Further east

I have left Istanbul late because I did not get up on time for the morning train, which I was taking bit further behind this big city. And so I departed at 16:15 to Eskisehir. People in train were very curious, me and other foreign co-traveller and fresh friend Ansiau from Paris (whom I met in Istanbul 2 days earlier and with whom also I had my first real turk kahvesi and other) have been questioned and interviewed by random nearby sitting passengers. It did not matter we would not share the language, their curiosity found its way to answer its questions. It was nothing that would bother, everybody was very friendly and polite. I was sitting next to elder guy who after buying me a tasty simit with ayran started to give me a vocabulary lesson of Turkish language. During this journey Cheerko found a place for me to stay, I was once again well looked after. My host Oz in Eskisehir has come to pick me up from train station and after short introduction to his flatmates we went out to see Eskisehir's 'Soho' where many people gather in these late hours. After few turkish brewed goodies we chilled out on the top of the roof. In the morning after hearty breakfast I made my way away. 2nd autostoping success has taken me for Çay in a little village. We gained a bit atention from the locals, especialy young boys, who drank one round of tea with us, talking about my journeys and advising με the way to go. My 3rd and last ride this day was very special. It was a VW oldschool caravan loaded with happy people and good moods. We travelled around between Eskisehir and Ankara, visiting all-made-of-wood mosque, kite surfing and having a huge dinner before dropping me off in Ankara. That is where I am know ready for next adventure!))

Istanbul

is real crazy place, love it. Trafic make me laugh and cry at the same time. I am staying untıl tomorrow and then moving further south-east, been adviced to take middle way through this land(towards Ankara). Again I have met few fıne people, who have helped me and entertained too.

Prayer at 4:23am...

TEA-COFFEE-TEA-TEA-KEBAB

Teşekür ederim!))

edıt: I must apologıse to Atatürk and those who feel touched by me sayıng Istanbul was a capıtal. My lack of knowledge ıs not excusable. It took all to way to ANKARA and gettıng to know Mr Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and I fınaly know a lıttle more. 

Thank you happy VW people for beautıful day !!!


edit2: Istanbul is a gate between east and west. It as a place where many different people have brought their piece of heart. It is a place where culture is explosive and history long-lasting. I will visit this place again!

From Beograd to Bulgarıa, via Sofia to Istanbul

Why have I chosen autostop(hitch-hiking)?
It is fast way of travel, most of the time very  comfortable and great opportunity to meet very nice people. So I started quiet late in Beograd towards Bulgaria, down to Nis. After a priest has given me few kilometer ride after Nis, smaller offroad car with Holland plates stopped near by me. Now I know that the guys name is Tsefa(I hope I spell it correctly:) and without many words said, he started to clear a bit of space for my little rucksack. In a momemt I have been munching on the best Holland vafels, on my way to Sofia. Lots of fun while talking and listening to Serbo-Bulgarian folk-rock band called CultureShock we reached the border in between these two countries. Suspicious border-police-guy started to search my wallet in hope to find a little for smoke to entertain his boring evening, me unfortunatelly had to disappoint him and say that I did not have any. After few km in Bulgaria Tsefa asked me whether I had some free time and my following answer cannot be more obvious... And so we landed in the middle of nowhere, or rather Bulgarayya countryside where peace and love have taken place. Barefooted walking around BulgaraYYa ArtHouse, fresh spring with quality water, girl called Petya joined our pleasant sessions. We made a little tour to top of the hill and later we warmed ourselves at the fires outside this lovely cottage. We rested until  morning and then after refreshing shower outside using hose, Petya took me to Sofia, where we visited local markets so we could have late traditional Bulgarian cousine breakfast.
From there to Istanbul(600km) it took me around 12 hours to reach the place which I am writting now! (being also droven by policeman after shift;)
I have to mention one more thing, I was dropped 'at the gate' to Istanbul, from where when trying to share tasty melon with policemant I was finding my way to center, I have experianced a great care by stranger how I randomly chose in the street to ask for directions. He took me all to way to this cafe. This escort has taken almost 2 hours from his time, well ok, we managed to have coffe together too.
Now I am going to meet my host for tonight - shelter sorted. What more can I ask?
Yes, I love life and everything it brings with it!

Beograd

Friday I have started in the early afternoon, ending up just near Budapest when the sun was going down. I mounted my tent and spent the night near highway M0, junction 26 :). First time in my life I hitched a ride with a TAXI driver, slightly worried that he was going to ask for money, but he did not. Next morning I started early and 3rd success was taking me all the way to Beograd. I reached the Serbian capital in the afternoon and decided to have a look around the town and was hoping to find a host for night. I can say is that Serbian people here are very friendly and helpful what creates a warm atmosphere in this town. I have met few very nice people and made lot of new contacts when joining the CouchSurfing meeting and luckily found my host Adrian too. All these people were ready to rock&roll and showed me the night life in the city. It was totally awesome! Many thanks to Ivana, who let me know about this CS gathering.
Now it is time to leave for more adventures towards south and the capital of Bulgaria!

Visa in my pocket

And so I am moving further! Heading south towards Budapest, Beograd, Sofia and Istanbul...

;))

"Dear Radoslav,
Pleased to inform you that your visa application has been approved by the Iranian Foreign Ministry and an authorization letter has been transmitted to the Iranian Consulate in Vienna."

Happy, big smiles on my face! Will be in Vienna on Friday.

Last days I spent not being bored doing all sorts of activities, which are not so casual in UK. Visiting almost forgotten places as well as little farming and little works around the house. The house in little village, where people are very friendly and helpful, fair and humble. This is something sometimes I feel deficit back in Western Worlds. So glad to home as well as to be at final stage of this ridiculous visa-process.

Will bring more soon, now I am going out and share this fortune with friends!

SO HAPPY!))