0E5FqMGb0hIuCMRxTpZCWRh0_UQY8iFWer49KUkdLUO/s1600/view+of+Lakoban.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nQdiQ4tW3t9ayqpR8YbsOrUuILgtw-fdwkEnEX-HY55hDdZva_eg5128IuesNECWUggXW4Ys9VWFpfo6312j6sakD3rGe4e5RJ5OsbqNdnFbg8qhWLVm5bTIGkFElzPRCOZcEI_jOPj7/s1600/women+in+Lakoban+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527446203017427202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nQdiQ4tW3t9ayqpR8YbsOrUuILgtw-fdwkEnEX-HY55hDdZva_eg5128IuesNECWUggXW4Ys9VWFpfo6312j6sakD3rGe4e5RJ5OsbqNdnFbg8qhWLVm5bTIGkFElzPRCOZcEI_jOPj7/s400/women+in+Lakoban+2.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBQnVUsosGBiw4NUYdE6z7USU3peS06UIicbLq_RjvIiSPRTGNAShqPSeVTTjWw58xBmZIq9vil8Kh06ZB8WMOFqFhwIe8m5lkxdWfb8zFmYG1I311GU46MFfqSwCpxJtrR2YEhGs2aXV/s1600/Lakoban+2+(1).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527806506163898434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBQnVUsosGBiw4NUYdE6z7USU3peS06UIicbLq_RjvIiSPRTGNAShqPSeVTTjWw58xBmZIq9vil8Kh06ZB8WMOFqFhwIe8m5lkxdWfb8zFmYG1I311GU46MFfqSwCpxJtrR2YEhGs2aXV/s400/Lakoban+2+(1).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#cc6600;">This small hamlet sitting high in the mountains just over the brow of the hill looking down on Lakoban was worth the visit .</span></div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJhnPzOUNgx6k4gKA6UJcA34OgVGPYaz9BUyUbz7-5h3KOCrCSQd2p0kCYEbCWoAhL-tPJkP3xT_0GGK_GA8ekW8HoCAiVbwu1ohjUSquCuooQ4W6tdHxYuwpVIibeJhtMDcf3e5Fwjt3/s1600/Lakoban+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527139590550349906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJhnPzOUNgx6k4gKA6UJcA34OgVGPYaz9BUyUbz7-5h3KOCrCSQd2p0kCYEbCWoAhL-tPJkP3xT_0GGK_GA8ekW8HoCAiVbwu1ohjUSquCuooQ4W6tdHxYuwpVIibeJhtMDcf3e5Fwjt3/s400/Lakoban+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">The village tap in the hamlet . I like this picture , it's very typical of mountain life. Life needs to be practical in the mountains - keeping the cheese cool and the wind off your back. </span></div><div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5pqiNBUt6Xv3ufiuGx0O937lBLSQM4_bd94A-YpKvvGz5_VoOTDTP7XXcLFjpZcOEUmJf07We3WbXS_aBl3wCKMKCzrb3aOLZxmcZtnvJ_1CLD4FwRvVO-a06OBAtdD7aY8L7OQlbYi4/s1600/Hassan+Lakoban.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527444418457607170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5pqiNBUt6Xv3ufiuGx0O937lBLSQM4_bd94A-YpKvvGz5_VoOTDTP7XXcLFjpZcOEUmJf07We3WbXS_aBl3wCKMKCzrb3aOLZxmcZtnvJ_1CLD4FwRvVO-a06OBAtdD7aY8L7OQlbYi4/s400/Hassan+Lakoban.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Hassan looking very troubled and I suspect his concern was partially due to wondering how he was going to get us out of Lakoban. We had already caused enough trouble.</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLyxZmK8MXM9Qw9EiL8GIzNzVBNwamlisFzBeUtfLA2geL79JoNki9LLt8RA82YTFSOivt4w0DOfn7sWTlmCmqolsOZJI6tGb-tvOhs9TezZJ6O-vGrThzXV91a2QOvbEsx3xRo3Y6Tiu/s1600/Lakoban.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527445293248346290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLyxZmK8MXM9Qw9EiL8GIzNzVBNwamlisFzBeUtfLA2geL79JoNki9LLt8RA82YTFSOivt4w0DOfn7sWTlmCmqolsOZJI6tGb-tvOhs9TezZJ6O-vGrThzXV91a2QOvbEsx3xRo3Y6Tiu/s400/Lakoban.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Looking down on Lakoban from the hamlet above.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>The wild flowers and butterflies were staggering in their variety and intensity and none of us felt downhearted by the change of plan. After a full afternoon walking we made our way back to the house and to our relief the village men arrived with news the road was fixed. How we were about to discover.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UuAfqFwdpFxhnDh0hLKo0JpSUqFhLyAS1bQv3Us4h4XaRi-HgjNMXTdDSF8vSrK3VP7dmZYmL6zB4YBVmvY2jxBNnlhklwl7j2HELMU8OE7ps0_th2Us40XZR4zp5l67dOicIi5fqF03/s1600/Lakoban+road+once+fixed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527446214514043298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UuAfqFwdpFxhnDh0hLKo0JpSUqFhLyAS1bQv3Us4h4XaRi-HgjNMXTdDSF8vSrK3VP7dmZYmL6zB4YBVmvY2jxBNnlhklwl7j2HELMU8OE7ps0_th2Us40XZR4zp5l67dOicIi5fqF03/s400/Lakoban+road+once+fixed.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Once we packed our things into the van and said our heartfelt goodbyes, Mavlute drove back down the valley . Our hosts had been magnificent .How often has your guesthouse owner rebuilt the road to your next destination after a murderous storm in the night? On arrival at the rebuilt section of the road it was hard to imagine how our team of men could have built something in such a short period of time . These are tough men with generous hearts. We were about to discover something very special as our journey unfolded .<br /></div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02163388801128962398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088246709246195940.post-12553655239223649722010-08-25T11:51:00.000-07:002010-12-06T08:42:35.325-08:00Onwards to Mereta Yayala<span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Our plan had been to travel to Papart and then onto Mereta Yayala via Meydancik but I will never know if that's how we traveled. Hassan was intent on getting to the next base swiftly while we behaved like innocent children making coos and ahhs at the every glorious sight we encountered. The truth is we had all seen similar countryside but it is always a joy to discover life anew in another country. We had lost half the day while the road had been fixed ,Hassan and Mavlute wanted to get us to our next destination before sundown so time was not on our side . The following images are an illustration of the wonderful world we encountered along the way to Mereta but nothing to what we were about to discover once we arrived in Macahel and beyond.</span></span></span> <div><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLj3rvTBJYcFY0-miQocYMfiObtii6wvxpvY2gxkSP9M6P1cXQDlbI2MzS-4ZYu1EJaoNjpKBFsl5p3GZ8NoIiFcOkyQ6LF9G9HTpGWHqrHg_9BHayJFWPILb4pJmPlRHRm2pH5RSpZE55/s1600/The+road+to+Mereta+v3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528362780392392882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLj3rvTBJYcFY0-miQocYMfiObtii6wvxpvY2gxkSP9M6P1cXQDlbI2MzS-4ZYu1EJaoNjpKBFsl5p3GZ8NoIiFcOkyQ6LF9G9HTpGWHqrHg_9BHayJFWPILb4pJmPlRHRm2pH5RSpZE55/s400/The+road+to+Mereta+v3.jpg" /></a></span></span></span> <div><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Our trail made its way through the mountains down to the valleys below . You can pick out a white similar to ours on the corner of the road above.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIFwnVzQO-ngZoQEkiegP6zZ7_G3AjJYAxO_KOxvlj0p4yfvvtfaMvWD7ovX93e_Efn-FH88AsKbYMYr7OJ79FU0EpyVSG8Fdz2q0nWUZ3FEd6qyXaSW_Hf9ZX2zbWIfNY8Gy74Q8Dz9C/s1600/chapel+on+the+road+to+Mereta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528360397516277362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIFwnVzQO-ngZoQEkiegP6zZ7_G3AjJYAxO_KOxvlj0p4yfvvtfaMvWD7ovX93e_Efn-FH88AsKbYMYr7OJ79FU0EpyVSG8Fdz2q0nWUZ3FEd6qyXaSW_Hf9ZX2zbWIfNY8Gy74Q8Dz9C/s400/chapel+on+the+road+to+Mereta.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Amazingly this Christan chapel was build for nuns on the very edge of the precipice . I find it hard to believe but I understand Nuns lived here. Look harder and you can see, failing that click on the picture .</span></span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrq87nWzsgCdU0-YWLwuCnD2yk4ra3HNQ_F4e60mwXhJzwwpK8RgxAQ0MXoCZHvUmdrhkOXRrGyDGMVTyg7WgvYaw-xnMMZy6hDSswjtylqMEd_Ta7ub3wsOKbHJPn-5y8bcBgyUl1Sko/s1600/Houses+on+the+road+to+Mereta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528360411989723538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrq87nWzsgCdU0-YWLwuCnD2yk4ra3HNQ_F4e60mwXhJzwwpK8RgxAQ0MXoCZHvUmdrhkOXRrGyDGMVTyg7WgvYaw-xnMMZy6hDSswjtylqMEd_Ta7ub3wsOKbHJPn-5y8bcBgyUl1Sko/s400/Houses+on+the+road+to+Mereta.jpg" /></a> </span></span></span><div><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Further down the valley we came upon these magnificent farmsteads hugging the mountainside and surveying the valley before them . Just glorious .</span></span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySBcTGQVvvqFqJz7yCFBGcYAvLLCEZSGv2u70LGbEVWgr0xfm1KmhkarXUwmxyggCC-P3FUYQVzfl6uKqoaRRqE9VG076sEJMKwQMF-ib08_iQVoLVmxcIYbM79SJ51Xf-jzULjh23qA0/s1600/The+road+to+Mereta+v2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528362374072986450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySBcTGQVvvqFqJz7yCFBGcYAvLLCEZSGv2u70LGbEVWgr0xfm1KmhkarXUwmxyggCC-P3FUYQVzfl6uKqoaRRqE9VG076sEJMKwQMF-ib08_iQVoLVmxcIYbM79SJ51Xf-jzULjh23qA0/s400/The+road+to+Mereta+v2.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FNM6pg10oFBAqhfS2O0sP7xgP_y0pwwUjJbuNPLmP5OoNATdb71xfMC1ktUq9ulupW0VRtZM_b2BWU9mrELNGCqFVMBr-chEn1ZHKOmA4VRdjNFknsmI1YZEAMBl8VJPkSptqMbXJKF4/s1600/The+road+to+Mereta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528362786504291426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FNM6pg10oFBAqhfS2O0sP7xgP_y0pwwUjJbuNPLmP5OoNATdb71xfMC1ktUq9ulupW0VRtZM_b2BWU9mrELNGCqFVMBr-chEn1ZHKOmA4VRdjNFknsmI1YZEAMBl8VJPkSptqMbXJKF4/s400/The+road+to+Mereta.jpg" /></a>The view down the valley was a sight to behold . An abundance of rich vegetation cradled in the valley by the mountains either side.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;color:#cc6600;"><br /></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV44eEHSYy1eyFNUlEHypQhkP-pS3Q8kBcjMNKb_o57Qx8LOnU3zuJGB_ElsJZLi1rEFFh4cl8DPDe06znK_VlFQfJsClXq9mnR96yHZZF2Fs0n7yiS1RUHOE_lWlreCUpr-5QgnnQpFXZ/s1600/market+on+the+road+to+Mereta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528361069543521650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV44eEHSYy1eyFNUlEHypQhkP-pS3Q8kBcjMNKb_o57Qx8LOnU3zuJGB_ElsJZLi1rEFFh4cl8DPDe06znK_VlFQfJsClXq9mnR96yHZZF2Fs0n7yiS1RUHOE_lWlreCUpr-5QgnnQpFXZ/s400/market+on+the+road+to+Mereta.jpg" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Once we reached the river below and a main road around the mountains we came across a great vegetable and fruit street market, similar to many we have encountered in Eastern Europe.</span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHWgn2-zX2XBYo3Dn1KCLJR05_SP4J_OolxNbdODPwMyhpdjZks9TeLsGVxoc1A8grRK3KMIkZFghzrQrhmRd9svb0tRj7npyh-JghwRyW053Y8d0DOyDgdm6gzgcSP2Qvpe3xL2hEh-k/s1600/Mist+and+guest+house+in+Mereta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528362353518990674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHWgn2-zX2XBYo3Dn1KCLJR05_SP4J_OolxNbdODPwMyhpdjZks9TeLsGVxoc1A8grRK3KMIkZFghzrQrhmRd9svb0tRj7npyh-JghwRyW053Y8d0DOyDgdm6gzgcSP2Qvpe3xL2hEh-k/s400/Mist+and+guest+house+in+Mereta.jpg" /></a>We arrived late in the day with the mountain mists descending fast . Our host ,who did not have mobile phones, had given up on us and presumed we were never coming . Within minutes they had the stove fired up and supper was served to a welcome audience. It had been a long day and the old folks looking after us were glad their cooking wasn't going to waste and so were we.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;color:#cc6600;"><br /></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV61L4KMHsxFGyOo-JO-Xcr-ZxT1ElBE-NjAXVI1V9iS8l0SQwumCG-sUPnmvdSqEOZTKShNt7nrbvOnYVztbKD3uPawfhN0R7-2FNRrbZfHM-Cm-GqHwygqrnyG-eYpuMPEppC9SEgyU/s1600/Sitting+room+in+our+guest+house+in+Mereta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528362362878345522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV61L4KMHsxFGyOo-JO-Xcr-ZxT1ElBE-NjAXVI1V9iS8l0SQwumCG-sUPnmvdSqEOZTKShNt7nrbvOnYVztbKD3uPawfhN0R7-2FNRrbZfHM-Cm-GqHwygqrnyG-eYpuMPEppC9SEgyU/s400/Sitting+room+in+our+guest+house+in+Mereta.jpg" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">The stove in the sitting room grew hot immediately warming a chilly room within minutes we we all felt at home, warm as toast.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdqKXY8uqitLpg2p2j-SjZub3LRt7UAyOjy5dncODVyUo2YLdFs-6oMWIBmYYhY_wpci_QuPpYCAZS3vK-HglIh3fSTOYjYuFT4_CoL8lq41SEh4LGc70jWtXs9NpqHAugVrgHTzHj1-8/s1600/morning+mist+in+Mereta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528362360256228162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdqKXY8uqitLpg2p2j-SjZub3LRt7UAyOjy5dncODVyUo2YLdFs-6oMWIBmYYhY_wpci_QuPpYCAZS3vK-HglIh3fSTOYjYuFT4_CoL8lq41SEh4LGc70jWtXs9NpqHAugVrgHTzHj1-8/s400/morning+mist+in+Mereta.jpg" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">In the morning the ever present mountain mists took a while to clear as our neighbor wash her cloths on the balcony. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe-6NRrKSaPCRK3Bn2dOFmoxQWjhzG51O1x2pAycrXN-cTJTqQvm0sU9BB__wcWuB3ZaE_7pyJJH1jYI8HPsjiWpo2RzjkdThN9A-1v6OnzT1gpW8irFdT6CsJqMGqwVmR_-gFkhQ2gaA/s1600/Mereta+village.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528361086734544162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe-6NRrKSaPCRK3Bn2dOFmoxQWjhzG51O1x2pAycrXN-cTJTqQvm0sU9BB__wcWuB3ZaE_7pyJJH1jYI8HPsjiWpo2RzjkdThN9A-1v6OnzT1gpW8irFdT6CsJqMGqwVmR_-gFkhQ2gaA/s400/Mereta+village.jpg" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">The houses in Mereta slowly took shape as the mists cleared.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbMdRNPiMdCq8gENZxrRMh5nK1DImyQ5iaDXtTz_-OZ99PBF84O6RyYWiPYvrx3TF8969VCXNSA1vn1F4mvV50QdlY6ObNVmocueKBI_UQ2nqHOGgrZzFGaNr1JbDZpsAoRgVbxcsJtHd/s1600/view+across+Mereta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528362787109280418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbMdRNPiMdCq8gENZxrRMh5nK1DImyQ5iaDXtTz_-OZ99PBF84O6RyYWiPYvrx3TF8969VCXNSA1vn1F4mvV50QdlY6ObNVmocueKBI_UQ2nqHOGgrZzFGaNr1JbDZpsAoRgVbxcsJtHd/s400/view+across+Mereta.jpg" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"> With the weather clearing Mereta took on a simple unadulterated quality, untouched by the outside world and innocent of commercial greed.</span></span></span></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcp7gT68dBAHzGHXRcpfnvP-BRy_Tqzu4S-otwgzFrZwGVCEC2dqh4ZvqlI9azyG2K0mZHHF2V9boVBdaaX10q2RYYptr7NXbRLmEDVjmYF6-rfUOck6dmN2WashX6HBJvTOFL7LujZ94L/s1600/Mereta+in+the+morning.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528361082269697906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcp7gT68dBAHzGHXRcpfnvP-BRy_Tqzu4S-otwgzFrZwGVCEC2dqh4ZvqlI9azyG2K0mZHHF2V9boVBdaaX10q2RYYptr7NXbRLmEDVjmYF6-rfUOck6dmN2WashX6HBJvTOFL7LujZ94L/s400/Mereta+in+the+morning.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigil0laCLSu6brYxOGZH8LxvLkUhKONuxiWnfxkrHrPAeLIaEWnfJrlHrob16Pg-CLHBHdOzvznFYbQQfaTwtb2pCfUgOpP3Us2dgvtZwQ5wHXrhSv8y6MrJGiZ4ymuThSKmVEX5jwLDg2/s1600/Mereta+in+the+morning+v2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528361081281911186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigil0laCLSu6brYxOGZH8LxvLkUhKONuxiWnfxkrHrPAeLIaEWnfJrlHrob16Pg-CLHBHdOzvznFYbQQfaTwtb2pCfUgOpP3Us2dgvtZwQ5wHXrhSv8y6MrJGiZ4ymuThSKmVEX5jwLDg2/s400/Mereta+in+the+morning+v2.jpg" /></a> <span style="color:#cc6600;">With the sun out the Mereta homes looked as if they came from the wild west at the turn of the 19th century.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA3niuPdZM9DfmHAmNQUfVwwqRANaDcwU0OtdWi1uGQN8-Ge7CrivNdGengx1ZiDSR_zDPwbBmF1-lk8-y9oKvb2Jcb8wk5lB_BaSm3P1ozt1-OFDVoqTg25S-qQmAbsaR-tC_6Wn6JVQ/s1600/small+holding+in++Mereta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528362369696654562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA3niuPdZM9DfmHAmNQUfVwwqRANaDcwU0OtdWi1uGQN8-Ge7CrivNdGengx1ZiDSR_zDPwbBmF1-lk8-y9oKvb2Jcb8wk5lB_BaSm3P1ozt1-OFDVoqTg25S-qQmAbsaR-tC_6Wn6JVQ/s400/small+holding+in++Mereta.jpg" /></a></span></span></span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v6tnQ9m4MPvxE3dRsmlGIbkjyYKXBIgMXHgaQnANihoPk0p7ZN2fmmff3E0CLQYkE2Lkv_LrH34YxCspymJ9_ASGytwFzbZkE-ey7b59hyn7GCNQkkwoS8NMhyphenhyphenTNQ-Kf6tc227Ki8sOp/s1600/Cows+in+Mererita.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528360401387773426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v6tnQ9m4MPvxE3dRsmlGIbkjyYKXBIgMXHgaQnANihoPk0p7ZN2fmmff3E0CLQYkE2Lkv_LrH34YxCspymJ9_ASGytwFzbZkE-ey7b59hyn7GCNQkkwoS8NMhyphenhyphenTNQ-Kf6tc227Ki8sOp/s400/Cows+in+Mererita.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">The cows in Mereta were particularly attractive decked in their headdresses , all ready for a party.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d-EG7RQ08Jd7drUh_mhfBcqqTpWnkpZXUZcLp3YR2Zj3UZxUkz6KbpP02Kk_mqmGYOXXM9mMAwh5oPepMwhAquKcVVwnfFzKmta1ZFW2VW9TmY8jCJrjARrbcUSlZOp5x3iM_raTHKmU/s1600/Mavlute+in+Mereta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528361073728636690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d-EG7RQ08Jd7drUh_mhfBcqqTpWnkpZXUZcLp3YR2Zj3UZxUkz6KbpP02Kk_mqmGYOXXM9mMAwh5oPepMwhAquKcVVwnfFzKmta1ZFW2VW9TmY8jCJrjARrbcUSlZOp5x3iM_raTHKmU/s400/Mavlute+in+Mereta.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Before we left for the last leg of our journey to Macahel, Hassan took us for walk up the valley .The mists descended once again but Mavlute introduced us to a game, popping the stalks of a local plant.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3x_C4VxCwaSg7YE2NRJ5JpGUDQdnrWoI_K6eoIImDaJe7PGHrxC1CanOgavjdzRjXbx2s2raq37LkZOOqC8sgPLNinDPrP-ahsHvk0qqHm4SRvst6JGQvExestenj1A-aHLLKBWLVKDs/s1600/ladies+in+Mereta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528360416082713618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3x_C4VxCwaSg7YE2NRJ5JpGUDQdnrWoI_K6eoIImDaJe7PGHrxC1CanOgavjdzRjXbx2s2raq37LkZOOqC8sgPLNinDPrP-ahsHvk0qqHm4SRvst6JGQvExestenj1A-aHLLKBWLVKDs/s400/ladies+in+Mereta.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">These are the two sweet ladies who looked after us during our brief stay in Mereta Yayala.