5 May, Yenişehir to Cumalikizik, 50km
Abbas-i Ala Butik Pansiyon 120TL (breakfast included)

Today we cycled 50km between Yenişehir and Cumalikizik, an Ottoman village made famous by the TV series Henna in the Snow. Many of the pretty homes have been restored and painted in appealing colours of lilac and pale green, lime and sky blue and cluster higgledy-piggledy along steep stone-cobbled streets. For a second night in a row, Charl had to forego his evening beer, but we dined well on meat-filled Turkish “macaroni” topped with local yoghurt, and on potato gözleme, a savoury pancake. Despite our tired and aching bodies, we managed to cycle the bulk of today’s distance except for the last three steep km to Cumalikizik (pronounced Jumalikizik). We cycled with snow-capped mountains to our left and red poppies to our right and 50 or more storks circling on occasion overhead. At our lunch break restaurant we met a tour group who have known each other since they were student pharmacists; now retirees they are on their tenth annual joint getaway.

Between Yenişehir and Cumalikizik

Between Yenişehir and Cumalikizik

Between Yenişehir and Cumalikizik

Between Yenişehir and Cumalikizik

Our pansiyon in Cumalikizik