14 July, Hilvan to Şanliurfa, 55km
Otel Urhay 75TL (breakfast included)
Super cycling to Urfa, renamed Şanliurfa
(Glorious Urfa) in 1984; a city of over 800,000. For a week or so now, every
time we have mentioned to anyone that we were en route Şanliurfa, their response
has been “Very, very hot”. And yes, indeed, it is. On the bike, protecting my skin
from the sun remains a difficult-to-resolve problem. I wear a long-sleeved
shirt with a collar to cover body and neck, and gloves on my hands. The shirt
has not proved to be entirely sun-proof and since getting on the bike I have developed
quite a dark, bra-shaped tan on back, arms and chest. The gloves end at my
middle knuckle, so while my hands remain white, my finger tips are brown –
rather odd-looking. But it is my face that concerns me. I wear quite a wide
peak that in optimal conditions protects forehead and nose. When the sun is
low, however, it burns in beneath the peak. Suntan lotion does not work as I
sweat this off in no time at all. I have taken, therefore, to attaching a scarf
to the peak. This I tie under my chin when the sun is low, cycling through the
countryside mimicking the local ladies; when the sun is high, I tie it behind
my head, which Charl says makes me look like a Bedouin. Charl’s arms and legs
are brown, brown, brown. He has been entertaining the local men by lifting his
cycle pants an inch or two, pointing to his white upper thigh and saying “South
Africa” then pointing to his brown knees and saying “Turkey”.

Between Hilvan and Şanliurfa

Şanliurfa