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeREzQjrN15sK6Lm0r9mYUuULKn-_ibW-GV2Dp17DiDaPFj6c-InRpQBPUYfT37qAptoOASSsT2ke_cXvezYGNlt_xZH_73qoOzYiWUfYFlZGBi8L7NLyTMB8ktrd9XQSWw6DmI4T6Nlso/s1600/guest+house+in+Mereta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528360406056277570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeREzQjrN15sK6Lm0r9mYUuULKn-_ibW-GV2Dp17DiDaPFj6c-InRpQBPUYfT37qAptoOASSsT2ke_cXvezYGNlt_xZH_73qoOzYiWUfYFlZGBi8L7NLyTMB8ktrd9XQSWw6DmI4T6Nlso/s400/guest+house+in+Mereta.jpg" /></a></span></div></div><br />It was time to leave Mereta. A short stay and I wonder what it would have been like if we had stayed for longer. The pace of life was gentle and beguiling but the mists were oppressive and I'm not sure if I liked this land of mysterious mists even if the cows were beautiful . Our next trip was Camile ,the main village in Macahel. Things were about to change and the pace of our journey was to be very different indeed.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02163388801128962398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088246709246195940.post-48757144939202822292010-08-24T03:03:00.000-07:002011-01-31T04:26:53.278-08:00To Camili - the main village in Macahel<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This was to be one of the finest days for traveling with Mavlute and his trusty van. We were about to discover the true beauty of Macahel. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hüseyin our guide and interpreter had been quietly answering our questions and getting to know us all. It was on this leg of our journey we really began to appreciate his knowledge and insight into the region.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br />When we set out the mountain mists restricted our visibility but soon the sun climbed into the sky and the landscape took shape , well for while . We soon discovered the ever present cloud was often lurking in the next valley, waiting to engulf us in its miasmas . Never to be undermined by the weather this experience just increased our sense of adventure.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JdZK79C87DB5ky-zI_8sj7zHEGl-gVbA3YKTScK-vUm1iWAwxm-IxMDYF6wt1tkBfOM3iLJOoz07w-0q6n2fNVV2sdfzvc-OB2dmHYuinDYFPT6WK79j92_FYEGeekvVRz9gsO9hMkps/s1600/road+to+camilli.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOhluHapaYuB3Z30BJmn3RoYKV_g_yqvN2rRQXtjAcrcoHEn96JHf0pZ_7zUg4uhD_DNitwJLMXrblWse1aXrgTcy6YPv7uedOoP5YjD57UitaAGRGkc7Ebsf35emVfPapLzzFU9FzrQJ/s1600/road+to+camilli+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543783178074464178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOhluHapaYuB3Z30BJmn3RoYKV_g_yqvN2rRQXtjAcrcoHEn96JHf0pZ_7zUg4uhD_DNitwJLMXrblWse1aXrgTcy6YPv7uedOoP5YjD57UitaAGRGkc7Ebsf35emVfPapLzzFU9FzrQJ/s400/road+to+camilli+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cAF9ufTNccAe8WmluSLIDkwcuTCeD4pm0rUh1mPRjZLPtXWQ9ZAtjQEcPb5Eq3gMwz5pnC1F6EPJY5XAXHAwoRFu4FOq_LIHyrSicrZczSRh03smE4kea3NHWjsSP0a2rmjsV6P2umTy/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(12).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532411549411697106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cAF9ufTNccAe8WmluSLIDkwcuTCeD4pm0rUh1mPRjZLPtXWQ9ZAtjQEcPb5Eq3gMwz5pnC1F6EPJY5XAXHAwoRFu4FOq_LIHyrSicrZczSRh03smE4kea3NHWjsSP0a2rmjsV6P2umTy/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(12).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O5bR32yj16oB325nxv9YkjscwXDJXGVdcPxtS0phitlZeOy1msWWnxZ8hhTg0POaL1hPrT_8Iy88td6gayx0Al97-oyGQQ-8fLaCYk-rI4nVekrZPYDlk_qMW8bNaiNgNulvd9m4ATxj/s1600/Road+to+Camili+v3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532414452858383586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O5bR32yj16oB325nxv9YkjscwXDJXGVdcPxtS0phitlZeOy1msWWnxZ8hhTg0POaL1hPrT_8Iy88td6gayx0Al97-oyGQQ-8fLaCYk-rI4nVekrZPYDlk_qMW8bNaiNgNulvd9m4ATxj/s400/Road+to+Camili+v3.jpg" border="0" /></a> As Mevlutes van drove us carefully down the mountain from the barren Yayala, the vegetation became lush and the climate warm . It was hard to believe were not in some subtropical forest in central Africa. All that was missing were the whooping of monkeys in the forest.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YZyy5G4jFvIq8KBP1TcCNUeyft0i70LcsYz4LZyXU7nK-m1EJrTdSOTEuwbjLRG2ce1ANYlSMSHR-2LdXucLtSiwLyG4sR8sUpGJylIK1ly89PgV0OuDliyGXJw9TP6WepngJ9tk8rcr/s1600/Clouds+on+the+road+to+camili.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmf1KvD1_srtu61khYFm6uwHeUckgt5XPOx3p5IhK9cNXGcncae2Pr6FsrwQzXCaFrS0DiPqifMVYoZ3jIJkFi7CcSW9LHFtY3Sjgo8T1L9Vo967Yq5pcGHDXojPrNdJyVzemtDnuS1cVk/s1600/Clouds+on++the+road+to+Camili+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532411560903537746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmf1KvD1_srtu61khYFm6uwHeUckgt5XPOx3p5IhK9cNXGcncae2Pr6FsrwQzXCaFrS0DiPqifMVYoZ3jIJkFi7CcSW9LHFtY3Sjgo8T1L9Vo967Yq5pcGHDXojPrNdJyVzemtDnuS1cVk/s400/Clouds+on++the+road+to+Camili+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a> After while Richard could bare it no longer and we all got out of the van to walk . The wild flowers bedside the road displayed a cornucopia of colour.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtJV7jeTQrt5QJqEpP4THttLo1ules4uNRIShwuxKws-h6nbfJ1OBG0uEKcRfYKfQ3m9SmBW8hpKmYiutog2VDvlfBksKaA4rvFgo4RAW1Y1pb1hoVWDSvLIU8CnyUb19SIMmDL-_paIJ/s1600/Richard+looking+at+the+flowers+(14).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532414446942082050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtJV7jeTQrt5QJqEpP4THttLo1ules4uNRIShwuxKws-h6nbfJ1OBG0uEKcRfYKfQ3m9SmBW8hpKmYiutog2VDvlfBksKaA4rvFgo4RAW1Y1pb1hoVWDSvLIU8CnyUb19SIMmDL-_paIJ/s400/Richard+looking+at+the+flowers+(14).jpg" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswoyHL1EDsnbivRHdgfp0w-uc5P9kbRf6utuXq8FnI5kNUvk3xqqWMoGe5OCO9ILX-_0_KhKGMyu9-FqY1y1CZLzD_Kxvo6Z68p37o1b1ugS9pAOwlLgfOPxYcvDzaQCahYwozU7KaLsN/s1600/Lily+on+the+road+to+Camilli.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532412319321667650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswoyHL1EDsnbivRHdgfp0w-uc5P9kbRf6utuXq8FnI5kNUvk3xqqWMoGe5OCO9ILX-_0_KhKGMyu9-FqY1y1CZLzD_Kxvo6Z68p37o1b1ugS9pAOwlLgfOPxYcvDzaQCahYwozU7KaLsN/s400/Lily+on+the+road+to+Camilli.jpg" border="0" /></a> Each flower appeared as if it had been planted by a hidden hand ,creating a carpet of colour of rich variety. This was to be one of the finest floral displays we experienced during our travels in Macahel and possibly the best I've ever encountered in one area . A place never to be missed . </p><p>OK perhaps over the top with my enthusiasm but I suggest you go and discover for yourself. </p><p>While discovering the abundance of flora we all behaved like excited children with cries such as - look look a White Lilly . Where? Over there - quick come and see. We must have made a very humorous site. Grown adults cavorting amongst the plants in pursuit of the infamous White Lilly and infinite varieties of wild flowers. And yes they do smell magnificent.<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532806590083437666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Pws-nzr9tIBtqOEwalfCQLCq2nEBS1CvOaT3rVsbZLwRmF1XkcI71jdKbFmMvKv8-9xyiivaPgWUeNZ_DZ2mOOsxsvo3IbzlI00vUuejWo41905DbzT8HW4fIBjHbHZajJsGrvWXyEdr/s400/More+wild+flowers+on+the+road+to+camilli.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNF-WkrGkxymYgMqwFu33F8VIvAKu2P5eta7kpFWW2l9KatLumd3F06dJLCasS0V9r0axTUCYfyc06IRr_hIJXsmr2VoLXVYDKg9ILIrd3hh4xTqywNIvB9gFsaSy0hgYlMoohdB5cmAL/s1600/More+wild+flowers+on+the+road+to+camilli+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532806576512325714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNF-WkrGkxymYgMqwFu33F8VIvAKu2P5eta7kpFWW2l9KatLumd3F06dJLCasS0V9r0axTUCYfyc06IRr_hIJXsmr2VoLXVYDKg9ILIrd3hh4xTqywNIvB9gFsaSy0hgYlMoohdB5cmAL/s400/More+wild+flowers+on+the+road+to+camilli+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1c3iNOUrdyNzLyeuN5W7H01h5q3TetAzC76OcvwIsGJEnRRRDkQr4_uYGKu1hZQJbStL682ASNGvbYL4ubeQaQLpJON5Eah6FPcuQNuodROe7xd86y10fb8QBe8SgkE-iUGh47Zws0un/s1600/Fungi+on+the+road+to+Camili.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532411571533526658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1c3iNOUrdyNzLyeuN5W7H01h5q3TetAzC76OcvwIsGJEnRRRDkQr4_uYGKu1hZQJbStL682ASNGvbYL4ubeQaQLpJON5Eah6FPcuQNuodROe7xd86y10fb8QBe8SgkE-iUGh47Zws0un/s400/Fungi+on+the+road+to+Camili.jpg" border="0" /></a>Making our way along the track towards Camili Richard found an abundance of Fungi made all the more mysterious by the swirling mists that swiftly descended upon us . The rotting trees and damp humid atmosphere are perfect for all manner of fungi and I only wish we new more about the type to be discovered .<br /><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOY5S6DxPMu3xm2MHiIydaUiul6mrsB1Xaq-5Grssd9CGpk8jHLvdLpLRhUWIrRGZ05UD-J2I5HzSPzDorUOcClB8B3736jgIvWpIE6uu8KAZPiFojzsA6-O-ghm9xnva3keVISWIr_wps/s1600/Looking+down+on+village+in+Macahel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532412334477067138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOY5S6DxPMu3xm2MHiIydaUiul6mrsB1Xaq-5Grssd9CGpk8jHLvdLpLRhUWIrRGZ05UD-J2I5HzSPzDorUOcClB8B3736jgIvWpIE6uu8KAZPiFojzsA6-O-ghm9xnva3keVISWIr_wps/s400/Looking+down+on+village+in+Macahel.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">A sight common throughout, on the trail towards Camili we saw small homesteads hugging the hills surrounded by steep fields sown with corn and planted with beans, soft fruits, hazelnuts and all manner of vegetables .</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmOC8LS3wLuQu50Osw-Pdpk0qRvN65hzJXfzDfk_duTQNmUNeaP60heuc5R-3c1pbJWtwoeYXPvu7Dqlzi_qiZkNzSgeYzBse0My7Gv1icUq7ompgbxpo1LbEeLtMsfvTwYMys72nTzUh/s1600/Waterfall+on++the+road+to+Camili.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532415272217776034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmOC8LS3wLuQu50Osw-Pdpk0qRvN65hzJXfzDfk_duTQNmUNeaP60heuc5R-3c1pbJWtwoeYXPvu7Dqlzi_qiZkNzSgeYzBse0My7Gv1icUq7ompgbxpo1LbEeLtMsfvTwYMys72nTzUh/s400/Waterfall+on++the+road+to+Camili.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtpOeA0t7xqBh-PHjFaqSpZb_lDH7tE3zZ0QQfsl7yQTvYENfHqheIy-jK3Bi_4Di1Fi5FiD3NqhxSbcxS7Xs4PPdmP1g7_-GldJVWtGIyyydFCS586lACNG0kdPuHIGA7AGBC0fUChVM/s1600/Water+mill+on+the+road+to+Camilli.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532415263488263506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtpOeA0t7xqBh-PHjFaqSpZb_lDH7tE3zZ0QQfsl7yQTvYENfHqheIy-jK3Bi_4Di1Fi5FiD3NqhxSbcxS7Xs4PPdmP1g7_-GldJVWtGIyyydFCS586lACNG0kdPuHIGA7AGBC0fUChVM/s400/Water+mill+on+the+road+to+Camilli.jpg" border="0" /></a>As Mavlutes van made its way down the valley to Camili we stopped off at a roadside watermill. I was in heaven . Sorry but for some people it's cars, gadgets ,sport, whatever. For me this is the stuff of life. Brilliant. Thank goodness my family feel the same way otherwise life would be rather lonely.<br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ipYdZ6duFRND04IA19w2oyBY7IQGDIX0DGCI0t0xp97jzXctVmuz2xFJKPcTMGj6-5FLGSVFSeEPcNtEOVqsxO6jUW7TPPcrmZ3ae8VqgrXDVHgKmwc9GzoKt-GrVHJBasyfGsXh8ujK/s1600/Looking+down+on+village+in+Macahel.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyN8TK51DIUIt-OjsJOlcd0N9sF9IgWtQ5Gr28N9FBj3U8TVO-cGpPd2n8euBu0Ri6jTbasecPJ2VnQCaghSnTH1R7as_R8qtNjp5827TqZ0eEcKhBhscS8B8mHMwygiazQrjdHX4EstJ/s1600/In+the+watermill+near+Camilli.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532412311105431906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyN8TK51DIUIt-OjsJOlcd0N9sF9IgWtQ5Gr28N9FBj3U8TVO-cGpPd2n8euBu0Ri6jTbasecPJ2VnQCaghSnTH1R7as_R8qtNjp5827TqZ0eEcKhBhscS8B8mHMwygiazQrjdHX4EstJ/s400/In+the+watermill+near+Camilli.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">The simple detail of this corn water mill is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">exquisite and difficult to shoot in the available light .</span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgHbkn8zgYbG5T-vuxwiUaLO6XYUUM7fEPUh1pTtgq7JYkW-mO-3aWTNda0pLA3pJTGr_nfN_6tpWnXb40MfkMifzKx76yJRMNTJah8tL6u4Ifet7-oySNob_zV0vh9n580gk01OoGxtx/s1600/View+over+valley+on+the+road+to+camilli.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532415253934440466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgHbkn8zgYbG5T-vuxwiUaLO6XYUUM7fEPUh1pTtgq7JYkW-mO-3aWTNda0pLA3pJTGr_nfN_6tpWnXb40MfkMifzKx76yJRMNTJah8tL6u4Ifet7-oySNob_zV0vh9n580gk01OoGxtx/s400/View+over+valley+on+the+road+to+camilli.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-cLdrC2EJgIVZ6-hl5zxEfM13m-NF5Hd3lGmIO-bgwCr4TFs-8ZmapHTO7jyc74dc9qG9mDNEwPFH76Wivl9lcxXBrJxJyYnEhebBqvAL03mB5sF-pvDgmYB1IHIwjPADqZpYxCXipIJ/s1600/View+over+hut+on+theroad+to+camilli.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi512ZmUdOE9epHjSZxbXRoLQCvtJJp3Kkcnfc_QN8dxqhgXulvphoapVNjVc_elOW3WwTM0tDW-DCFtfpTmtD_CxcdH52FvsXBmsjH_vrfmTEAEAj5pituSPklrQeMJAOranmX2VmfsAiZ/s1600/Steps+up+the+bank+on+the+road+to+camilli.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532414459810856914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi512ZmUdOE9epHjSZxbXRoLQCvtJJp3Kkcnfc_QN8dxqhgXulvphoapVNjVc_elOW3WwTM0tDW-DCFtfpTmtD_CxcdH52FvsXBmsjH_vrfmTEAEAj5pituSPklrQeMJAOranmX2VmfsAiZ/s400/Steps+up+the+bank+on+the+road+to+camilli.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcC4RRauXxrQeannAUUYEmIH_DN0Dh4ZNXWmdvJ6xJ5d1PZ_eraonxxTjcPEvp0qsdBS50q9YhKz-PoY5BTOChyLYrErKolYzjz2BvPwvHMeO-PLhbtPZwofgOCERUzKh08TLoxjVP3Ls8/s1600/House+on+the+road+to+Camilli.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532412305373256658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcC4RRauXxrQeannAUUYEmIH_DN0Dh4ZNXWmdvJ6xJ5d1PZ_eraonxxTjcPEvp0qsdBS50q9YhKz-PoY5BTOChyLYrErKolYzjz2BvPwvHMeO-PLhbtPZwofgOCERUzKh08TLoxjVP3Ls8/s400/House+on+the+road+to+Camilli.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgb9XCOI-UPG7AQeXxhNrM8tnwpD1UqYZIx1X9gp0Z3UrR65gPawYliv4s_iHqlRryNYUqZTNuWUkttKKaSmgzcT2MXYk6KnaIDsrDTwZJyPBB9GkLPliLfYV9rwBf8XwA4zVKqPgQgoSD/s1600/Cart+on+the+road+to+camilli.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532411555982774258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgb9XCOI-UPG7AQeXxhNrM8tnwpD1UqYZIx1X9gp0Z3UrR65gPawYliv4s_iHqlRryNYUqZTNuWUkttKKaSmgzcT2MXYk6KnaIDsrDTwZJyPBB9GkLPliLfYV9rwBf8XwA4zVKqPgQgoSD/s400/Cart+on+the+road+to+camilli.jpg" border="0" /></a>Richard and I both wanted to take this hand cart home but the girls pointed out we would be well over our hand luggage allowance . I'm sure the airline would make a special allowance for two loonies with a handcart. As things stand I have to make do with a metal wheelbarrow which is not quite the same.<br /></div><div>I now understand when people pass our home and take pictures of our orchard , house and garden going ooooohhh aaaaaahhh! I guess I now know what they are feeling .It's all about setting sight on something uncommon to ones own experience of life. These were sights rarely seen at home in such abundance. Here,in this romantic idly, interesting flora and fungi were to be found in abundance. </div><br /><div>I don't think Mavlute and Hassan had the same view of life . This after all was home and we found his local normal plants and local artifacts exciting . What sort of world did we come from ? Obviously one barren of plants , fungi and wooden wheelbarrows.<br /><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMmDrGI4_ultWjw6cFupvj1_J5dCNV1GsxAsW2zg4gnmMWYg8PeZZwZvVOwb8LcMCE_-mqWoDQ-odii7mICFM8iiR60_DLUhHnPGg758a1Pl6tkeNTYCg_tsf1JsfvIlE4d_5rklP0o8x/s1600/Hassan+with+Hasyen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532806607631184130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMmDrGI4_ultWjw6cFupvj1_J5dCNV1GsxAsW2zg4gnmMWYg8PeZZwZvVOwb8LcMCE_-mqWoDQ-odii7mICFM8iiR60_DLUhHnPGg758a1Pl6tkeNTYCg_tsf1JsfvIlE4d_5rklP0o8x/s400/Hassan+with+Hasyen.jpg" border="0" /></a> As ever Hüseyin provided a wealth of knowledge on almost everything we encountered from plants , rock formations, to the local traditions. You name it Hüseyin seemed to know it all and Hassan was always on hand to provide that extra special insight accompanied by the obligatory puff on a cigarette. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNgoKr4XHYvInMS7i1Wi234aLGJW3CHp9akTwvJ18Wz6pBVEK1B3ylB6j7TG_rhTuSzbmWPX6RBlfOzeNi9xGN4sVAjt-cSsBZdTpXWY75rYP7DrwNspPZhCCIvy-TTnSw3IZTTGQscaB/s1600/Our+room+in+Camilli.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532414442519261090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNgoKr4XHYvInMS7i1Wi234aLGJW3CHp9akTwvJ18Wz6pBVEK1B3ylB6j7TG_rhTuSzbmWPX6RBlfOzeNi9xGN4sVAjt-cSsBZdTpXWY75rYP7DrwNspPZhCCIvy-TTnSw3IZTTGQscaB/s400/Our+room+in+Camilli.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"> Once we arrived in Camilli we stayed at Hassan's guest house . An excellent base to stay in Macahel where we were made very welcome by Hassan's family.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Click on the link below <b>Older Posts</b> to discover more .</span></div></div></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02163388801128962398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088246709246195940.post-65310559680316395362010-08-23T05:32:00.000-07:002011-01-31T04:53:15.381-08:00Camili and other villages in Macahel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCFdjTbKsYT5itIiHThytG-_hth1T7y3opaEf7ophjTtBObow20R1-BFtzo1z9NJXWFn1ivOEFN8szGoZUlvn4JXe_okArBqVqU7PSNTcvWlBCaGqLVmjqFpakP49WmOnXzBuBlI_x_PB/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(6).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534559601444194738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCFdjTbKsYT5itIiHThytG-_hth1T7y3opaEf7ophjTtBObow20R1-BFtzo1z9NJXWFn1ivOEFN8szGoZUlvn4JXe_okArBqVqU7PSNTcvWlBCaGqLVmjqFpakP49WmOnXzBuBlI_x_PB/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(6).jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hassan's generous family ,Mavlute, our crew and of course Hüseyin, our brilliant guide.