27 July, Batman to Kozluk, 60km
Gϋven Otel 80TL (negotiated down from 100TL)

Our first 30km took us through pretty scenery on a gently-undulating road that shared a valley with the Batman River. The river runs south; we were headed north against the flow. We turned east then onto the D360 and into the hills we will climb for the next day or so to Tatvan on the edge of Lake Van where we are hoping for cooler weather. Today is the last day of Ramazan, which is followed by three public holidays. People are stocking up on foods and sweets for the feasting that follows the fasting, and buying gifts. We wondered about the economic impact of a month of fasting, particularly on small businesses that survive on passing breakfast and lunch trade. Our research revealed an unexpected fact. More money is spent on food and more food is consumed during the month of Ramazan than during other months of the year; it is just consumed to a different pattern. We shared our dinner table with a young man who used Google Translate to tell us he had been in the military for ten years and that the military was responsible for the overall security of Turkey including preventing terrorist attacks.

Between Batman and Kozluk

Between Batman and Kozluk