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1RoJKcePoFNgOAv9qbxu8a4ddes3BMv2rQP3x013arise-dU0ebOSYScIHK67ho4xFZCVvxm3TWhl6G1HkM-qvk-A7j_pc7x6Pv_UGQMVvWTwB2g2I6qKjI_Rc5Me5Cgrous2xbLlk-C/s1600/Melissa+reading+on+Hassan%2527s+terrace.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537611434219291762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1RoJKcePoFNgOAv9qbxu8a4ddes3BMv2rQP3x013arise-dU0ebOSYScIHK67ho4xFZCVvxm3TWhl6G1HkM-qvk-A7j_pc7x6Pv_UGQMVvWTwB2g2I6qKjI_Rc5Me5Cgrous2xbLlk-C/s400/Melissa+reading+on+Hassan%2527s+terrace.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"> Melissa writing her diary on Hassan's guest house terrace. A great place to chill and a perfect base to discover the surrounding villages.</span></div><div><span style="color:#cc6600;"><br /></span></div><div><br /><div><div><span style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We had at last arrived at Hassan's guest house where our real adventure was about to begin but first we had a day to visit the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Maral waterfall and visit the villages of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Duzenli and Kayalar .</span></span></span></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1-gyhJAxty5zFNld0oye6LZh3nhommi0Q-JhB3bfnOtIwUA9lg2bmA3kv6Bbv_VyFkkxpdT1AQvr6Gll_SmnOOTPMUyXZR_ws7gjzI_nS0p-dKwouAVNZj_RrnRZAWRZtr3PgIvqj61M/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(77).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534563166215809490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1-gyhJAxty5zFNld0oye6LZh3nhommi0Q-JhB3bfnOtIwUA9lg2bmA3kv6Bbv_VyFkkxpdT1AQvr6Gll_SmnOOTPMUyXZR_ws7gjzI_nS0p-dKwouAVNZj_RrnRZAWRZtr3PgIvqj61M/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(77).jpg" border="0" /></a>The landscape in the valley of Macahel is incredibly lush with abundance of hazelnut, chestnut and walnut trees. A very steep landscape, almost impossible to farm. Whats more it's difficult to photograph because of the bright sunlight with cloudy haze, diffusing the light and playing havoc with our cameras exposure.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5eZfDdgjH8xlwhRtyyUD2-fXTF4Rs6ZiQ9Jcg0cs4HWJWE1x2xHFPPttpm-0_l_rPlzSLLPuKJGVdHQs4vCvqq1oOGA1BLsBDdhfOuB3LxlAh1H8QXSfgcuetI4ytleY3DL8GS6cBCN8/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(15).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534560425359848898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5eZfDdgjH8xlwhRtyyUD2-fXTF4Rs6ZiQ9Jcg0cs4HWJWE1x2xHFPPttpm-0_l_rPlzSLLPuKJGVdHQs4vCvqq1oOGA1BLsBDdhfOuB3LxlAh1H8QXSfgcuetI4ytleY3DL8GS6cBCN8/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(15).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOrb4eT_i0zZh9fxTRUrl7Eo2EWrJ762e0r90hTlIJEYIjFupxs9BetjXgyXLphYvC5uz0a2d6DjQLGReMnD-a3H-zaqBxxHfsMNhQIU-Hyomf8_ajSdnAhHbwxTRIMPLp84P8Z7y3Fej/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(38).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534562392253463122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 313px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOrb4eT_i0zZh9fxTRUrl7Eo2EWrJ762e0r90hTlIJEYIjFupxs9BetjXgyXLphYvC5uz0a2d6DjQLGReMnD-a3H-zaqBxxHfsMNhQIU-Hyomf8_ajSdnAhHbwxTRIMPLp84P8Z7y3Fej/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(38).jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Here is Melissa looking down the valley. One can just pick out the land farmed high on the slopes to the left and if you click on the picture you can see steep fields way off in the distance.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVOCAd-GfNFsnwVh7tEa_8gBDX81nhqusAooEJHqT5N6nfLaTn1H5rUbuuDRfxCM-6j2ctvY077BQ2m0BORYfpAP9ByyV5l9nzY1K35Kdipsij5-8l1nVipcoD_9V8JtPbc6tpULNAm3M/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(32).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534561479475926850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVOCAd-GfNFsnwVh7tEa_8gBDX81nhqusAooEJHqT5N6nfLaTn1H5rUbuuDRfxCM-6j2ctvY077BQ2m0BORYfpAP9ByyV5l9nzY1K35Kdipsij5-8l1nVipcoD_9V8JtPbc6tpULNAm3M/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(32).jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">This picture may not be clear but the brown spec is an old lady scything the grass to keep the hazel trees clear. Very tough work in a magical location but I'm not sure the location means much when you are attempting to make a living on such steep slopes.</span></div><br /><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18i_ociSgFNYyFYa6ItYDvC_V-ZpRdlP4_ub1hrelr4fv6-EGORuBOmhrcQ43mq1U129L_D1Vhnlb9oGSWNFXAeVcLqdAXbXA4e5BWvXw6eQssX2JH6KPCmasRLEvSj5ZXiRdYlqJ2fJA/s1600/P1016036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534563184023730594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 284px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18i_ociSgFNYyFYa6ItYDvC_V-ZpRdlP4_ub1hrelr4fv6-EGORuBOmhrcQ43mq1U129L_D1Vhnlb9oGSWNFXAeVcLqdAXbXA4e5BWvXw6eQssX2JH6KPCmasRLEvSj5ZXiRdYlqJ2fJA/s400/P1016036.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;">The abundance of wildlife is quite wonderful with an infinity of variety butterflies and wild flowers which had us all enthralled , especially Richard.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsF8Pen3lc0g7S-hL9-qG2x-vHksequ74ElWGRJi-kgDaekkGhj18tTj8hceRRtQ5GL_cCjeNtx2fybY6U7Qwv9CiD8ROSUR5N6sdbUUNskyUHDjDLad4m71i6biCY-KZNcHvcGYvwuob/s1600/P1016051+-+Version+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534563639226601762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsF8Pen3lc0g7S-hL9-qG2x-vHksequ74ElWGRJi-kgDaekkGhj18tTj8hceRRtQ5GL_cCjeNtx2fybY6U7Qwv9CiD8ROSUR5N6sdbUUNskyUHDjDLad4m71i6biCY-KZNcHvcGYvwuob/s400/P1016051+-+Version+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">This storage barn is typical of so many to be found around throughout the valley.Notice the new bee hives on the terrace.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJeUUNl6WSpZ1kFMm4kz-py3vyQETVmf969M3Ie36V6Q9YvO_ZTyruniSXd_ippWd2VtGgBXnA-MFIlYyHYB5vTSmX_x4QE3sfnfMcftHarE7SuTcioGCWJl1bg5_5HEDR0L7uk9gCG3A/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(40).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534562403526312082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJeUUNl6WSpZ1kFMm4kz-py3vyQETVmf969M3Ie36V6Q9YvO_ZTyruniSXd_ippWd2VtGgBXnA-MFIlYyHYB5vTSmX_x4QE3sfnfMcftHarE7SuTcioGCWJl1bg5_5HEDR0L7uk9gCG3A/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(40).jpg" border="0" /></a>To carry goods up to the farmsteads farmers use zip wires. We all had bets we would see live stock being carried or even a Granny but never caught the occasion on film so you will just have to take our word. These things are an essential part of life in the mountains, apart from the potential entertainment value for Granny. Don't laugh, we saw a very old lady getting off one or perhaps she was testing it for her goats.</div><br /><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFthxVG4MSdoDxucAmaj2utAmfSnYK-Z7J3ZpFMPz6tsq2l669fAdPO_TMm8qlAduaq-dvTaRt51ww1c3hUtmmBIFHzch6JHWx9tgpGjA7x2odl3hAtUszHLMxhuNquYjiyS5Z3rzjzY1/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(75).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534563156198793218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFthxVG4MSdoDxucAmaj2utAmfSnYK-Z7J3ZpFMPz6tsq2l669fAdPO_TMm8qlAduaq-dvTaRt51ww1c3hUtmmBIFHzch6JHWx9tgpGjA7x2odl3hAtUszHLMxhuNquYjiyS5Z3rzjzY1/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(75).jpg" border="0" /></a>The first part of our mornings trip was to visit and swim in the famous Maral waterfall which is spectacular. I'll save you from the pictures of the girls making the most of the waterfall . One thing is for sure, it is very cold but worth the climb down.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd3QV3_fHLqvzfRyQZ-W3OGCQc8fdZK1VzrzQ-DQjv57wkPqr8lxaoHcOnHa5DA3WFdlPQkqjV2iH9YJNRTu2vsJY6t6ZZiWEiSd_jPqc-__3cQVdOae8A7PxKJ1lIccc8qS4ZLts1StQ/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(29).jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmO8oS8Vay-wHeSQklGKfQwVOSU92iZFpp8GIhFx3iA6aVfedfD8MCyeKnIF4jtQtMGwT0AoELL1mJoQji-ORDSurxE_xJJev3nXEj8JItiDqxCpjj_VBmEm7bdX7MfJbbhMrTJQxnTco8/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(28).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534560443015735762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmO8oS8Vay-wHeSQklGKfQwVOSU92iZFpp8GIhFx3iA6aVfedfD8MCyeKnIF4jtQtMGwT0AoELL1mJoQji-ORDSurxE_xJJev3nXEj8JItiDqxCpjj_VBmEm7bdX7MfJbbhMrTJQxnTco8/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(28).jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzVbQ37uH5LLAQVcdEwm4vejKcsh5fP3dQXnmMjLrLo0Dun2bf9x0BP6QigO4U0k-24Gy0hhWXeSwCfPv7uy0nhY38uSWQB0eZykf6TRzT6B9DJn67u4xlbtuMKcGxN7RZLjK0I2z6_xG/s1600/Richard+and+the+waterfall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537611439278463426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzVbQ37uH5LLAQVcdEwm4vejKcsh5fP3dQXnmMjLrLo0Dun2bf9x0BP6QigO4U0k-24Gy0hhWXeSwCfPv7uy0nhY38uSWQB0eZykf6TRzT6B9DJn67u4xlbtuMKcGxN7RZLjK0I2z6_xG/s400/Richard+and+the+waterfall.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QnEVr0-27rVUxhbY0JXmFc2mERyb3Ph8dHPk7MWXtjBSaCzEYB8huZt6ZJfHj8nb2gWFQO4JaYW4PaU_z2jCTCZUOlhvlyDPT59jFSod6TXYl7mChupgfJkMp4KIMCOpxjKf1wXLRO1d/s1600/P1016029+(1).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534563175890626914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QnEVr0-27rVUxhbY0JXmFc2mERyb3Ph8dHPk7MWXtjBSaCzEYB8huZt6ZJfHj8nb2gWFQO4JaYW4PaU_z2jCTCZUOlhvlyDPT59jFSod6TXYl7mChupgfJkMp4KIMCOpxjKf1wXLRO1d/s400/P1016029+(1).jpg" border="0" /></a>While climbing down to the base of the waterfall we met this man making a fruit picker or was it a nut picker. He was using a nice old knife. I asked where it had come from and he said the knife maker up the valley . So the Macahel knife maker was someone I had to meet<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR2aABhIY10Fyuo57dyi2yu9eLDt4akC1lV9X3jqy1QuFkqtXM_IUV8zIN0QveBagnn-a-O9CCRiwcs0oQ_cfRJ_rp_ZX8RthtrdooI9QRxpWEeeJKD90M4RYCoUWENrfCRI32nDNWBgB/s1600/P1016048+-+Version+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534563628919897986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR2aABhIY10Fyuo57dyi2yu9eLDt4akC1lV9X3jqy1QuFkqtXM_IUV8zIN0QveBagnn-a-O9CCRiwcs0oQ_cfRJ_rp_ZX8RthtrdooI9QRxpWEeeJKD90M4RYCoUWENrfCRI32nDNWBgB/s400/P1016048+-+Version+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is not a very good picture but is memorable. Our gentleman knife maker whose name I do not know is perhaps the last of a generation of knife makers and I'll put money on it his forefathers were gun makers. Macahel has a history way back for guns, long since vanished but critical for this area fought over for centuries.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBbYt4c0stn2iOHxKcWesufmfzIgqpNlB6nCJS5EzLfL9IUnEpieq-QEcK7U1NoQzwRK0jOSxWRdWapypzMUe1MbE_gr7o1YkDyeQ8eW1f0cfy3UjYTITuprJKdBSL9Ovl8wlacQl552i/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(13).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534560422395343922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBbYt4c0stn2iOHxKcWesufmfzIgqpNlB6nCJS5EzLfL9IUnEpieq-QEcK7U1NoQzwRK0jOSxWRdWapypzMUe1MbE_gr7o1YkDyeQ8eW1f0cfy3UjYTITuprJKdBSL9Ovl8wlacQl552i/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(13).jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">This Axe was exquisite, with a razor sharp edge. It was a thing of beauty rather than something from the yard.</span></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzev6e8G_mHdsogLV4pLvnA6q05Gzk8sEiN-uLSvy9hvy1SHdvRgdU3LRd5jj69Eiogwfokh0QMwTP3rJgfL1pZVHW8UuWnCJjuFMx3_DH1l-BbilIlR7O3Pf5YedtLl7-4-SqxxWbgLUl/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(12).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534560419251397074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 347px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzev6e8G_mHdsogLV4pLvnA6q05Gzk8sEiN-uLSvy9hvy1SHdvRgdU3LRd5jj69Eiogwfokh0QMwTP3rJgfL1pZVHW8UuWnCJjuFMx3_DH1l-BbilIlR7O3Pf5YedtLl7-4-SqxxWbgLUl/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(12).jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">A simple smithy .All that is needed to make knives and general implements to cut shape and manage these verdant woodlands and not something from the museum. Although most smithies look alike around the world this one was special.</span><br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mJgpdrXsWIqACHoS08kb-6VQXVyuai7Umh3LM8mmFr-q6RzTlS5gN4QQ81wKra04HzvCpBW_AjWFgGBYh5GcFSSfTZ18FPJEeBg5OsWKgJNpKi90TQbhgpUrPZUDZ2wA2M24aFo03uwl/s1600/Knife+makers+home+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537544754495514066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mJgpdrXsWIqACHoS08kb-6VQXVyuai7Umh3LM8mmFr-q6RzTlS5gN4QQ81wKra04HzvCpBW_AjWFgGBYh5GcFSSfTZ18FPJEeBg5OsWKgJNpKi90TQbhgpUrPZUDZ2wA2M24aFo03uwl/s400/Knife+makers+home+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"> This picture illustrates the home of our knife maker . To some it might appear a very humble dwelling but to me it is a special place where the last of a line is still making a living .</span><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDz9Dwvz0EfRtMZGZcwczYeR32YgBVhOAbe-pjYFisAujJHGdP-Hgz5vqhXcyHqxAuVTsTeWCkdeLAgRZ6Gh2N1H0dJ0TOWMfh46PGEOGCb3cKKremeaT3Dtab4gj66vGe5KBouZs2nEmN/s1600/Knife+makers+home.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537544744000716242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDz9Dwvz0EfRtMZGZcwczYeR32YgBVhOAbe-pjYFisAujJHGdP-Hgz5vqhXcyHqxAuVTsTeWCkdeLAgRZ6Gh2N1H0dJ0TOWMfh46PGEOGCb3cKKremeaT3Dtab4gj66vGe5KBouZs2nEmN/s400/Knife+makers+home.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Y_h-C5a0bHtbNxVfGLNW3SEuNiiXGUJCThHIGbxTD3wo_4yB2DObp2pAbiuOnjkw1NWGvL7e-zTkJp0L6H9gPE8kv7yEj6tiRiAMhL6z2ebM_Iouo47ziJR2oqMYYZJ-qYtwoPewq8Dy/s1600/Knife+maker.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537544737911202514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 321px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Y_h-C5a0bHtbNxVfGLNW3SEuNiiXGUJCThHIGbxTD3wo_4yB2DObp2pAbiuOnjkw1NWGvL7e-zTkJp0L6H9gPE8kv7yEj6tiRiAMhL6z2ebM_Iouo47ziJR2oqMYYZJ-qYtwoPewq8Dy/s400/Knife+maker.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJS1CnPdUvQjjUgKIurLejwF6h9s1JJT79hq5vt9tV6c5v9toHf5qoToniIYZRMYc5iQ5PrXKz1vp9B5XTDkag_rhbSbEWXI3J5zdFQIV9GxlJr0b_43209G99MNabLG_1jOF2VajfhRf/s1600/Berwick+front+view+C-U+(1).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534563172374826914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJS1CnPdUvQjjUgKIurLejwF6h9s1JJT79hq5vt9tV6c5v9toHf5qoToniIYZRMYc5iQ5PrXKz1vp9B5XTDkag_rhbSbEWXI3J5zdFQIV9GxlJr0b_43209G99MNabLG_1jOF2VajfhRf/s400/Berwick+front+view+C-U+(1).jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Making our way back to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Camili</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"> we chanced upon a farmstead selling honey . After further inspection we discovered this tower block of beehives.</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIhEs8mJwxbs3Ecr_BstvBwUN6LZNp-W5tyD8-pqWFL9oLywBumVtCzPDFMA8Bbr6iP80N3K0W2eo5LJdsabwI8-W2BChdISwaYmHQH97p64ZzuirI3tq1U9gLCfpBQx3llrxZ_z_oWOl/s1600/Beehive.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537544706004212946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIhEs8mJwxbs3Ecr_BstvBwUN6LZNp-W5tyD8-pqWFL9oLywBumVtCzPDFMA8Bbr6iP80N3K0W2eo5LJdsabwI8-W2BChdISwaYmHQH97p64ZzuirI3tq1U9gLCfpBQx3llrxZ_z_oWOl/s400/Beehive.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"> This type of hive is often seen at the top of a lime tree and made from the trunk of a tree but it sat right in the middle of the tower block .</span></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenIkY1oNnBuXtQt0sxD9FjGYAwGfxcT0I_Qft5BzeXkZgfAezgqSkhEs1B00lygA_n8reZfBZmCHrGaRSZ1ejYCJwsV8JR64QVhoBbJAzPM3jg2kIpY_AINhosCVwo5xLuB-BDdawxK7A/s1600/Slay+man+in+macahel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534568821944222546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenIkY1oNnBuXtQt0sxD9FjGYAwGfxcT0I_Qft5BzeXkZgfAezgqSkhEs1B00lygA_n8reZfBZmCHrGaRSZ1ejYCJwsV8JR64QVhoBbJAzPM3jg2kIpY_AINhosCVwo5xLuB-BDdawxK7A/s400/Slay+man+in+macahel.jpg" border="0" /></a>The farmer ,who new Mavlute and Hassan well, was kind enough to provide us with nuts, honey and the bread must have come from the van. We were fascinated by the farm implements around the yard. This sleigh is regularly used during the winter to carry goods across the snow by hand rather than use a simple cart.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEalbB3mS4__T4e_-GEIS4BjsxvZ6WALyTyvRaKIWZpyalpm6bgtnJwELObdqkbPXwjDrT-BDRZ3w-rqW8nCfLocpzdDJFUrq9TTcvr2deCEBKmCtCbbUNv1XfKQibqB4WA-m4bVG1DYbn/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(36).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534562375434462978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEalbB3mS4__T4e_-GEIS4BjsxvZ6WALyTyvRaKIWZpyalpm6bgtnJwELObdqkbPXwjDrT-BDRZ3w-rqW8nCfLocpzdDJFUrq9TTcvr2deCEBKmCtCbbUNv1XfKQibqB4WA-m4bVG1DYbn/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(36).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mdpw6aftthbDlOMK8a0tmF2e6nDmeIVH2Fulod9bz5klUwO9AbPeVtD9R23uStxH_D8xOVSAaeVlMs5SBKKgTE2w8xHXrQoL92a-ndu34lmqcNPkFNptXgvu4Q5upMhqO5JfNkUC9u-W/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(35).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534562368276941842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mdpw6aftthbDlOMK8a0tmF2e6nDmeIVH2Fulod9bz5klUwO9AbPeVtD9R23uStxH_D8xOVSAaeVlMs5SBKKgTE2w8xHXrQoL92a-ndu34lmqcNPkFNptXgvu4Q5upMhqO5JfNkUC9u-W/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(35).jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Some of the barn details were timeless .</span></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqAiZfuqZkVuebAs_OM00AvK4MtFouljrbTN3RvbmKxIb8zSdEfzXFUx7TDKkb7-GO-7EZiBmWeMjPnMa7m4y-SmN1BRSotStPFUTPd2bNIWagwOTy_egHTjJ_lEY4gSqdZH0XNdM1yXv/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(34).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534561491687729410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqAiZfuqZkVuebAs_OM00AvK4MtFouljrbTN3RvbmKxIb8zSdEfzXFUx7TDKkb7-GO-7EZiBmWeMjPnMa7m4y-SmN1BRSotStPFUTPd2bNIWagwOTy_egHTjJ_lEY4gSqdZH0XNdM1yXv/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(34).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBHPkY-NyudPYfkU-AAX7kJ-eY6fjycE2BrPm_wra5BhyphenhyphenomNR0H6xeBwUqaHXZwsfbPqaVztSk2JdRduxhmmdxOsuy59aMObWZPeyyNxr3BqKNKPxGjUSyo5Sgv5wkt-F9h4P8U5oG-Nh/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(5).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534559596929539362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBHPkY-NyudPYfkU-AAX7kJ-eY6fjycE2BrPm_wra5BhyphenhyphenomNR0H6xeBwUqaHXZwsfbPqaVztSk2JdRduxhmmdxOsuy59aMObWZPeyyNxr3BqKNKPxGjUSyo5Sgv5wkt-F9h4P8U5oG-Nh/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(5).jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">More storage on stilts which keeps the precious honey and dry goods away from bears during the winter.</span><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0TnW9_FJiiZ0Ur_zFINa6a6aR5dVyMRnt-2BMZ5lEfZS5OxxDvvx_pJqKfJbBxpKJ3B126_9g4NdUQFjwyFqEvNAW93VDA6FxCz3-4wrO6ltU8RRBwOmrSDBhrnbzPMFpJyZNhoohYV-/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(4).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534559591230734914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 296px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0TnW9_FJiiZ0Ur_zFINa6a6aR5dVyMRnt-2BMZ5lEfZS5OxxDvvx_pJqKfJbBxpKJ3B126_9g4NdUQFjwyFqEvNAW93VDA6FxCz3-4wrO6ltU8RRBwOmrSDBhrnbzPMFpJyZNhoohYV-/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(4).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHBIqoQKsrCtI8HMgd_Pf5GqP1-lafQZj4FApdLC6foIJN7U2Nhx0sOAhDKuZ2hmu1-V8okqSAaXYk3QJ3BkAF-TDTCtqRnm3amJjX6zdvTebAzfphx8GCCLcq2zZzOEC2U9fFfVXMbLC/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(3).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534559581737243858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 357px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHBIqoQKsrCtI8HMgd_Pf5GqP1-lafQZj4FApdLC6foIJN7U2Nhx0sOAhDKuZ2hmu1-V8okqSAaXYk3QJ3BkAF-TDTCtqRnm3amJjX6zdvTebAzfphx8GCCLcq2zZzOEC2U9fFfVXMbLC/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(3).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KQ6Gj0qHYxYGoCaZ6Gf_BaUED_ta55Ce4fHOb9PBmzKqzxgndbTH6duCja2j8jwGeOs9OKYmOv-3tRYcRqtD0dlRLH1DOeNxc3Zylj5tSOCG-bzIBE5GxMTsJ-0_w6Qr-o_iigDRmPcD/s1600/gate.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537544722295669426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KQ6Gj0qHYxYGoCaZ6Gf_BaUED_ta55Ce4fHOb9PBmzKqzxgndbTH6duCja2j8jwGeOs9OKYmOv-3tRYcRqtD0dlRLH1DOeNxc3Zylj5tSOCG-bzIBE5GxMTsJ-0_w6Qr-o_iigDRmPcD/s400/gate.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_UPglFgZrx-CrFwRxuo4_mffjrXJu8mwcPw-KHVKTkis7PiqMSLnULWrIFnf80EOMDUOzbqFbSf8ZBqpImJK3zdXwI44i8nqN9iQuJcL-cibrLeP9BXtr501T5IlKyMKWqdVMsZc_DSi/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(27).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534560436543973106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_UPglFgZrx-CrFwRxuo4_mffjrXJu8mwcPw-KHVKTkis7PiqMSLnULWrIFnf80EOMDUOzbqFbSf8ZBqpImJK3zdXwI44i8nqN9iQuJcL-cibrLeP9BXtr501T5IlKyMKWqdVMsZc_DSi/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(27).jpg" border="0" /></a>That picture again and one I dream of . Imagine it the shed of sheds with a view to die for .<br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzkDR415xkEgZgLa4qiY7aDihrbHxAgMwiS0yIDME77uh2FnO8JD2Yr4iVN09H0ttAc9hfu3xwv6DRUYdgcOhkViEGzya4sMv_C1sdFguz-Llwdzz-AhlG5EzGssl3UZJDqghXMhI-FXs/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+(8).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534559608409175666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 317px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzkDR415xkEgZgLa4qiY7aDihrbHxAgMwiS0yIDME77uh2FnO8JD2Yr4iVN09H0ttAc9hfu3xwv6DRUYdgcOhkViEGzya4sMv_C1sdFguz-Llwdzz-AhlG5EzGssl3UZJDqghXMhI-FXs/s400/%3Cuntitled%3E+(8).jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div><br />Mavlute was always on hand with eternal patience to drive us onto another special place. Only I got the feeling it was only us who thought the villages were all so wonderful . The connection between man and his landscape is something we have nearly lost in Europe and this community is totaly at one with the woods and their landscape but for how long ? The yearning for consumer goods ,western comfort could be the undoing for a community that in truth has so much .</div></div></div></div></div><span style="color:#cc6600;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc6600;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02163388801128962398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088246709246195940.post-9905594165903755682010-08-22T05:56:00.000-07:002011-01-31T04:28:43.514-08:00Meeting up with our muleteers and onto GorgitWe had spent a glorious day discovering the Maral waterfall and few of the villages in the valley but it was time to say our goodbye to Hassan's family and meet up with our Muleteers to travel on to Gorgit and beyond. It was mid morning and once again Macahel was shrouded in mist but the sky swiftly cleared as Mavlute drove us up the valley . Mavlutes hand on the wheel was going to be sadly missed until we were to meet up again at the end of our mountain trek. I was getting fond of our our white van but the next leg of our journey was soon to eclipse the trail of Mavlutes white van .We were going off piste to somewhere special.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDec_EceDdLdAl2P4uOwJn89sxSQV90wb585IxbafdiTOmWo6KYhtYp_cuRZHoER3EpdebY5sej37JrtYyOyog9816vhhgag8Q0OF0nuP0mAdhbgZVnyN6Bqb_jK0OJ5h55rzkthNKNP7/s1600/Villages+on+the+way+to+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537549345163742818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDec_EceDdLdAl2P4uOwJn89sxSQV90wb585IxbafdiTOmWo6KYhtYp_cuRZHoER3EpdebY5sej37JrtYyOyog9816vhhgag8Q0OF0nuP0mAdhbgZVnyN6Bqb_jK0OJ5h55rzkthNKNP7/s400/Villages+on+the+way+to+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a> Before we made our liaison with the Muleteers Hassan took us to a couple of bridges. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Hüseyin </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">was to stay with us for the morning and a nephew of Hassan ,Orhan was going to act as interpreter for the next leg of our journey. His English was poor which later created some confusion with our arrangements but all was to work out fine in the end with the odd amusing hiccup. I suspect Orhan discovered more than he bargained for when he accepted responsibility for translation.</span></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FU5jjgkiAw8VWRzgyQDQ6eBgflWCCyxMJDH0pkBNmOqVoIOQVMh3d9ohXKrl3IoleJdxkfrTHRpEZ7cvRnyXTGbRc6sJyeZZcTcDE_VJcf4dFzUzc-N9TvCsijkQd_SQuG54wCVoOCHQ/s1600/Bridge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537552003404360674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FU5jjgkiAw8VWRzgyQDQ6eBgflWCCyxMJDH0pkBNmOqVoIOQVMh3d9ohXKrl3IoleJdxkfrTHRpEZ7cvRnyXTGbRc6sJyeZZcTcDE_VJcf4dFzUzc-N9TvCsijkQd_SQuG54wCVoOCHQ/s400/Bridge.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"><br />This well known Macahely bridge must have been photographed numerous times and deserved the visit. Notice the slays in the picture below tucked up in the rafters of the roof for the winter.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJl3JNz9OQcu5W2Mh5j6shPxSUk18AciSoekFPj0P3xkCVN9L3opVPDMtaKRwU9KuH3nQYx5XMnpnJhsf9_jBNWvdfRkVJ-3hO0euoIGOUJubrA3cGkG5Qv7pK2dIdfXXRs6emS5qbQTc/s1600/Bridge+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537551998491580546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJl3JNz9OQcu5W2Mh5j6shPxSUk18AciSoekFPj0P3xkCVN9L3opVPDMtaKRwU9KuH3nQYx5XMnpnJhsf9_jBNWvdfRkVJ-3hO0euoIGOUJubrA3cGkG5Qv7pK2dIdfXXRs6emS5qbQTc/s400/Bridge+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyDCCkf94QQZ-bAItzaDo3Z0SdGx9iNwBySk7hU7NexsA9zatmTnnlBt4D5fP0uHXPmj86r4TvJblamR6YXFLCVGAaGY2Zk0H79H9VGcr0jQ3xVCFbozOi4vDIpJzXLmbr_FlPzbrzM5p/s1600/New+building.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537551106039999618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyDCCkf94QQZ-bAItzaDo3Z0SdGx9iNwBySk7hU7NexsA9zatmTnnlBt4D5fP0uHXPmj86r4TvJblamR6YXFLCVGAaGY2Zk0H79H9VGcr0jQ3xVCFbozOi4vDIpJzXLmbr_FlPzbrzM5p/s400/New+building.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"> Adjacent to the bridge is a new building being built in the traditional manner. I thought this image might help to place some of the buildings featured in this Blog into perspective.</span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp9mcQh6EhYDOR2uYuNOhgsJWtGhDn3wYtbjgE582Ipywms6izq2GUo0Ulad9kgPP0E94Fr7ozAQCidLWxg3VPZS8NDC1CnxZFGR36HycgR6ra8owAss2L_yzTiLDDjhtGn14uZB3LElH/s1600/Stone+bridge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537550387149374306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp9mcQh6EhYDOR2uYuNOhgsJWtGhDn3wYtbjgE582Ipywms6izq2GUo0Ulad9kgPP0E94Fr7ozAQCidLWxg3VPZS8NDC1CnxZFGR36HycgR6ra8owAss2L_yzTiLDDjhtGn14uZB3LElH/s400/Stone+bridge.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;"> This amazing bridge shrouded in vegetation was built in the era of Queen Tamar of Georgia </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1184 to 1213</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,102,0)"> and was built in two parts to bridge the two rivers Maral and Efeler before they converged.</span></div><div><span style="color:#cc6600;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#cc6600;">If you are interested </span><span style="color:#cc6600;">there are two large rivers in valleys of Maral and Efeler each given the same names as the valley. Maral (Uğur) river is made by collection of streams :Seyelan, Gavi, Baglugilt, Kuvesegvela, Devlopan, Secra, Galdo, Havinala, Blansşinara, Zemtius and Havitavi .</span></div><div><span style="color:#cc6600;">Efeler river is made up from the streams Nacaklev, Nasapone, Sakatigela, Demirkapı, Sepetiriya, Sadgomi, Tihemliyom, İnce ve Digot . As you might imaging there is an abundance of water.</span></div><div> </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDr6_cCdly8v3TVSVgrbdQPAfHRcbT-f6AQrWC1cNgfF_NIGnu_FS9iu_cubDYZ9PQDgzQGPvxevMSENWfCsDDc6Lp1RR9X0MIvDG7FKeHyjPQh1D94i3kM35f598k9-Yg8Ul6H4lGRRQ/s1600/meeting+our+muleteers+v3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537551116244687618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 273px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDr6_cCdly8v3TVSVgrbdQPAfHRcbT-f6AQrWC1cNgfF_NIGnu_FS9iu_cubDYZ9PQDgzQGPvxevMSENWfCsDDc6Lp1RR9X0MIvDG7FKeHyjPQh1D94i3kM35f598k9-Yg8Ul6H4lGRRQ/s400/meeting+our+muleteers+v3.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAGOQMJM_4Koa4HgfLBH88Tk7KN0Ohhbjk2FAa_WuG_OZ1mHrVfvoOFNfJwfIBOUc1_SgsHEaHQW9NXTtAypjcqXzgk3kTumJN9WraYWFOzAcgWLtGiA2v2ahZUn5N4ts-sjdmugQE_iY/s1600/meeting+our+muleteers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537551123057108322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAGOQMJM_4Koa4HgfLBH88Tk7KN0Ohhbjk2FAa_WuG_OZ1mHrVfvoOFNfJwfIBOUc1_SgsHEaHQW9NXTtAypjcqXzgk3kTumJN9WraYWFOzAcgWLtGiA2v2ahZUn5N4ts-sjdmugQE_iY/s400/meeting+our+muleteers.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#000000;"> By late morning we arrived the village o<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">f </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Efeler </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">to meet our happy band of Muleteers who didn't appear so happy and were very cautious to meet us when we were first introduced somewhat awkwardly by Hassan . It transpired we were the first English people to have hired horses/mules to travel as a group to Gorgit via the national park and beyond a</span>nd this mule trip was all a bit of an experiment . The tough part was saying our goodbyes to Hüseyin who sadly had commitments at his university . His support and assistance had been invaluable and it was a shame he was to miss the next leg of our adventure.</span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537551620311507042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU0oKVnGkrfa0AUXaQVGy5BpsYI4Xw6A4dXss2P31pIwoTS80Wo6ZXcwQ7cvBh2eZF20JOOUDkLG4JhTcBVrSksbDBQTovmpDdKc5l5QmYtawHbr5ORNf8ti6g43rYHqvToMnRBHP06lM/s400/Hitting+the+trail+with++our+muleteers.jpg" border="0" />We took off slowly, a little unsure of what to expect. The path was overgrown but clear to see and once moving our Muleteers and Guides began to relax as we made our way along the trail. As our smiles broke out our Muleteers also began to loosen up and as always all was fine with the world.</span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfGKr6I-SfzMy_mZaRB1GZqCkWlp5C8cqYNWmEz3Ml2CXjWikFTxNzScH5DagooUMxPSIeYohVlo_0hgs8feeFNspExRHl1sCmyTNJ_7-8hivHmP2TFwh2SqB9JTF2sbBKxqQrm6ciqYz/s1600/Hitting+the+trail+with++our+muleteers+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537551132576389282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfGKr6I-SfzMy_mZaRB1GZqCkWlp5C8cqYNWmEz3Ml2CXjWikFTxNzScH5DagooUMxPSIeYohVlo_0hgs8feeFNspExRHl1sCmyTNJ_7-8hivHmP2TFwh2SqB9JTF2sbBKxqQrm6ciqYz/s400/Hitting+the+trail+with++our+muleteers+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5s2-okujlR7H8z_nDScIuCAiuT8Dq6FWJdmN2WuXIomigYnoc3QzIgJ3Qo_PQNTyLqrQ6wBQz8_QD7912bF_fuTHNoiWV936oFPiYA7risslJmLh0z206AFeus1O63Gk20qeY_SHvZDJe/s1600/Richard+and+Gem+walking+to+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537550393392856930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5s2-okujlR7H8z_nDScIuCAiuT8Dq6FWJdmN2WuXIomigYnoc3QzIgJ3Qo_PQNTyLqrQ6wBQz8_QD7912bF_fuTHNoiWV936oFPiYA7risslJmLh0z206AFeus1O63Gk20qeY_SHvZDJe/s400/Richard+and+Gem+walking+to+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Richard was keen to walk so swapped his mule for the footpath and gave his mule up to Hassan who found the walking tough most likely due to his constant smoking. </div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gIrybAFMkhsnLZ7M5rjDzRccO0Ok8-RCIvCXqSEmtO9uthJVu0Emqd4C3dniZIL3r15Zs8IIx6gu6CZrWzejfo5Ta3FqfGBUfgDFH_o0fZySWDx2W7LN3R9DQSODtcLNMt4FYDMAEpTb/s1600/The+trail+to+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537550358435212546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 345px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gIrybAFMkhsnLZ7M5rjDzRccO0Ok8-RCIvCXqSEmtO9uthJVu0Emqd4C3dniZIL3r15Zs8IIx6gu6CZrWzejfo5Ta3FqfGBUfgDFH_o0fZySWDx2W7LN3R9DQSODtcLNMt4FYDMAEpTb/s400/The+trail+to+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH-CPPxSZn7jy-ndUN6Wa7sEfPtrFkVtaQEeaXBFQ_uFQkYI5wEGNuH84vxvD7nBamNbVhxWHUpySt_XCDIlC-jKXOByZmA50KsabNXLrBemOGWt7ErrS6_ZiAdhxcAYAdnkNhY4iytQj/s1600/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537550349871175458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 392px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH-CPPxSZn7jy-ndUN6Wa7sEfPtrFkVtaQEeaXBFQ_uFQkYI5wEGNuH84vxvD7nBamNbVhxWHUpySt_XCDIlC-jKXOByZmA50KsabNXLrBemOGWt7ErrS6_ZiAdhxcAYAdnkNhY4iytQj/s400/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">The most sturdy of mules was chosen to take our luggage and provisions. His panniers were made from woven chestnut lathes making lightweight baskets which are both flexible and strong.</span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_2sBJupKt-BnD3b5otrZKNFcwrvt0fypkiKy7frstYIfABS7ZclZl9gIF7dawvEiMoxL4RK5Nl-mwzb0B6fZdgBYitORUUmSn4MbUcTCg4zG3PvvUIYFZ-4UojctAaTVP7y51ttG0UZT/s1600/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537549909106135154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_2sBJupKt-BnD3b5otrZKNFcwrvt0fypkiKy7frstYIfABS7ZclZl9gIF7dawvEiMoxL4RK5Nl-mwzb0B6fZdgBYitORUUmSn4MbUcTCg4zG3PvvUIYFZ-4UojctAaTVP7y51ttG0UZT/s400/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v3.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLAHROQkrZkUmxRRxx0pgVhh8G8b718LDuI8p9zvun6LdfKO02-wIxJ4zBYV0QX9Lfbe0dy82Hi_JBgJtSZoWeUnP37_0dWs6Q5c-vO3bC9GaGzTq9ubz1t98Aw0luDaYrgtOL0KTnHa8/s1600/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537549898060840514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 318px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLAHROQkrZkUmxRRxx0pgVhh8G8b718LDuI8p9zvun6LdfKO02-wIxJ4zBYV0QX9Lfbe0dy82Hi_JBgJtSZoWeUnP37_0dWs6Q5c-vO3bC9GaGzTq9ubz1t98Aw0luDaYrgtOL0KTnHa8/s400/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v5.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUySFTzC5noEs3SE2QEj6cIvoq8iq6P-go5asfwjwNejWvb5MxnOX-06R6X4Vn3-Rr9ZugT5QG1lWkUhjKhDPbN9Tb74U5Pih5PS7BZerwcClYICOxxCMCNeKelXpF_cDM-hFciYlPVOH/s1600/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537549893405110290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUySFTzC5noEs3SE2QEj6cIvoq8iq6P-go5asfwjwNejWvb5MxnOX-06R6X4Vn3-Rr9ZugT5QG1lWkUhjKhDPbN9Tb74U5Pih5PS7BZerwcClYICOxxCMCNeKelXpF_cDM-hFciYlPVOH/s400/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v6.jpg" border="0" /></a>We had herd tell of the forest on the trail to Gorgit and it didn't let us down. This ancient place with it's trees from another era had an atmosphere and presence of it own. I only wish we could have spent more time soaking up one of the finest forests in Turkey.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yX-AtUxroXyC68IWx3nLB2B2LohdAMKmU5pqwLFtm52VYaW9w-ftm-ySVVKtDRuKFq2aa2sgJCBHS60W3gc1pb0DDN0kOWb8sZP5QBwfJ1FuGjWYzNMoWI5kuJ5XsAEy2P6taJrE95B4/s1600/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537549880101258130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 327px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yX-AtUxroXyC68IWx3nLB2B2LohdAMKmU5pqwLFtm52VYaW9w-ftm-ySVVKtDRuKFq2aa2sgJCBHS60W3gc1pb0DDN0kOWb8sZP5QBwfJ1FuGjWYzNMoWI5kuJ5XsAEy2P6taJrE95B4/s400/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v7.jpg" border="0" /></a>If you have ever travelled on horseback in a forest you will know how very different the experience is compared with hiking. One is not preoccupied with the uneven ground and way ahead. With a Muleteer and on a horseback you can relax and soak up the atmosphere letting the horse do all the hard work and experience far more.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha75nzmwGFXSb7JslfjBehYb_DpQfqdk4lxmPQTIz0lweuNYTlwhppCeZakWu0eI70q5lVKKrsXyTsIqxZwuDNhS56A1kTb9jVdKUB5AQEmeeoICqhmub8FpGtDr0QlkxrFnlsZvde3EoU/s1600/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537549875665801714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha75nzmwGFXSb7JslfjBehYb_DpQfqdk4lxmPQTIz0lweuNYTlwhppCeZakWu0eI70q5lVKKrsXyTsIqxZwuDNhS56A1kTb9jVdKUB5AQEmeeoICqhmub8FpGtDr0QlkxrFnlsZvde3EoU/s400/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9XccT5Kqz_lPj4Gcu4k5bKg4xiQgE5nFwqpeUANt1dw4s90vgBGPSTviaZ_qfqv1AOBd2Idy8FO2JCoFCPU-X0c3EX33g3EgauPLdeFEsHsWxTbZvUCeIs4Vj54ZvnQqi3WPcooDCicX/s1600/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537549374378892738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 305px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9XccT5Kqz_lPj4Gcu4k5bKg4xiQgE5nFwqpeUANt1dw4s90vgBGPSTviaZ_qfqv1AOBd2Idy8FO2JCoFCPU-X0c3EX33g3EgauPLdeFEsHsWxTbZvUCeIs4Vj54ZvnQqi3WPcooDCicX/s400/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v9.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboxh0NHMcSW_l58JjNUWG-qvGCBV1MJKwpZoIvAsGw6TGneSiKY2ZHlTs-2jh4B58u4ZrcuRBx8zJJpOIN3uBD4ivLdrcg0-PRdN7RPobMVPLBhcoyiN2QzUGgkZydWoE-wjtiIV-jWBR/s1600/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537549370454735746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboxh0NHMcSW_l58JjNUWG-qvGCBV1MJKwpZoIvAsGw6TGneSiKY2ZHlTs-2jh4B58u4ZrcuRBx8zJJpOIN3uBD4ivLdrcg0-PRdN7RPobMVPLBhcoyiN2QzUGgkZydWoE-wjtiIV-jWBR/s400/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v10.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6jtst35Iv-BirbphLkZMWrQJj0MaVbVGdoFMQJb4obvs4QCji5Jj55ByajliY8_E5xWHsGKg8Sqkb8QMdK-0y8P2K1CkyD-Io1qioEvIIpSFQzrB6llLTuJrswKAkPvxxXMJQ8G64vUp/s1600/relaxing+on+trail+to+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541180164411504146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6jtst35Iv-BirbphLkZMWrQJj0MaVbVGdoFMQJb4obvs4QCji5Jj55ByajliY8_E5xWHsGKg8Sqkb8QMdK-0y8P2K1CkyD-Io1qioEvIIpSFQzrB6llLTuJrswKAkPvxxXMJQ8G64vUp/s400/relaxing+on+trail+to+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEjBTEwD_vzJYo8KDDe_3PC1YFruq9JxXBayvez0E9UU11CYa5ZPa4jCDGMJKL-wwPkZ0SVY6O8vGLnI5z_XpPMY618PS0tSj9w8V4a4TT6hjss63MmuUQB7AvibMfYyATnvcCqjggC1t/s1600/Trail+to+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541180161217950194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEjBTEwD_vzJYo8KDDe_3PC1YFruq9JxXBayvez0E9UU11CYa5ZPa4jCDGMJKL-wwPkZ0SVY6O8vGLnI5z_XpPMY618PS0tSj9w8V4a4TT6hjss63MmuUQB7AvibMfYyATnvcCqjggC1t/s400/Trail+to+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFcrfNdQmdcxHgfHhFMYTmzu_gku4A4oC0CXUdRet-RVgFk_pJlvPSLM3qXYNIJS7pb_p8Y7-uGdySIVs661P6CW6jBvoTCV5kRu7XAGa6-nmh5r1z3VmzcFE87_4ptWRkicwM-qHphZn/s1600/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537549362823550578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFcrfNdQmdcxHgfHhFMYTmzu_gku4A4oC0CXUdRet-RVgFk_pJlvPSLM3qXYNIJS7pb_p8Y7-uGdySIVs661P6CW6jBvoTCV5kRu7XAGa6-nmh5r1z3VmzcFE87_4ptWRkicwM-qHphZn/s400/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v11.jpg" border="0" /></a>The joy of this type of travel is after a few hours making our way up into the mountains from the villages of Macahel we came to an area which was appeared gently touched by human kind. The odd bridge but nothing else, just a magnificent expanse of the wild.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinalj7jo9GckivX-NFcoaGU07YWBcfu41SOiC-RCNKc8vS8Ezi_16a8tNfQ3jnoROiOxV9JKL30Y5Qw48wTWbqkusG4XMIMTIObaAmFeml4hJYWwPvpp6Qesg2nOpVukXBPP_XZFlylfsf/s1600/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v12.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537549354929415202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinalj7jo9GckivX-NFcoaGU07YWBcfu41SOiC-RCNKc8vS8Ezi_16a8tNfQ3jnoROiOxV9JKL30Y5Qw48wTWbqkusG4XMIMTIObaAmFeml4hJYWwPvpp6Qesg2nOpVukXBPP_XZFlylfsf/s400/The+trail+to+Gorgit+v12.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>I don't have a picture but for much of the time our Muleteers carried umbrellas. This was partly because of the strength of the sun but also with the possibility of the rain. Umbrellas felt so incongruous but they are a fact of life in Macahel as are the ubiquitous rubber shoes worn by so many.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xD30iNSj3Tlod622oKwXrLABnug7_4UNsmRpUzfceulTvYa3odfchB_NbBnvRqmp8N2EOrL0Dqs4nTpIXUamxl8cPzImWn_Gj6FwppeI0Rtp98613AU_TOtqiGnUOfVUvEqNpG0QXvkS/s1600/Arrival+in+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537552023172779634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 281px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xD30iNSj3Tlod622oKwXrLABnug7_4UNsmRpUzfceulTvYa3odfchB_NbBnvRqmp8N2EOrL0Dqs4nTpIXUamxl8cPzImWn_Gj6FwppeI0Rtp98613AU_TOtqiGnUOfVUvEqNpG0QXvkS/s400/Arrival+in+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our arrival in Gorgit was tempered by the ever present mist and the beauty of the Hamlet, high on the Yayala, was yet to behold.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxddY3Zx-3swDFORXrBVHLvIJvFaMAuU81y46a-0NN_Ey5oxmRJ_DNcW2las5ehWHYYzdRYfuG_MWUU-NxYK2JXqCyt9pEHmSEyMtMfMDdvY-4OZFLEMsh4ChI-Tnb3aDc7yK2mhs8z3p/s1600/Arrival+in+Gorgit+with+the+horses+rolling.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537552013127651810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxddY3Zx-3swDFORXrBVHLvIJvFaMAuU81y46a-0NN_Ey5oxmRJ_DNcW2las5ehWHYYzdRYfuG_MWUU-NxYK2JXqCyt9pEHmSEyMtMfMDdvY-4OZFLEMsh4ChI-Tnb3aDc7yK2mhs8z3p/s400/Arrival+in+Gorgit+with+the+horses+rolling.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Once we had dismounted our mules and horses took flight and a couple attempted to roll . Nothing changes and I always enjoy watching the relief expressed by the horses once we have reached our journeys end and they no longer have a weight on their backs.</div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3NgckwZSxPY5ZBFIsDD1XQKTKKEJ3eP8tjrCv9_R1GwrvbOFHBfPMbWfgJHds9xm-DLINaa_kfslUZyyhIwBEJMdwnyuikU5DXlPH-Qbor69Ssl8xk32oOzLQpoyjBw49TMwiFnD6gr7/s1600/Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537551648913545474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3NgckwZSxPY5ZBFIsDD1XQKTKKEJ3eP8tjrCv9_R1GwrvbOFHBfPMbWfgJHds9xm-DLINaa_kfslUZyyhIwBEJMdwnyuikU5DXlPH-Qbor69Ssl8xk32oOzLQpoyjBw49TMwiFnD6gr7/s400/Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a>The mist parted and the view of Gorgit hamlet revealed itself. A magical deserted hamlet for most of the year, only populated when the transhumant population stay while traveling to or from the high Yayala and staying for around a month or longer ,making the most of the verdant pasture.<br /><br /><div>In the Spring Gorgit provides a staging post while waiting for the snow on the highlands to melt and spring sedges and herbs burst into life after the hard winter. In the Autumn the transhumant stock can stay a while in Gorgit to make the most of the summer pasture before they make their way back down to the valley below in Macahel.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_icFgtvxHjrvFDrjhdY-8mYnNkSU3Uwf1grYSraumOG4hCSp9xLDaOfyopzt-Yy-E3CaZbwMMqmlE-PVvJdJFRgwkTtYgdk0wmXBHBmGZD9ijegpsxQO_P0Dtqw-CgDRfXuzcX1x2DoGE/s1600/Gorgit+view.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537551637649122322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_icFgtvxHjrvFDrjhdY-8mYnNkSU3Uwf1grYSraumOG4hCSp9xLDaOfyopzt-Yy-E3CaZbwMMqmlE-PVvJdJFRgwkTtYgdk0wmXBHBmGZD9ijegpsxQO_P0Dtqw-CgDRfXuzcX1x2DoGE/s400/Gorgit+view.jpg" border="0" /></a>The rich green landscape was almost luminescent . With the Alpine sun and abundance of water the vegetation around Gorgit appeared to be in full flood making the most of the short season.<br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq13fOzPjuNybOvH2ZR7o5XdxzPidmR1Upfmi9aWFc46MP2AweLzlktJd_t0cBPbq6l8VDNQFk4ovo77DKIWV8t01soiF6RyWFxxOlvrOaNuSkjSuPRweepC3bQ1SaHRXPsyyla-enlqBp/s1600/Gorgit+view+v3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537551631502083538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq13fOzPjuNybOvH2ZR7o5XdxzPidmR1Upfmi9aWFc46MP2AweLzlktJd_t0cBPbq6l8VDNQFk4ovo77DKIWV8t01soiF6RyWFxxOlvrOaNuSkjSuPRweepC3bQ1SaHRXPsyyla-enlqBp/s400/Gorgit+view+v3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">The first part of our journey on Mule and Horseback had come to an end and we had a day to relax and discover more of the delights of Gorgit which were to be bountiful. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><br /></div><div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:large;">Click on the link below <b>Older Posts</b> to discover more .</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc6600;"></span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02163388801128962398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088246709246195940.post-49711667609478887022010-08-21T01:08:00.000-07:002011-01-31T04:32:21.781-08:00A day in GorgitIf you have found this Blog by chance you have found an account of a unique Alpine tradition in the lesser Caucasus. Take my advice and strongly consider the trip to somewhere very special.<br /><br /><br />We had arrived in Gorgit after a three or four hours ride. The valley of Gorgit welcomed us with a wash of mist circling the valley but soon the sun drifted down behind the mountains without murmur. Our lodge was clean and welcoming and we ate our excellent supper on lodge terrace watching the wooden houses before us being swallowed up by the swirling mists stalking the valley .We were tired after an exhilarating day with our new found friends the muleteers and made our way to bed early. The following day was to be spent in Gorgit and one we were all going to cherish.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEijr3Hcc0mh5r2W1ycNoOjyCMIomnU6_JZ1HoZaDB3mIQxsOR5BzhyphenhyphenHWDWQGhZrJnlkD12EgEd8ZtfSPFykuswdaewtesNfA2EcpwJloI-H-akBaP_-YXvC5AB1P9YZLeS8EmEwrH9QM/s1600/Unpacking+mule+in+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541188083783237762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEijr3Hcc0mh5r2W1ycNoOjyCMIomnU6_JZ1HoZaDB3mIQxsOR5BzhyphenhyphenHWDWQGhZrJnlkD12EgEd8ZtfSPFykuswdaewtesNfA2EcpwJloI-H-akBaP_-YXvC5AB1P9YZLeS8EmEwrH9QM/s400/Unpacking+mule+in+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />When we arrived one of the muleteers wife and her sister were already at the lodge to help unpack provisions and prepare supper. Understandably they were very shy . We were strangers ,outsiders but we were made to feel welcome. I understand the women were there all summer to look after the lodge and travelers but that is all I could discover from Orhan who was now our interpreter and details were often difficult to unravel as was his English but tried exceptionally hard.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5tmeku23jgqqhbI-zifUZyJChQ1yfseCiAqF4SKjGkaPxEh356TjQ9phAkY2ItwkeennddSCqYpTsPQh0P7fIHfDF6Mi1hbD80GGDRR63QR4Cv8sA_-VgZX0ok8L4GyFZ4EPSDwjF-_r/s1600/homestay+in+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541186197691750354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5tmeku23jgqqhbI-zifUZyJChQ1yfseCiAqF4SKjGkaPxEh356TjQ9phAkY2ItwkeennddSCqYpTsPQh0P7fIHfDF6Mi1hbD80GGDRR63QR4Cv8sA_-VgZX0ok8L4GyFZ4EPSDwjF-_r/s400/homestay+in+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>In the morning the sun shone and swiftly burned the previous nights mists away. Our lodge had pride of position in the valley, looking down on what could only be described as the perfect idyll. Gorgit village was made up from ancient wooded cabins scattered across the valley, just far enough from the mountain to avoid the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ubiquitous winter <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">avalanche</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2RVgtghpMwBNlXNfulwkrvo4hCNynqcnPXIliH91xSVlld8H-q4ff-XYvfolL-xGYV8ZSo6nXGAVNJhRcWu_IAOfxg2ZVgZSxE4QlL-4LN5br2_IHuBL7xn5Cxdz6F8VT61xckwC7usX/s1600/Getting+ready++to+leave+Gorgit+v3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541185802571485778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2RVgtghpMwBNlXNfulwkrvo4hCNynqcnPXIliH91xSVlld8H-q4ff-XYvfolL-xGYV8ZSo6nXGAVNJhRcWu_IAOfxg2ZVgZSxE4QlL-4LN5br2_IHuBL7xn5Cxdz6F8VT61xckwC7usX/s400/Getting+ready++to+leave+Gorgit+v3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">We asked our new friends to pose for a picture with some of the mules and horses.</span><br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFuJBf4JlYtiwXbCabaRffEeNLv7-_sgc_PjEbo9dKq_-7Rl6kq-bYqumI9dDMGx-CKBG2egRBfNdnfPNSsaPs-IKH9WGM2zzVS4FinO6c9Pb2582LUrMbN5wqRDuEIAI3FLMvi9bQZ_a/s1600/the+team+in+Gorgit+v3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541188076559113538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFuJBf4JlYtiwXbCabaRffEeNLv7-_sgc_PjEbo9dKq_-7Rl6kq-bYqumI9dDMGx-CKBG2egRBfNdnfPNSsaPs-IKH9WGM2zzVS4FinO6c9Pb2582LUrMbN5wqRDuEIAI3FLMvi9bQZ_a/s400/the+team+in+Gorgit+v3.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;">We all posed for the camera and a nice team we were too.</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBgPECBjO7aSb-FcdRVvE3_ETjjF-kef9g7_Hb0jLgRxaGAFHHkx-qYrkz4iobB-7CTSev0r5mAEpv0_rWvB_9TjmLYvlZd0wWlWnafQ-r23bgTju2Phv_ppUAf0DvJEFjbwFu1Pjxcek/s1600/Muleteer+in+Gorgit+v3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541187621700969442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBgPECBjO7aSb-FcdRVvE3_ETjjF-kef9g7_Hb0jLgRxaGAFHHkx-qYrkz4iobB-7CTSev0r5mAEpv0_rWvB_9TjmLYvlZd0wWlWnafQ-r23bgTju2Phv_ppUAf0DvJEFjbwFu1Pjxcek/s400/Muleteer+in+Gorgit+v3.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">One chap caught all of our attention. A truly lovely man who had real style but I don't think this was his objective in life but he certainly had what it t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">akes. You need to see how his trousers are tucked into his rubber shoes. Eat your heart out John Galliano.</span><br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sS0Zzi5zawkEot42owP1GfeljQRda1UHAhEinQHutsnedMx5NS2cY_bC8XoB_OcEzYG9F4DqONi8-SAZsR4rSwRsn9nKNl1KfWEIphZLxsXr1LG8-J-y_ekrE3Yb36JdHdGkHtSHUe8_/s1600/Muleteer+in+Gorgit+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541187614462968562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sS0Zzi5zawkEot42owP1GfeljQRda1UHAhEinQHutsnedMx5NS2cY_bC8XoB_OcEzYG9F4DqONi8-SAZsR4rSwRsn9nKNl1KfWEIphZLxsXr1LG8-J-y_ekrE3Yb36JdHdGkHtSHUe8_/s400/Muleteer+in+Gorgit+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Our head muleteer was another stylish chap who demonstrated real grace and calm. I just wish I could sport a moustache like his.</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMO6bcCsvCT_mXfN_XSog6bniLfYrEqN6-Ku1QF7ub8lLwjpo5-8Lf1Ozhcv38ujtQpoi37dvZ6p1_RS5ouRs9VDItCgPFRnU7eJMuIeYTNG_rZ7VJMDkCkgfv4L_HuPS3oUBb2u-eTLX-/s1600/Melissa+in+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541187045398911250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMO6bcCsvCT_mXfN_XSog6bniLfYrEqN6-Ku1QF7ub8lLwjpo5-8Lf1Ozhcv38ujtQpoi37dvZ6p1_RS5ouRs9VDItCgPFRnU7eJMuIeYTNG_rZ7VJMDkCkgfv4L_HuPS3oUBb2u-eTLX-/s400/Melissa+in+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a>Gorgit was built as a staging post between the villages in <span style="font-family:georgia;">Macahel and Beyazsu Yayala</span> .It is still considered as a Yayala but used only in Spring and Autumn when moving stock high up into the mountains or for the return journey back down into the valley. Some of the buildings were to keep stock in overnight while others performed as basic wooden cottages. If you are into sheds, as I am, these neat little shacks are brilliant.<br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihu-8JoxJ-pLBC6YIeF56qf2pmSbdpAjf4KZyFZ5eOBb7EAhuonos3WGKVqGHYT7ohEVylsZmLg7JSz69I_mHajqyt7ZVP8snNAPv0FnEJt74heugYsX2wC4mwQSbl8fA9SwmpXnZDar-j/s1600/Iona+and++Richard+in+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541186220147464930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihu-8JoxJ-pLBC6YIeF56qf2pmSbdpAjf4KZyFZ5eOBb7EAhuonos3WGKVqGHYT7ohEVylsZmLg7JSz69I_mHajqyt7ZVP8snNAPv0FnEJt74heugYsX2wC4mwQSbl8fA9SwmpXnZDar-j/s400/Iona+and++Richard+in+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmwCBkVQnjHBjeyINFCDx2iIkXl3iuvBZ8m_sLBav_6Rsaysr2bmTLSWk_Q8JgJMTYu0DwZcGIhzjXaM2CySbbrX8-sB3fGwC0Pr2cLN78homP8L1yuv-cHzqMXviNYdYMtFFUQFWKYUA/s1600/Houses+in+Gorgit+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541186216449022018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmwCBkVQnjHBjeyINFCDx2iIkXl3iuvBZ8m_sLBav_6Rsaysr2bmTLSWk_Q8JgJMTYu0DwZcGIhzjXaM2CySbbrX8-sB3fGwC0Pr2cLN78homP8L1yuv-cHzqMXviNYdYMtFFUQFWKYUA/s400/Houses+in+Gorgit+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Notice the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">shingle</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;"> roofs and stones on the roof to stop the winter elements from taking the roof with it.</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqMKzIv55Xpx9xuNnSBntf5Eyb442A7cEcr77vl3_mBTinAnSuo-NwagexQIqnAgMZqGFMMcQmvg9jJ1gqf2PUK3HA-afRMdqW9ehrb7Q8garEd9NoOh0mEkC_9xY95RqlI5iR0X3P_Fn/s1600/House+in+Gorgit+v1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541186209938944210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqMKzIv55Xpx9xuNnSBntf5Eyb442A7cEcr77vl3_mBTinAnSuo-NwagexQIqnAgMZqGFMMcQmvg9jJ1gqf2PUK3HA-afRMdqW9ehrb7Q8garEd9NoOh0mEkC_9xY95RqlI5iR0X3P_Fn/s400/House+in+Gorgit+v1.jpg" border="0" /></a>The pipe protruding out of the back of the building is a stove chimney. All these timber homes are built from the local chestnut. I noticed many of the boards were cut by hand if not all and the ground floor in this fine example was built for the stock - cattle,sheep or goats.<br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimU_B2CHkovySwNmuNlFFj4LolDpxxY7V5OMKNsHx7K3kRMT20jPpPlHwoEqwX4eOtrjGgTIb1Afsw2hRhfuzqRAvo51iAFDbc7u-udYprGbdezOy1PwTMiqj8UzVCKPajsPoCGSBbN5v/s1600/Gorgit+house+v3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542072139395346722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimU_B2CHkovySwNmuNlFFj4LolDpxxY7V5OMKNsHx7K3kRMT20jPpPlHwoEqwX4eOtrjGgTIb1Afsw2hRhfuzqRAvo51iAFDbc7u-udYprGbdezOy1PwTMiqj8UzVCKPajsPoCGSBbN5v/s400/Gorgit+house+v3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DXfqXz6SEBNYskixasCf4q2U5HQ_Zgv4La3u_AEJp62TEb0bqk_Nm2N5BDfyRdF3YNmN9y_eQJ1iQDmTnzgzqP7ccOimhbI7ImdMg9PUcthMQlKAO-o56pb6dStDjNq8tcPYAa-K9abe/s1600/Gorgit+house+detail.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542072122579044738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DXfqXz6SEBNYskixasCf4q2U5HQ_Zgv4La3u_AEJp62TEb0bqk_Nm2N5BDfyRdF3YNmN9y_eQJ1iQDmTnzgzqP7ccOimhbI7ImdMg9PUcthMQlKAO-o56pb6dStDjNq8tcPYAa-K9abe/s400/Gorgit+house+detail.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Gq4ToWN7NYea-dpTXIkuG29TKaxC43-w4uX4vhm6NYCpPxRqjCX4G_CfjrGiiSVb6fCTswrG4Ag5EVLroeTUvUT_ROBsEjDLifCvorqJTtzRuJ7IyxCEXz3ZZa6l3nDQrNWig1cv2qBb/s1600/Houses+in+Gorgit+v3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543487298302940434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Gq4ToWN7NYea-dpTXIkuG29TKaxC43-w4uX4vhm6NYCpPxRqjCX4G_CfjrGiiSVb6fCTswrG4Ag5EVLroeTUvUT_ROBsEjDLifCvorqJTtzRuJ7IyxCEXz3ZZa6l3nDQrNWig1cv2qBb/s400/Houses+in+Gorgit+v3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubq0zkvWQRVctmgO3Y-6R5S4vkiy2eSULCUZQ_6jss33D_KrEP8Ew4R1ujKciSH6rAfUoJXYR4YUuLenJXQ1vMgYCBrH63_lAXskAXnKcDTkjIYeDf1oUqLP2xvk1kZltHf3ZbQwEmjUw/s1600/House+in+Gorgit+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543487224255791522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubq0zkvWQRVctmgO3Y-6R5S4vkiy2eSULCUZQ_6jss33D_KrEP8Ew4R1ujKciSH6rAfUoJXYR4YUuLenJXQ1vMgYCBrH63_lAXskAXnKcDTkjIYeDf1oUqLP2xvk1kZltHf3ZbQwEmjUw/s400/House+in+Gorgit+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQCDQF3OsoOP1jfvfFBAfBQM9tpIgP5cNLe8K2cUI6nOYKzmMi-nnccLmNpzvO92cVpD6UBrCWZCxg1xtL8nnNX_tp9_p0dr9NUq4aMY4eC2eLRcYEegVDKajhZZa_-BcAezCfIwBjYNy/s1600/House+in+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543487215641375122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQCDQF3OsoOP1jfvfFBAfBQM9tpIgP5cNLe8K2cUI6nOYKzmMi-nnccLmNpzvO92cVpD6UBrCWZCxg1xtL8nnNX_tp9_p0dr9NUq4aMY4eC2eLRcYEegVDKajhZZa_-BcAezCfIwBjYNy/s400/House+in+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAEct93QaVdDIwDc6f5GDIdgJQSCOP_eNICh6pGWD4KZjAGrsVeFu5jOtAtz_f11HvMjwK_N8mO3LCN7HLJa1-Arba6VS_tXnlr8nHl9nQEvvnYAvSjqbDsC0eYRXLTplBCZoR29_uSvB/s1600/Gorgit+village.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543487208967616962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAEct93QaVdDIwDc6f5GDIdgJQSCOP_eNICh6pGWD4KZjAGrsVeFu5jOtAtz_f11HvMjwK_N8mO3LCN7HLJa1-Arba6VS_tXnlr8nHl9nQEvvnYAvSjqbDsC0eYRXLTplBCZoR29_uSvB/s400/Gorgit+village.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />When we arrived in Gorgit I thought of the early settlers in the US and the type of buildings they were creating with the basic tools they could afford and the state of repair many settlers homes would have been in. Life was very tough for the early Americans and life was not how as it is often depicted in the movies. There was very little time to spend smartening up the place and the vernacular would have been much the same. If not more basic. Travelling around Eastern Europe I've seen many homes built in a similar way, utilising local materials while using the same basic equipment.</div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-svRXIOUemREF2walZs1rz2L4BZL1SUCXWzRxHGR9zO81gG15u_bsO107CIls5K02xiUAZAvT_e1BEgdM0xvDkgr1H_BlyhsIfvHmLu9igcmw23oNNdTJX1ruqTYY_bLCHm3gHueAhF3/s1600/Hassan+in+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541186195361395250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-svRXIOUemREF2walZs1rz2L4BZL1SUCXWzRxHGR9zO81gG15u_bsO107CIls5K02xiUAZAvT_e1BEgdM0xvDkgr1H_BlyhsIfvHmLu9igcmw23oNNdTJX1ruqTYY_bLCHm3gHueAhF3/s400/Hassan+in+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">Yes Hassan with his cigarette looking pensive. We must have been a great worry to him although I can't think why.</span></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouFEeUz4aF6tBsdBADrZ2bntA2JAhyphenhyphendudZgzdeSdM6f_ZoXsoZieYE6K0ICxBXE9Y-LGH5qemjgsyaf2pdOPDxRh3XEUKC_kmsYbKdwFgULumNKc5hN41Hi0u8Bl7TwrCYMTrrvutwIVw/s1600/Gorgit+well.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541185813452329010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouFEeUz4aF6tBsdBADrZ2bntA2JAhyphenhyphendudZgzdeSdM6f_ZoXsoZieYE6K0ICxBXE9Y-LGH5qemjgsyaf2pdOPDxRh3XEUKC_kmsYbKdwFgULumNKc5hN41Hi0u8Bl7TwrCYMTrrvutwIVw/s400/Gorgit+well.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">At the top of the hill looking over the valley we discovered the village spring burbling away as it disgorged its </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc6600;">trickle of sweet water.</span><br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU-pSBgAqYECt_p6-rmHjIPAqXXFIlKp0cl3Kss8lHLaUBgssHoSyx__Tu8B8udX3AZkKRl9fxBFEOqbpiW19GkZwktZWnLbzf3LTHCuxS83d1IRN5pHK1WT4JpiIkjm9_jO-easFTOFL/s1600/Looking+down+on++Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541187033591483426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU-pSBgAqYECt_p6-rmHjIPAqXXFIlKp0cl3Kss8lHLaUBgssHoSyx__Tu8B8udX3AZkKRl9fxBFEOqbpiW19GkZwktZWnLbzf3LTHCuxS83d1IRN5pHK1WT4JpiIkjm9_jO-easFTOFL/s400/Looking+down+on++Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc6600;">We had a day of leisure which we spent walking up the mountain trail and beyond to discover more scenic delights.</span></div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGE6Z66sjicWCxNLTkQ4n1rASTN_iSOTkqyrmI0zEjayBSSZit6wBn8R_RG4bisUzHjZhT9yunVZrxU4GUdMtjrZgQdGGnMYrolBtsH4uwBLgclGZqD3p3H3C76SU-pJHqkAlTOEV0VTN/s1600/daytrip+from+Gorgit+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541185797242910754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGE6Z66sjicWCxNLTkQ4n1rASTN_iSOTkqyrmI0zEjayBSSZit6wBn8R_RG4bisUzHjZhT9yunVZrxU4GUdMtjrZgQdGGnMYrolBtsH4uwBLgclGZqD3p3H3C76SU-pJHqkAlTOEV0VTN/s400/daytrip+from+Gorgit+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiO186PEkdIqfW1lzab4IgFlncEZ0Sycaqd3zJ2SndqgrCciyXZkxFqYxRA5cfAVKa0HYErW1D1Jbe9cce-t0Bbuwr65d-hSHckc3B1_LTyq7M6hvtDUV54dezERAhWw3Tx2hOojGC7hhh/s1600/daytrip+from+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541185781427672962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 284px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiO186PEkdIqfW1lzab4IgFlncEZ0Sycaqd3zJ2SndqgrCciyXZkxFqYxRA5cfAVKa0HYErW1D1Jbe9cce-t0Bbuwr65d-hSHckc3B1_LTyq7M6hvtDUV54dezERAhWw3Tx2hOojGC7hhh/s400/daytrip+from+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtF0dZRsJHmBvmxctaoAk3fBZXllUHTuX42ByG5gM2CbENLXESLWiuFzlSrk90pJ9KAu_UcHOWIAW0TizsjRuDhM6hAdACPWLEgi3eFcdYdqYq2Y2Om6Fd9M_1zlkVH15f_Lu6A9KnJxch/s1600/Chris+in+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541185779430769522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtF0dZRsJHmBvmxctaoAk3fBZXllUHTuX42ByG5gM2CbENLXESLWiuFzlSrk90pJ9KAu_UcHOWIAW0TizsjRuDhM6hAdACPWLEgi3eFcdYdqYq2Y2Om6Fd9M_1zlkVH15f_Lu6A9KnJxch/s400/Chris+in+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is me just chilling out. My health is now very poor after catching legionnaire's disease in China and I've had serious rheumatoid arthritis for 22 years so if a cripple like me can make it to Gorgit you should consider it.<br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tLTvDqVLq1FwnM6NimM2Jo5i5mVMVsQZ12O83R2VZdER_33jyK848U-4mUjyXMk4SIGQ-_0GkbauqDs0Tlin-0l-Jw5tQ0HlRO8w7neXAYyXt-QUhlkQBjIDhhMwo9vOdHQUE6mTekyp/s1600/Orhan+in+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541187639018020594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tLTvDqVLq1FwnM6NimM2Jo5i5mVMVsQZ12O83R2VZdER_33jyK848U-4mUjyXMk4SIGQ-_0GkbauqDs0Tlin-0l-Jw5tQ0HlRO8w7neXAYyXt-QUhlkQBjIDhhMwo9vOdHQUE6mTekyp/s400/Orhan+in+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a>Hassan and our interpreter Orhan. My advice is always travel with an interpreter if you can. It helps you connect and get out of the travellers bubble .<br /><br /></div><div><div><a style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAcGvExHhsuRFy50r0EfxR24GlTBr_ht-u-oU548xwiIY55HM8yjU5vPgMKu8HE03JNCUP31X7SUSrpScTBMz7pPB57xW1exYWEMQygpm0sd0YbERh46ovuZhmTuayPX5j5x0duPVC-Ws/s1600/Muleteers+in+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541187634674168130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAcGvExHhsuRFy50r0EfxR24GlTBr_ht-u-oU548xwiIY55HM8yjU5vPgMKu8HE03JNCUP31X7SUSrpScTBMz7pPB57xW1exYWEMQygpm0sd0YbERh46ovuZhmTuayPX5j5x0duPVC-Ws/s400/Muleteers+in+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:11;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here are a few more some assorted images of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Gorgit</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> our Muleteers and hosts at the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Gorgit</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> guest house .</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />I still have to compile this work and annotate it but until that time the images are still worth looking at .</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDE_LhfB5U4bWBK7J2MAz2auWtmhFazEFOc7cMlKSiah48t-c4zAzINnGQISmlyg1Zvpj33GXnuoDNlKIg_1r4D3iNgSN6AguqSK5lQFoxZEZqLUc5ozP7uOsjH9N4KqeO05Mf2TVQ_L1/s1600/stove+in+Gorgit+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541187647077162818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDE_LhfB5U4bWBK7J2MAz2auWtmhFazEFOc7cMlKSiah48t-c4zAzINnGQISmlyg1Zvpj33GXnuoDNlKIg_1r4D3iNgSN6AguqSK5lQFoxZEZqLUc5ozP7uOsjH9N4KqeO05Mf2TVQ_L1/s400/stove+in+Gorgit+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><a style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLInWzvGUoidEWujUaqeG6S8qfjbWW0OlFGv0qkJtisjm2Jrvko07LeCHLi_Qwqeb6dNWEy7uqAa-VtKZ9BpKIXys8H_dnZZ3GY1jCdKGRBh_yXURRchY6r8jXyrqzywPn-aaX_LOYLLqK/s1600/Lunch+in+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541187039938912738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLInWzvGUoidEWujUaqeG6S8qfjbWW0OlFGv0qkJtisjm2Jrvko07LeCHLi_Qwqeb6dNWEy7uqAa-VtKZ9BpKIXys8H_dnZZ3GY1jCdKGRBh_yXURRchY6r8jXyrqzywPn-aaX_LOYLLqK/s400/Lunch+in+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><a style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17Wxbg42tjLdMCMk4YaruRED0E6gT_tXSbWX0pF42IXi_k7KaH2cdJsergR0zeNP9LbG4HHLJSAUX1Nlji_As4Ht6Dmx2odfKTSALzYJoUtxmRhSXL8ovMzSn-RNECxQq9R0ARLO7eKIu/s1600/Woman+in+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541188088083555298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17Wxbg42tjLdMCMk4YaruRED0E6gT_tXSbWX0pF42IXi_k7KaH2cdJsergR0zeNP9LbG4HHLJSAUX1Nlji_As4Ht6Dmx2odfKTSALzYJoUtxmRhSXL8ovMzSn-RNECxQq9R0ARLO7eKIu/s400/Woman+in+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dl28YAWSurOFu38cPRjoYw70599VHoQsRY1oSSeBGcszafRbzWeDjLG5FpGmCvr9_vEP6TOvJayY40iPXnRS8G-ErbwlZlld8aHvSMqPGYHOm_yLvHQrxYCjcHLA5f3rDMadcsIQg_fe/s1600/leaving+Gorgit+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541187018627465090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dl28YAWSurOFu38cPRjoYw70599VHoQsRY1oSSeBGcszafRbzWeDjLG5FpGmCvr9_vEP6TOvJayY40iPXnRS8G-ErbwlZlld8aHvSMqPGYHOm_yLvHQrxYCjcHLA5f3rDMadcsIQg_fe/s400/leaving+Gorgit+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was time to leave and make our way to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Beyazsu</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yayala</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> where things were about to get interesting.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraPgGtJNKNfRDnT8p1kGzpj7C2j04DeaQMJmBZ369KSLo2OreEpZs7beqweNfrXHJeGgsIgogBx2TL83dEO_TA1uOOiM-Zjq7YBBPs7qfO5BzZN15dscqpWKAl4yoGQl6zjT1EDTa-NaS/s1600/leaving+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542076654656666290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraPgGtJNKNfRDnT8p1kGzpj7C2j04DeaQMJmBZ369KSLo2OreEpZs7beqweNfrXHJeGgsIgogBx2TL83dEO_TA1uOOiM-Zjq7YBBPs7qfO5BzZN15dscqpWKAl4yoGQl6zjT1EDTa-NaS/s400/leaving+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6qWlfMxfomWH2JwG-7ikyWt2c7WITGizCskTypMfzi8aaLtv-HbqfBHUpUxjCLkyR4BBUOIClIBh4Pg7ocj7oLevH9ZuVFobTleyq-G4zDsivI1NOkjh9iu7hTIES_Nk29mQudyxicR8/s1600/Gorgit+from+a+distance.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542072102866250610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6qWlfMxfomWH2JwG-7ikyWt2c7WITGizCskTypMfzi8aaLtv-HbqfBHUpUxjCLkyR4BBUOIClIBh4Pg7ocj7oLevH9ZuVFobTleyq-G4zDsivI1NOkjh9iu7hTIES_Nk29mQudyxicR8/s400/Gorgit+from+a+distance.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">looking back on Gorgit I wanted to understand more about the place. The the role it played in the villages life from Macahel. My picture was unclear, largely because of the quality of interpretation available and the value our fellow travelers from Macahel placed on Gorgit. It has unique qualities many of which we were only to appreciated on reflection after our journey through this magnificent land.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIzwthAPYq68A3CuGaOX0OSTkK0cm7kedBrjVSkcYUthKwwpLrP8RGTBEBoDtTA9VDA51ZLao5M3IBEAnB9K5EIsw1aCc2l6pGxmkvfTpwNVBicFZcSt-IERyMxfpIEvzQ0DjvKzsHXwr/s1600/leaving+Gorgit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543487629990529186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIzwthAPYq68A3CuGaOX0OSTkK0cm7kedBrjVSkcYUthKwwpLrP8RGTBEBoDtTA9VDA51ZLao5M3IBEAnB9K5EIsw1aCc2l6pGxmkvfTpwNVBicFZcSt-IERyMxfpIEvzQ0DjvKzsHXwr/s400/leaving+Gorgit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div></span></div></div></div></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02163388801128962398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088246709246195940.post-6461661881410800452010-08-20T23:35:00.000-07:002011-01-31T04:33:47.992-08:00Traveling with pistol packing muleteers to Beyazsu Yayala<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">This was the third day with our Muleteers friends and although we had no common language we enjoyed their company immensely. One curious aspect of this happy band was their preoccupation with guns. While we were in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gorgit</span> we had spied one of the guys shooting with a very old rifle and another with a pistol. It was target practice and quite an innocent affair but to our amusement while traveling with the mules to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Beyazsu</span> one of the mules lost its load as it hit a tree and boxes of cartridge shells spilt out all over the track. The shells were swiftly repacked and nothing was said but what became apparent was most of the lads were packing pistols for their own protection, against what we will never know because bears and wolves would be long gone by the time we arrived. The truth is the mountains are a wild and exciting place and our Muleteers loved any sense of adventure and the pistols just added to the drama. Guns are readily available in Turkey as they are in the US but to an Englishman who prides himself on his license for a shotgun which is safely stored in my gun safe our Muleteers relaxed attitude came from an era long gone in the UK.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvF3rv5_y-urVzH5RRxbxViTzDoJUL-qL-noDwZn-5j8TChZmbLkS30WOsn5YF7TVOWUVaRqVgDanovGy71lYLdJ4ySCzDq6r8RxkCgewYRRs9dhyo0b3UXBGVqq4iPey7GP4YZZ8-rkx/s1600/Trail+to+Beyazsu+Yayala+%25281%2529.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543555882714870562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvF3rv5_y-urVzH5RRxbxViTzDoJUL-qL-noDwZn-5j8TChZmbLkS30WOsn5YF7TVOWUVaRqVgDanovGy71lYLdJ4ySCzDq6r8RxkCgewYRRs9dhyo0b3UXBGVqq4iPey7GP4YZZ8-rkx/s400/Trail+to+Beyazsu+Yayala+%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bPxhwjQLTuvec1L3HOgR-kE4bQAzF_iQwbtkYPXm-MdGcaKiMWAHoSElAohhK8-vQxV1Exibdm45_YOOOxNwhyHVAXiex_STG1y1f6OtE4pV_rq86s85M7G-AnA2Bci3iB06CWbTT9qv/s1600/Trail+to+Beyazsu+Yayala++v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543555871041866066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bPxhwjQLTuvec1L3HOgR-kE4bQAzF_iQwbtkYPXm-MdGcaKiMWAHoSElAohhK8-vQxV1Exibdm45_YOOOxNwhyHVAXiex_STG1y1f6OtE4pV_rq86s85M7G-AnA2Bci3iB06CWbTT9qv/s400/Trail+to+Beyazsu+Yayala++v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9WQxtEBS_plH7wSL2Xt_o5C9pQmitPAplwOtMRRqmemi596xK6EEE9QKSRA80zzPla0tjAs5tEO-Zi3lH76GSFPEPZsQZ7pA5L5BJMvpLSk03XtsMfx-G_Pbf_M3mrxMTRdcgbR6uCdP/s1600/Trail+to+Beyazsu+Yayala++v2.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7iANEXQRkvPZAUAAjblsW2mpuezbFHAZP_mslKOYpTqGUcHV8PmGiiG57wvy5A3KpkXA1YfkXt2_S-DmU-g68WUJnljR4Kj0FQG1JPFFBsKiZL7j5L1PpEZX58UvO_FbcYO6OOhDSyWF/s1600/Trail+to+Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543555110098745746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7iANEXQRkvPZAUAAjblsW2mpuezbFHAZP_mslKOYpTqGUcHV8PmGiiG57wvy5A3KpkXA1YfkXt2_S-DmU-g68WUJnljR4Kj0FQG1JPFFBsKiZL7j5L1PpEZX58UvO_FbcYO6OOhDSyWF/s400/Trail+to+Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg" border="0" /></a>The trail to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Beyazsu</span> was very easy going and just the thing for a mornings foray into the Turkish countryside.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5l7SQtWuCU_R0EGRYFk5iD3LkVptIsN8k6DUOdOwHH9XdF9K8TLS5pja1sZr7iE83mvs4cBciGq2BRTdMyrYPHfmDj-RQdiPZ-tvu7YyWWWlhY57iLi9cvEosa_4h4XeiH2z8Uz5IY7dM/s1600/Taking+a+rest+o+the+way+to+Beyazsu+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543555074377369490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5l7SQtWuCU_R0EGRYFk5iD3LkVptIsN8k6DUOdOwHH9XdF9K8TLS5pja1sZr7iE83mvs4cBciGq2BRTdMyrYPHfmDj-RQdiPZ-tvu7YyWWWlhY57iLi9cvEosa_4h4XeiH2z8Uz5IY7dM/s400/Taking+a+rest+o+the+way+to+Beyazsu+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a>After a while we stopped to let the mules rest. The guys settled down and started make an instrument , a type of whistle with a reed. The sound was hilarious and soon we had a band of musicians piping a discordant tune across the valley.</div><div><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMzSTjf2IyGgNJmKQ94fzfZef0JgsdNZ05U903lvD9LrTs5efN1loweLhuBXa9nBtaNvFgoulIfDR84DBwnU2gpIUxxXAeV8H-syjwMy-vnZ8w5C-mY0jDU3orTpHalgtF1bZ_8BDW7_a/s1600/Making+a+whistle+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543554148750012242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMzSTjf2IyGgNJmKQ94fzfZef0JgsdNZ05U903lvD9LrTs5efN1loweLhuBXa9nBtaNvFgoulIfDR84DBwnU2gpIUxxXAeV8H-syjwMy-vnZ8w5C-mY0jDU3orTpHalgtF1bZ_8BDW7_a/s400/Making+a+whistle+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSl2H_vRSeKihw7jtUgWW628ND5bp3gbVaIQW-nORHiuxKAyYJUGTqbTB3o4aRyRZz9sg4VG0AYxbVc73gx_0g3hSXFDGmCnl0henphPnIs_QwKgsRXKdAXYKxdCjERTiKkXqrFhj03lUS/s1600/Making+a+whistle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543554108530881618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSl2H_vRSeKihw7jtUgWW628ND5bp3gbVaIQW-nORHiuxKAyYJUGTqbTB3o4aRyRZz9sg4VG0AYxbVc73gx_0g3hSXFDGmCnl0henphPnIs_QwKgsRXKdAXYKxdCjERTiKkXqrFhj03lUS/s400/Making+a+whistle.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvT4hguVcBWUOe_qxzQJKaW1Zs_CyTJ0TCBX9UxRb9IWnGzMMX5W7ezZNre_K9cIZ46meNfMYI3B1oqQvI_8x5B5bzG13hLhdYZ5dhgpztHxj_Zk86HLg19Fn2X26sQRvpnKW9DN6vx_l/s1600/Taking+a+rest+on+the+way+to+Beyazsu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543555063685651938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvT4hguVcBWUOe_qxzQJKaW1Zs_CyTJ0TCBX9UxRb9IWnGzMMX5W7ezZNre_K9cIZ46meNfMYI3B1oqQvI_8x5B5bzG13hLhdYZ5dhgpztHxj_Zk86HLg19Fn2X26sQRvpnKW9DN6vx_l/s400/Taking+a+rest+on+the+way+to+Beyazsu.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmjku-f1S67Z3FXRq9dcyGL_l5PVqhOq7o1wCRYPtnZeRG_55k4GZ0fpgj5PH5p9IZlNvKKnE1DnXvtckfRjUmTpg_eNDzTwgoxb0dGtuukuuE9FDAbg0Cr6xsRGVSqoA9_YhrYC0w-Yf/s1600/road+to+Beyazsu+v5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543554612917180962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmjku-f1S67Z3FXRq9dcyGL_l5PVqhOq7o1wCRYPtnZeRG_55k4GZ0fpgj5PH5p9IZlNvKKnE1DnXvtckfRjUmTpg_eNDzTwgoxb0dGtuukuuE9FDAbg0Cr6xsRGVSqoA9_YhrYC0w-Yf/s400/road+to+Beyazsu+v5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOATUQbJjlDvIxdknnLpliUoefJvCd2GFK9D844QL2Z6qGY711OYdlMmk_LMi4ofZVwr_kHBLtMLP1mhHSvtN0W0ourB9EREOaHwK1lWK06Sc4GJbdeJLtmdPIti_C4gghrfvN7XPOZP0/s1600/Iona+on+her+grey+pony.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543554079936546914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOATUQbJjlDvIxdknnLpliUoefJvCd2GFK9D844QL2Z6qGY711OYdlMmk_LMi4ofZVwr_kHBLtMLP1mhHSvtN0W0ourB9EREOaHwK1lWK06Sc4GJbdeJLtmdPIti_C4gghrfvN7XPOZP0/s400/Iona+on+her+grey+pony.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;">Iona has lost count how many trips she has made like this one and as always she loves to ride <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tusheti</span> style . Legs dangling and relaxed in her saddle. Although in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tusheti</span> (Georgia) the lads ride without a saddle.</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrO6l7c5XvYc7Grbz-i51FSSJ8NoZo5wcobQCFGY3qcYw-fnMGzG174ejM1NWhMfuNlgpqOGRGNt-6c1e6ZWFkOWn6NK2Jp3fiCWfb35qYyqkZRiT_y_J9gw9KO9M8FlmF_kKVQznBO8x/s1600/Iona++with+Hassan+on+the+way+to+Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543554027864341202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrO6l7c5XvYc7Grbz-i51FSSJ8NoZo5wcobQCFGY3qcYw-fnMGzG174ejM1NWhMfuNlgpqOGRGNt-6c1e6ZWFkOWn6NK2Jp3fiCWfb35qYyqkZRiT_y_J9gw9KO9M8FlmF_kKVQznBO8x/s400/Iona++with+Hassan+on+the+way+to+Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5qQOOMpFG14lcgZkLdNWRFX-FjBDrCJjnjA1PlZqh86xs4ogY_4M8iRfQNEj43D4VzjBVvSS7etgTa_X3aQoWrVF_Q2_AUXVHb6VrRmYBMbkuQa2zB0nUBlX8V-SRrZU36QLp88HRwDi/s1600/Beyazsu+Yayala++v4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543553184786389138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5qQOOMpFG14lcgZkLdNWRFX-FjBDrCJjnjA1PlZqh86xs4ogY_4M8iRfQNEj43D4VzjBVvSS7etgTa_X3aQoWrVF_Q2_AUXVHb6VrRmYBMbkuQa2zB0nUBlX8V-SRrZU36QLp88HRwDi/s400/Beyazsu+Yayala++v4.jpg" border="0" /></a>We arrived in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Beyazsu</span> in the late afternoon with the sun low in the sky softly illuminating the iron clad shacks.<br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca7wPVDATT9rmH-nQCXn1jToPdqQil7VtVHePsaNZLCwGJrCtg3jaqzKvZ5EsNA16B6RFgzvT3wE7KBb4wWDSMrLMrgP-6j4xChsbQ_YAasLa11AdqHbMD6f2QSpKN4Lx3JRSLawaQUgM/s1600/view+over+Beyazsu+Yayala++v3+with+Melissa.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUeWd3_X4xmFTXYrciBbfzAdRLsEm1wz0_g_bt_4QrzRakqXBpZU6E3I5_K5ca_nVAje5QFpC3WkBBVIoOOl9mhrazLb0b1ZFaTLafiyL7m2T3e8UB5Zt2p9c9HkhpJlDzDk946_bYnZ6/s1600/view+over+Beyazsu+Yayala++v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543555988690293938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUeWd3_X4xmFTXYrciBbfzAdRLsEm1wz0_g_bt_4QrzRakqXBpZU6E3I5_K5ca_nVAje5QFpC3WkBBVIoOOl9mhrazLb0b1ZFaTLafiyL7m2T3e8UB5Zt2p9c9HkhpJlDzDk946_bYnZ6/s400/view+over+Beyazsu+Yayala++v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuho2Cbi-VyPFTa5nHKyZrs2v0mS07r5qP-pFkd2hjc38F1LGEb4M0bNLuoylYPmgMOtTiQqutvZwdv-2bCi-TBmFJZfK2Fu3LQlpGhVo7FYh7A-TbcPFBy2dhLQDboVdpwPPuHwNITXH/s1600/view+over+Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLef1r05onxCzwfdwbBjx7zfPqeQfUlma9N-t2C9a9X9kpT0cwgDwxVULG7DdZJi78y-vfITZL4SfjhjyGmmUCWZc5OZ0ecCojO9M7qlJuc-FygB6jZ1YdzKrS_VvqQfcOWCzH97uj0dKk/s1600/view+of+Beyazsu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543555896658257506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLef1r05onxCzwfdwbBjx7zfPqeQfUlma9N-t2C9a9X9kpT0cwgDwxVULG7DdZJi78y-vfITZL4SfjhjyGmmUCWZc5OZ0ecCojO9M7qlJuc-FygB6jZ1YdzKrS_VvqQfcOWCzH97uj0dKk/s400/view+of+Beyazsu.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fTRCZIx-o7o0ubiLN4MaVmvwKtJRBt4nxXJPvzEGwmc1xxueuDrPhI9EDC5Djt3zcZx9fZd3Zk27R8fO-aUQzfZz-uJzJKCztIB7MSTFIkZH_vKKHtC1fHMMgjLCF65lHt8-N45Vp-v8/s1600/The+road+out+of++Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543555101922507458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fTRCZIx-o7o0ubiLN4MaVmvwKtJRBt4nxXJPvzEGwmc1xxueuDrPhI9EDC5Djt3zcZx9fZd3Zk27R8fO-aUQzfZz-uJzJKCztIB7MSTFIkZH_vKKHtC1fHMMgjLCF65lHt8-N45Vp-v8/s400/The+road+out+of++Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7kAmoiPuA202_UCfhhcuN0lOf5zoeoipLnFM0vb-pZnG8dp-qVenIeLOU51v10-pkPB6vlw7S4t0_Gt8ch17SQCCF07fN1OU0eE4-Q1KpEbxaPG1o27RXCzl1JreF5Z2cdHnLd7ZV4M2/s1600/stove+in+Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543554621632155074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7kAmoiPuA202_UCfhhcuN0lOf5zoeoipLnFM0vb-pZnG8dp-qVenIeLOU51v10-pkPB6vlw7S4t0_Gt8ch17SQCCF07fN1OU0eE4-Q1KpEbxaPG1o27RXCzl1JreF5Z2cdHnLd7ZV4M2/s400/stove+in+Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>The only picture I have of the inside of our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">homestay</span> and a very typical stove .</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1Y3ted7QyK_Fva8-x3POx4ny-uKbH2OULp8pwwRS3CaUuWYLN5d6zIXz34miRHtMjvooSlPPKKTYI-BZmvPP46Tzz0ZSsaadaa_78d8ox-d9KNh_WtPJhZF6w0IVFZxyA1jKOvIuB15i/s1600/More+homes+in+Beyazsu+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543554600124428626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1Y3ted7QyK_Fva8-x3POx4ny-uKbH2OULp8pwwRS3CaUuWYLN5d6zIXz34miRHtMjvooSlPPKKTYI-BZmvPP46Tzz0ZSsaadaa_78d8ox-d9KNh_WtPJhZF6w0IVFZxyA1jKOvIuB15i/s400/More+homes+in+Beyazsu+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsX1t2dGEQiZWT9bn7d_9l_lsfhItpFK5WkZyAm9ldXCjUkGdM9SxOQdDlag7CdpNPhyphenhyphenOAiIbIUMrVi1rrByOdy5fAJjdwnPl1ZTnxS8J7X5VbsnFXIrMqcGaebH2qxI6B7rN9LpRyCtZ/s1600/More+homes+in+Beyazsu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543554586796724834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsX1t2dGEQiZWT9bn7d_9l_lsfhItpFK5WkZyAm9ldXCjUkGdM9SxOQdDlag7CdpNPhyphenhyphenOAiIbIUMrVi1rrByOdy5fAJjdwnPl1ZTnxS8J7X5VbsnFXIrMqcGaebH2qxI6B7rN9LpRyCtZ/s400/More+homes+in+Beyazsu.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D_queHTJwI3FKPbJaVBkSESHrugV0Ofo73lNP4-Pp-ejArn_-S3E0XcAo1Og4T__gun-JpgndaGmiEiLuDzdg68TdVWD-K3VXhOnY7Xyw6gdLLrKcuuaVWtNnNITY1xX4go8oYckiHT5/s1600/Man+looking+out+from+Beyazsu+tin+shack.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543554578513065698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D_queHTJwI3FKPbJaVBkSESHrugV0Ofo73lNP4-Pp-ejArn_-S3E0XcAo1Og4T__gun-JpgndaGmiEiLuDzdg68TdVWD-K3VXhOnY7Xyw6gdLLrKcuuaVWtNnNITY1xX4go8oYckiHT5/s400/Man+looking+out+from+Beyazsu+tin+shack.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;">A neat window on the ferocious weather in the winter. I love this picture.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffom8n49g4DLFYd8XQ8PCnoma8M83W3xQR0b8Q82Ki0ofoMmI7ygYmArxvZTx0qS-vOH1CRNIrz-HBIhJ3P0DMyYjRME4bL7ByDYXmSmG2id4LkBxwB40W4oVpm4Vn-izL8tYE0eHwFV3/s1600/goat+man+in+Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543553249392962610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffom8n49g4DLFYd8XQ8PCnoma8M83W3xQR0b8Q82Ki0ofoMmI7ygYmArxvZTx0qS-vOH1CRNIrz-HBIhJ3P0DMyYjRME4bL7ByDYXmSmG2id4LkBxwB40W4oVpm4Vn-izL8tYE0eHwFV3/s400/goat+man+in+Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;">I met this shepherd while admiring his goats or is he a goat herder. He told me many things about the land and surrounding mountains but not a word could I understand apart from his hand gestures.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9OBcksRad2SgIN-Nz2qs27HtnlkayPCcsq28aHx_ehcA5YZw6YFPLnqeDq32yMbgn46l_Hhg8RHTsIf9h0FDXFns4ObAjqNR84eaYtltrFE8bm_jKybTlRJiOI4s3Zsil7WHAtqfo0NI/s1600/Beyazsu+tin+shack+v2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543553175707523842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9OBcksRad2SgIN-Nz2qs27HtnlkayPCcsq28aHx_ehcA5YZw6YFPLnqeDq32yMbgn46l_Hhg8RHTsIf9h0FDXFns4ObAjqNR84eaYtltrFE8bm_jKybTlRJiOI4s3Zsil7WHAtqfo0NI/s400/Beyazsu+tin+shack+v2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Some of the houses had their roof strapped down with steel cable such is the winter weather.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUd7SuvKDylVa_gQkL1cF38Pt_nGfN7zgkUUOmuY21mQboY1_sqQNM23HI46YApanJ0lD-N4q4GDR0zmnDbhAHDvzqSVyQuEbFOpWSPlzUKyFJkuc-f1_FgCHLj3N5VCjeekOAsHE6U4eZ/s1600/Beyazsu+tin+shack.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543553159425637250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUd7SuvKDylVa_gQkL1cF38Pt_nGfN7zgkUUOmuY21mQboY1_sqQNM23HI46YApanJ0lD-N4q4GDR0zmnDbhAHDvzqSVyQuEbFOpWSPlzUKyFJkuc-f1_FgCHLj3N5VCjeekOAsHE6U4eZ/s400/Beyazsu+tin+shack.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlQ5zfUBZwVL2Eic342bq2lIUnxprKVaLYIweWaofKCI64oMpQrOz1ms8IAsx80B6MPFXl1KKvHP19olyWU8tVi6wqeH6BfoDs9nNJXVZRvjQ3QOsg9-Sgf-SRpL2CSK47newIFeYfIuH/s1600/Beyazsu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543553146175254658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlQ5zfUBZwVL2Eic342bq2lIUnxprKVaLYIweWaofKCI64oMpQrOz1ms8IAsx80B6MPFXl1KKvHP19olyWU8tVi6wqeH6BfoDs9nNJXVZRvjQ3QOsg9-Sgf-SRpL2CSK47newIFeYfIuH/s400/Beyazsu.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNcYkneDtPRkMO9mZjPQZSo-X840XalieGOBu7La1c5RGilHdvDUacfKHHZrFd9g0RiAkFfscPeBqJVv9ZG1410u2IUnc7ZAQV-ZMdCtM66ldQggtCYeX2_gXz_hvZx9SFei4c8GtMWps/s1600/Looking+down+on+Beyazsu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543554095121695474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNcYkneDtPRkMO9mZjPQZSo-X840XalieGOBu7La1c5RGilHdvDUacfKHHZrFd9g0RiAkFfscPeBqJVv9ZG1410u2IUnc7ZAQV-ZMdCtM66ldQggtCYeX2_gXz_hvZx9SFei4c8GtMWps/s400/Looking+down+on+Beyazsu.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;">The view looking down on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Beyazsu</span> from where we were t start the next leg of our journey.</span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSExEtYDq0npi7yz9OuGj0QvTRTZ5Gku1TmR65zHfPTE3V4BnLIcWUSIGf6VfOgpVMl8mfNvu4jKRDO3GCrQoce-UKMyoLNvXhRaMzWzQB2nWgCU3VvISjCdgpYYm7u4YFqHFIFvpuIzZS/s1600/with+the+goats+in+Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543556669022804914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSExEtYDq0npi7yz9OuGj0QvTRTZ5Gku1TmR65zHfPTE3V4BnLIcWUSIGf6VfOgpVMl8mfNvu4jKRDO3GCrQoce-UKMyoLNvXhRaMzWzQB2nWgCU3VvISjCdgpYYm7u4YFqHFIFvpuIzZS/s400/with+the+goats+in+Beyazsu+Yayala.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:large;">Click on the link <b>Older Posts</b> at the foot of the page to discover more .</span><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02163388801128962398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088246709246195940.post-15404271071398301292010-08-19T11:09:00.000-07:002011-01-31T04:50:34.263-08:00Mules to Atanoglu and finally on to Karagol LakeThis was to be the final leg of our journey to the small hamlet of Atanglu and finally by van on to Karagol lake where Hassan informed us with glee we would be eating meat! Up until this point we had been largely eating a carbohydrate diet and the idea of barbecue chicken appeared very appealing indeed but first we had to negotiate the most precarious of mountain trails and I was to learn how important communications between us, our guide and team of muleteers was to be . <div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7wxxIO2TKNkAfbENdOCXuVU4sE49QNmJUXecyWxBlta2lbBk2VxHWD8hkSjmLgCwlsvQ2JY7VMJ5TSUfcNGE_yfKhztXXrPHcwBF308egBhYzxN2qMlVYCIl5GG0w2N3we0pNjHOYO1g/s1600/Iona+before+we+set+off++on+final+trail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7wxxIO2TKNkAfbENdOCXuVU4sE49QNmJUXecyWxBlta2lbBk2VxHWD8hkSjmLgCwlsvQ2JY7VMJ5TSUfcNGE_yfKhztXXrPHcwBF308egBhYzxN2qMlVYCIl5GG0w2N3we0pNjHOYO1g/s400/Iona+before+we+set+off++on+final+trail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547281269898213826" /></a>Bayazsu appeared as if it was on the roof of the world . Always high above the cloud line this pristine Alpine climate was perfect even though the air was getting a little thin.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D2tTOT35Lm9RYcLrEzwIr_aA5a0pok_P42LvqmiYqMHu7ZReQhAUhxyZ9YLmFUXkivwWU5JMM8af9Ub9cci1y6f44DFJetCVW0uPSgT31hFzjaUw9v9JwHeOsKJKGiQjLCrni_ZdLZrn/s1600/Starting+off+on+final+trail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D2tTOT35Lm9RYcLrEzwIr_aA5a0pok_P42LvqmiYqMHu7ZReQhAUhxyZ9YLmFUXkivwWU5JMM8af9Ub9cci1y6f44DFJetCVW0uPSgT31hFzjaUw9v9JwHeOsKJKGiQjLCrni_ZdLZrn/s400/Starting+off+on+final+trail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547523542788747362" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoE2Kb4cMcquOgreVYsBGFhHfPpCBRtPOVVhO4dgL4V61khGzuhRlCrIiw3RscuRwCP21NvR-LNpmWcBdy4GAAbMH_IUya5v_e1YIlu0tit6VR39zxm8SY7X-fDY6ghlvLCDt995FKMW8/s1600/On+the++trail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoE2Kb4cMcquOgreVYsBGFhHfPpCBRtPOVVhO4dgL4V61khGzuhRlCrIiw3RscuRwCP21NvR-LNpmWcBdy4GAAbMH_IUya5v_e1YIlu0tit6VR39zxm8SY7X-fDY6ghlvLCDt995FKMW8/s400/On+the++trail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547523573409478066" /></a>We had hitched a ride in a van to a small village close to Beyazsu and met out mules at the beginning of the trail. It felt like a typical Sunday afternoon walk in the mountains. Glorious weather and magnificent views wherever we looked but sadly this was to be our last day high in the mountains.</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5fXQ8GcNx048sus_3UbjOsJN43VDopp0PH55SImdqTKZuY5vn7ivBzh0LtWy7owT1HSQ5yRQ7UnP9CZMtW0qKZbu5sSXkLrSKdH0a7SQUKMK-zDpfl4GnPF_Mq4VpvXv4uTr3jAscN5F/s1600/Looking+down+from+the++trail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5fXQ8GcNx048sus_3UbjOsJN43VDopp0PH55SImdqTKZuY5vn7ivBzh0LtWy7owT1HSQ5yRQ7UnP9CZMtW0qKZbu5sSXkLrSKdH0a7SQUKMK-zDpfl4GnPF_Mq4VpvXv4uTr3jAscN5F/s400/Looking+down+from+the++trail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547523566758152402" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7rrV4XqOfFZ17qkAZqgwJQm35Zvz6_BEYQPhKUHfO0B1fQbI51z3-rLaSJ-Q9IWkbAqUtKLhG5rEK-Me1VS77lLlsA7WEWvL1fdxjNufbkJl-Vr40Dek5AEFYQs3ClQVx6kNq2Jfb4hZ/s1600/Final+trail.jpg"></a></div><div>At times the drop down the grassy slopes was exceptionally steep but the trail was easy to see and mules were perfectly happy. What we hadn't considered was the trail was for walking only and as the mules picked over the steep rocks we should have dismounted and not clung on for grim death . Rapidly our pleasant walk became a white knuckle ride, hanging onto our mules as they pitched from left to right . The drop to our left appeared perilous and we were now strung out with no sight by the last rider of the leader . It was clear our guides and muleteers had no experience of a group of mule riders and the basic rules of mountain riding .Furthermore our interpreter had no experience of mountain walking so it was difficult to explain my concern.</div><div>As the team pulled closer together and we made our way along particular tricky part of the trail, my saddle snapped and I unceremoniously fell to the ground on the right side of my mule. This proved Melissa's suspicions right that I was accident prone , if someone was going to fall of their mount it was going to be me. And she was right.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFqGa4OpjxIBQ32qZuJsYGUVEQjJAKaLddCNKgcbyogLJB4rL7eF44F_5bFLnArFm4fZfvaFqJqjJrx6GmM381bt-X2Wi3TJ23PSZDmeczUf92DUJaYW8l21GIUh8gZuWo28gsCmMFgqS/s1600/view+from+the+trail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFqGa4OpjxIBQ32qZuJsYGUVEQjJAKaLddCNKgcbyogLJB4rL7eF44F_5bFLnArFm4fZfvaFqJqjJrx6GmM381bt-X2Wi3TJ23PSZDmeczUf92DUJaYW8l21GIUh8gZuWo28gsCmMFgqS/s400/view+from+the+trail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547525168612926002" /></a><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7rrV4XqOfFZ17qkAZqgwJQm35Zvz6_BEYQPhKUHfO0B1fQbI51z3-rLaSJ-Q9IWkbAqUtKLhG5rEK-Me1VS77lLlsA7WEWvL1fdxjNufbkJl-Vr40Dek5AEFYQs3ClQVx6kNq2Jfb4hZ/s1600/Final+trail.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7rrV4XqOfFZ17qkAZqgwJQm35Zvz6_BEYQPhKUHfO0B1fQbI51z3-rLaSJ-Q9IWkbAqUtKLhG5rEK-Me1VS77lLlsA7WEWvL1fdxjNufbkJl-Vr40Dek5AEFYQs3ClQVx6kNq2Jfb4hZ/s400/Final+trail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547281256400571074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qg8yAme8548fflV5k_0qChC3TnJzfU17dHBWuVnMCu8czrzDHRoCQXUMLyZ7fiz5xOAarQXHHwmJySOTKJgbWffc37pAYHxA1esyR_CBYVh5Szs1zFMy3i0kSX5OABTauVq9O28QvCuH/s1600/Final+trail+v3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qg8yAme8548fflV5k_0qChC3TnJzfU17dHBWuVnMCu8czrzDHRoCQXUMLyZ7fiz5xOAarQXHHwmJySOTKJgbWffc37pAYHxA1esyR_CBYVh5Szs1zFMy3i0kSX5OABTauVq9O28QvCuH/s400/Final+trail+v3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547281234441530658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Bju_2KDG0Wh1CAu8k3DkkwUBMGDc1WXe-xjWmVDOrrJR-OoWb7nQHd5-XlydR2Q4JbFoYnRTeJZ6Lr1xGaoSGypdBuMmS1Gb-TW21frydTNTS2DF3pZvA4x7EPRbb5c2bAjzS7nET9tS/s1600/Fixing+the+saddle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 397px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Bju_2KDG0Wh1CAu8k3DkkwUBMGDc1WXe-xjWmVDOrrJR-OoWb7nQHd5-XlydR2Q4JbFoYnRTeJZ6Lr1xGaoSGypdBuMmS1Gb-TW21frydTNTS2DF3pZvA4x7EPRbb5c2bAjzS7nET9tS/s400/Fixing+the+saddle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547523551960735746" /></a>Our muleteers made fast work of fixing the saddle and a little nervous we got going again after our short rest.The remaining trail was to prove straight forward and if you are wondering where the pictures are of the dangerous bit, especially my fall, well thankfully no one had a camera to hand or felt like taking a picture which suited me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVdiU7_9gvb7Q1Bb36Beb7QLbvI72ss6BwQz-NLM5J45TsUnuI7cDYbDI1Er39iPT56tDw_bjbQyqr0CYxZx9jMF6QUB4tT9SYrPaQTdYAjdX04QVa5v6WBTfsn5OL7H6NODZpfHcbXxv/s1600/Final+trail+v5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVdiU7_9gvb7Q1Bb36Beb7QLbvI72ss6BwQz-NLM5J45TsUnuI7cDYbDI1Er39iPT56tDw_bjbQyqr0CYxZx9jMF6QUB4tT9SYrPaQTdYAjdX04QVa5v6WBTfsn5OL7H6NODZpfHcbXxv/s400/Final+trail+v5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547281249999024386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtf2ZgMvznyrFE-BHf15quPfU_uUNkv_5pPBZXhaPyWbj6RYUoMQMN2EFlmjiJVJHXMJgkc21Up5FKnGGzKl_oxWQFVeAjJcER_jJuNdPp96J5hdIxv_WIFRUX1AEcqxJCOsE6laIobj5/s1600/Final+trail+v2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtf2ZgMvznyrFE-BHf15quPfU_uUNkv_5pPBZXhaPyWbj6RYUoMQMN2EFlmjiJVJHXMJgkc21Up5FKnGGzKl_oxWQFVeAjJcER_jJuNdPp96J5hdIxv_WIFRUX1AEcqxJCOsE6laIobj5/s400/Final+trail+v2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547279390124774018" /></a>The shot of the whole team relaxing while the saddle was being fixed epitomised the general tone of our journey . Relaxed and generally marvelous . What more could you ask for .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1p8LEp_tIOmvqFCvA7-GjQWPS1yV4Hx3ygn3WHh8HL-9f5VNsF4yYiTb-eEnzZdpJuYjuNtGIKuYQHTMIFlBIEnKmT3MMyQ3K3TJcRBQe7C7cIqC5YqNGw4kXJM79AQRmk03Z5Q5NRXx/s1600/Final+trail+v4.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1p8LEp_tIOmvqFCvA7-GjQWPS1yV4Hx3ygn3WHh8HL-9f5VNsF4yYiTb-eEnzZdpJuYjuNtGIKuYQHTMIFlBIEnKmT3MMyQ3K3TJcRBQe7C7cIqC5YqNGw4kXJM79AQRmk03Z5Q5NRXx/s1600/Final+trail+v4.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1p8LEp_tIOmvqFCvA7-GjQWPS1yV4Hx3ygn3WHh8HL-9f5VNsF4yYiTb-eEnzZdpJuYjuNtGIKuYQHTMIFlBIEnKmT3MMyQ3K3TJcRBQe7C7cIqC5YqNGw4kXJM79AQRmk03Z5Q5NRXx/s400/Final+trail+v4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547281240635351522" /></a><br />After a couple of hours we stopped and rested to eat some biscuits and drink a bottle of wine. I've mentioned in my blog a couple of times that it never ceased to amaze me why Hassan feed us biscuits for lunch. Why he never thought of some cheese and bread, a few tins of sardines and fruit I'll never know but there you go. Perhaps that is what he thought we wanted. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fw9ReqzKFKWt6O5f8MrapamPGgco7RLWC-SDuwhluHsbqHFVAwY4CkgdaJxp2x2Qt1p9X4YlPbxLlPw9w_PGZVqbFfnhJhDIqnQfsnlF5gieC6dJDanh1X1Gk3ynBDCSCza6MCHqF4Wm/s1600/the+team+resting+on+the+trai.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fw9ReqzKFKWt6O5f8MrapamPGgco7RLWC-SDuwhluHsbqHFVAwY4CkgdaJxp2x2Qt1p9X4YlPbxLlPw9w_PGZVqbFfnhJhDIqnQfsnlF5gieC6dJDanh1X1Gk3ynBDCSCza6MCHqF4Wm/s400/the+team+resting+on+the+trai.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547525149429282498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80ixu7ozIiMeHHrcEBYT1VLspmbPVK0CHjB8YSoZ8Ogzvt7Adc5C63JC0cAvETM9GIH43XgNJkzi4PpiDtxuQDF8u8t2LRk0ph5BqFP8xY2v4dAWsn-wKtzFuADtIz6f4lAJAk6n1IZXr/s1600/Family+Wills+on+final+trail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80ixu7ozIiMeHHrcEBYT1VLspmbPVK0CHjB8YSoZ8Ogzvt7Adc5C63JC0cAvETM9GIH43XgNJkzi4PpiDtxuQDF8u8t2LRk0ph5BqFP8xY2v4dAWsn-wKtzFuADtIz6f4lAJAk6n1IZXr/s400/Family+Wills+on+final+trail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547279382751352786" /></a>Yep this is the family snap but sadly missing our eldest daughter India who interestingly had just arrived back from India and Nepal after 5 months traveling. Yes it hadn't slipped our mind calling our eldest might cause some amusement if she ever traveled to India. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh673SuIyKAcFieID3CFwEMist_WfDcG1NygCztVewPxoGNpL80hQvj7RUlsnR5TTafSGxM-rhBJz-NEZNUOekqbIYNYikAmydDwXWpjcZ6L51OisiMjMgduCkyJWFqP7mff8W4_ebxycsx/s1600/Cows+on+Final+trail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh673SuIyKAcFieID3CFwEMist_WfDcG1NygCztVewPxoGNpL80hQvj7RUlsnR5TTafSGxM-rhBJz-NEZNUOekqbIYNYikAmydDwXWpjcZ6L51OisiMjMgduCkyJWFqP7mff8W4_ebxycsx/s400/Cows+on+Final+trail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547279377512666722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibb8Bke-2RYIvLP789wWWLEEnKCU1-ZiSKNzy6lC4IFT7AXV6zcMwe3yw66MYN2iceKS5E3H7YYO_aan-iFcvd9Iwya9fvw8Rm2_r_Jx_Jcx6blsU2Y60yFgMx13FEVelTjrYS9no6njRC/s1600/Chris+on+final+trail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibb8Bke-2RYIvLP789wWWLEEnKCU1-ZiSKNzy6lC4IFT7AXV6zcMwe3yw66MYN2iceKS5E3H7YYO_aan-iFcvd9Iwya9fvw8Rm2_r_Jx_Jcx6blsU2Y60yFgMx13FEVelTjrYS9no6njRC/s400/Chris+on+final+trail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547279362307905826" /></a>For future travellers my advice is take this trail but on foot or dismount at the tricky bits . Don't assume your guide or Muleteers have any training and accept that you are an intruder into their world and therefore never make assumptions . These folk only know their own way and it is up to us ,the international traveler to provide support and not the other way around.</div><div>Use your own knowledge ,plan and most of all relax and go with the flow but never assume.</div><div>I should add this is rich coming from me . We've done this type of trip many times and I still get caught out.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHa3o_A4XPu5G6ToYfKubaOkazkyHzp0N4-8pYWNTxBoRhwRPFahB5tgUARGukoC2PbC4AV3bfN3ypRFg1qME5YPTB6eSnBxNvcePtJrsNSPCU-JIvkS08K2-L-F995caM3Rtj7j1FLysD/s1600/Looking+back+on+our+final+trail+v2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHa3o_A4XPu5G6ToYfKubaOkazkyHzp0N4-8pYWNTxBoRhwRPFahB5tgUARGukoC2PbC4AV3bfN3ypRFg1qME5YPTB6eSnBxNvcePtJrsNSPCU-JIvkS08K2-L-F995caM3Rtj7j1FLysD/s400/Looking+back+on+our+final+trail+v2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547282364289470450" /></a>We had at last arrived in Atanoglu where we were to meet with Mavlute who was to drive us down from the mountain along a recently cut track to Karagol lake .</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiN7f_0Ov6IKA-BP-sE6PzlOUmhTuCrQYj40Qf1iectXs9chEzZk1pXpoj9Ely3UATg3fxf8d-w91DX_JMIRGlxuiTOXGkakMNb8KtjHZ5NwC3UiuvWKxo-sPtBvPQ2km52m4EVrNJStbU/s1600/the+whole+team+at+the+end+of+our+journey.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiN7f_0Ov6IKA-BP-sE6PzlOUmhTuCrQYj40Qf1iectXs9chEzZk1pXpoj9Ely3UATg3fxf8d-w91DX_JMIRGlxuiTOXGkakMNb8KtjHZ5NwC3UiuvWKxo-sPtBvPQ2km52m4EVrNJStbU/s400/the+whole+team+at+the+end+of+our+journey.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547525153157610962" /></a>I took this picture as Mavlute was making his way up the mountain. You can just make out a white van. This is the whole team excluding Hassan and myself and I can thoroughly recommend traveling with so many people. Our journey felt more like an expedition than a holiday and the people of Macahel made it very special indeed .</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCbhjIXa9xQtiIvmOYqDfV3b0TfJHWomJ2FSvRpXZ-IS5XoToGmZ4Q54F-ORDFcwE1eN_U0vGaLrrsgO3JZMvMkRp1o6-FBer9wBtJNm_wWzPvx-fzyYcgTX4oRWfTgGuAFX5_FmklBI2/s1600/The+team+before+we+set+off++on+final+trail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCbhjIXa9xQtiIvmOYqDfV3b0TfJHWomJ2FSvRpXZ-IS5XoToGmZ4Q54F-ORDFcwE1eN_U0vGaLrrsgO3JZMvMkRp1o6-FBer9wBtJNm_wWzPvx-fzyYcgTX4oRWfTgGuAFX5_FmklBI2/s400/The+team+before+we+set+off++on+final+trail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547291289543380770" /></a>The team - our girls ,Gem, Hassan's son and his cousin Orhan plus a couple of the Muleteers.</div><div>They had all made great friends and played cards into the night . I just hope money wasn't passing hands.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNwZFCCwMPw9xI5WAKoKWC2zOVB57Kyhz0HHjhPuXkG8-ju8ARz_n06QDx9I_HIiqRLo0Ebw8YPCgXWlxZlHHHw9DjwqOzxwIaPTPF-1TLqoopSVlVfwW3rkVtuuWBxRBN91lllmDOMSS/s1600/Our+mules+at+the+end+of+the+final+trail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNwZFCCwMPw9xI5WAKoKWC2zOVB57Kyhz0HHjhPuXkG8-ju8ARz_n06QDx9I_HIiqRLo0Ebw8YPCgXWlxZlHHHw9DjwqOzxwIaPTPF-1TLqoopSVlVfwW3rkVtuuWBxRBN91lllmDOMSS/s400/Our+mules+at+the+end+of+the+final+trail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547282400803705138" /></a>Our mules made a fetching site taking a rest and drinking up the view after our journey OK mules don't do views but they should it's a stunning spot.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeqN2kKOsKmIwr475AIfJF8kFvbqg2I5l-cclKVt1B5A_WSLzgs0aGn3RUYze6TpFShkwkRJffQcAaDVWrE8Lp-6-eU4FeLzya6ggK2fzrWuD_Wcx3JfBbTp_3SkZnKkEjSNTKruNXNbg/s1600/Our+mules+at+the+end+of+the+final+trail+v2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeqN2kKOsKmIwr475AIfJF8kFvbqg2I5l-cclKVt1B5A_WSLzgs0aGn3RUYze6TpFShkwkRJffQcAaDVWrE8Lp-6-eU4FeLzya6ggK2fzrWuD_Wcx3JfBbTp_3SkZnKkEjSNTKruNXNbg/s400/Our+mules+at+the+end+of+the+final+trail+v2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547282391827221330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tE0-0vU7ZM9CB2wZDj_mOsY2k17LGbHRJua7UvVis95Z2jNIFl2DTRw_iLyoYJ41RMjtW15f_6JTTL1UKEAuPVU3yQl0MdfsXRfk-pnRl-So4iq0de_tym040aLuFNQpNe2f4Aw3G2oE/s1600/Village+at+the+end+of+our+journey.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tE0-0vU7ZM9CB2wZDj_mOsY2k17LGbHRJua7UvVis95Z2jNIFl2DTRw_iLyoYJ41RMjtW15f_6JTTL1UKEAuPVU3yQl0MdfsXRfk-pnRl-So4iq0de_tym040aLuFNQpNe2f4Aw3G2oE/s400/Village+at+the+end+of+our+journey.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547526222276579714" /></a>The small village of Atanoglu nestling on the mountain side which was glorious in the summer although it must be impossible in the winter months which is why the inhabitants move down to the lowland pastures for the winter.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qF-YjAHOuNa_k0O0fiSqKVSI4lWf27Qs4jlCSHpx4QXh3C3mu22qIGLR8sfetYFFCC9eZmbSmxfLSPTMICvsCMXKPsX1Ub9lW7bj897h_NbxQZfHQOBGJvebxidN_hVb-JHLeEA1zoSQ/s1600/lake+v2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qF-YjAHOuNa_k0O0fiSqKVSI4lWf27Qs4jlCSHpx4QXh3C3mu22qIGLR8sfetYFFCC9eZmbSmxfLSPTMICvsCMXKPsX1Ub9lW7bj897h_NbxQZfHQOBGJvebxidN_hVb-JHLeEA1zoSQ/s400/lake+v2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547282376355592034" /></a>Mavlute drove us steadily down the mountain track and after a few hours drive we arrived at our destination Karagol lake which amazingly is considered high in the mountains and a popular tourist spot . Karogol lake felt as though we were in the valleys far below where we had been for the past week and I felt slightly contaminated by the trappings of western comfort and barbecued chicken eaten close to the spellbinding mountain lake of Karagol. The next day we were to realise how high we were as we drove yet further downhill for many miles before we found ourselves out of the mountains and in Borka.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMW3DANy6iD-CDezh-66jrQmthBl4ReckxdR3MPDdUjj0ery3zJKxe7HCOloHlPhrwjwOIXdCNuWMNI9ZljNSt4qP_sqNrPklZYV3hMERkbtneGFPVnJqkNJrNNSeZNigZTbLWVrZ8ZB6/s1600/At+the+lake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMW3DANy6iD-CDezh-66jrQmthBl4ReckxdR3MPDdUjj0ery3zJKxe7HCOloHlPhrwjwOIXdCNuWMNI9ZljNSt4qP_sqNrPklZYV3hMERkbtneGFPVnJqkNJrNNSeZNigZTbLWVrZ8ZB6/s400/At+the+lake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547279354379369970" /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnBgijmT79u1RIWOvUc9cSTVnxhM0DYVhma8s0_bdod2_xn7-NTeMUu-KdnZ924aStxKUoTyiujcOLmu1V3wanWpqCKAd1LgR6yEimvd-AZaQF-8FAdLLuxCkuW-GWjy2qURUD-Q1kwO0/s1600/View+by+the+lake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnBgijmT79u1RIWOvUc9cSTVnxhM0DYVhma8s0_bdod2_xn7-NTeMUu-KdnZ924aStxKUoTyiujcOLmu1V3wanWpqCKAd1LgR6yEimvd-AZaQF-8FAdLLuxCkuW-GWjy2qURUD-Q1kwO0/s400/View+by+the+lake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547525163827662130" /></a>The symphony of frogs to be heard in the evening was something new to me and a melody I shall never forget . This must be the land of the frogs. If not it should be .<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hApM9BK2uTMgLdtgbMmg5urBJ_TzXN-_jRW2T6HgrYOroqoBCHFkRL-Tw6BybOnNuCfy-CtKxUyB4lOU7o0FVNz14-FWhcgUkfboHYxkPUIkfqPJetFCSCo2bFucSs96b-492zcz7qjV/s1600/the+lake+.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hApM9BK2uTMgLdtgbMmg5urBJ_TzXN-_jRW2T6HgrYOroqoBCHFkRL-Tw6BybOnNuCfy-CtKxUyB4lOU7o0FVNz14-FWhcgUkfboHYxkPUIkfqPJetFCSCo2bFucSs96b-492zcz7qjV/s400/the+lake+.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547525147795418626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-vRhkShN4uiktKAFD6EJETaUb4QxW6aVTDAl26IpqSjGl_LfciVidNudlbyTx20IBv-Yl-CMCDO7_t53js-nS0C9Lf-qAUD8E1et-TxNYg0UeqUM30ucYT3FCXp6U-uEa8ZcVEXcm7WN/s1600/Guest+house+for++the+night.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-vRhkShN4uiktKAFD6EJETaUb4QxW6aVTDAl26IpqSjGl_LfciVidNudlbyTx20IBv-Yl-CMCDO7_t53js-nS0C9Lf-qAUD8E1et-TxNYg0UeqUM30ucYT3FCXp6U-uEa8ZcVEXcm7WN/s400/Guest+house+for++the+night.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547523559779906130" /></a>This is the simple guest house where we stayed for the night. It had all the creature comforts we could expect but sadly lacked the traditional elegance of Macahel.<div><br /></div><div>From her we were to make our way to Hoppa the following morning , then onto Batumi in Georgia where we were to catch our flight back to Istanbul.</div><div><br /></div><div>Istanbul was not to be the end of our travels but it is the end of this Blog. If you wish to know anything else about this far way land yet to be discovered by the west drop me a line and I'll do my best to make introductions or help clarify my muddled recollections . You can get me on chris.wills@rufusleonard.com</div><div><br /></div><div>Macahel needs ecotourism but only with a light footprint. The local people are poor and desperate to improve their standard of living . By traveling and staying in the region you will meet a few Turkish hikers but very few if any foreigners. Remember your Dollar, Euro or Yen spent in the right way will make all the difference and help this genuinely untouched part of the world continue as it has always done.</div><div><br /></div><div>Travel light , spend your money with the people who need it and remember you have to work hard to find such places and paying your money to a holiday company only lines the pockets of a city dweller and I doubt you would see what we found but I may be wrong. Stay local and have fun. We did .</div><div><br /></div><div>Regars Chris<br /><br /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02163388801128962398noreply@blogger.com0