arkiboys,
if your screen name means what I think it means you are headed to
Gobekli Tepe: The World's First Temple? | History | Smithsonian

Arki " archeologist in my lingo. Correct?
rosa del desert and I on two BMWs G650-gs rode from Spain to Turkey and return a couple of years ago and here is how we did it.

Spain riding to France,
Switzerland
Austria
Italy
Slovenia
Croatia
Bosnia & Herts
Albania
Greece
Istanbul, Turkey - Black Sea Route via Zongulddac, Inebolu, Sinop, Samsun and Trabzon,
(previous three cities were NSA/military listening bases during the Cold War)
I graduated High School in Ankara in 1964 (speak some Turkish) and my Dad worked in Turkey.
From Trabzon we rode the back roads toward Golbekli Tepe but were turned back due on approach due to bombings at the border with Syria.
We rode the southern coast of Turkey (Mercin was interesting with off shore Roman castles) all the way west to Izmir where we, (and I suggest this route for return) boarded a ferry to Greece, rode Greece and then boarded a ferry for Italy, rode Italy and then boarded a ferry for Spain, disembarking in Barcelona.

Our biggest threat were the big, really big, sheep dogs with spiked colors we encountered riding the back roads (farm roads) from the north coast to the south coast of Turkey. Remember we are on two motorcycles.... Other than that - see previous post - we were stopped by an Italian Candid Camera crew posing as border guards Italy/Slovenia, but we saw through the rouse - we live in Buenos Aires , Argentina, so EU pranks seem rather transparent.

The mint tea (chi) houses in larger cities...feature older men who appear to be the living dead. No woman allowed - they have their own tea houses. I have joined the living dead for some chi and discovered they were doing more than tea. Anyway, Turkey is a destination of choice, just do not visit any city/attractions listed in the guide books. These will be filled with tour bus loads of Russians on vacation. Select places - out of the way - like Golbekli Tepe. you will not be disappointed.

Traffic and tourists in Istanbul are unbearable.... Best bet is to get out of town fast...

xfiltrate

PS Camping along the Black Sea Route is available, but not structured campgrounds, look for small signs saying Camping - usually locals offer "camp grounds" in their back yard. Some back yards front the Black Sea and are a great bargain. We bush camped 20% of the time in Turkey, and stayed at very inexpensive "unofficial" hostels more often than that. Cities, like Istanbul have very expensive hotels - or alternative is generally in unsafe areas.

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Motorcycle Parking Buenos Aires, Argentina
www.xfiltrate.com
Discover how to legally Buy, Tour and Sell a motorcycle in Argentina

Thank you

I have been to Turkey many times and beyond its dual carriage way most of the time
try Hungary Rumania Bulgaria out Greece Macedonia Serbia Croatia Austria on the way back
Serbia is now in the euro insurance zone so only Insurance to sort is Turkey Don't forget the E visa on line use Turkey embassy for online visa

ROADS IN RUMANIA CAN BE VERY BAD TRY NOT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT

we are going to black sea coast 15 September in our FORD F350 with the 1250 bandit in the back
Life is short get hold and don't let go

I am the restless traveller

The roads in Turkey are pretty good, esp. the main roads. Even the gravel roads are usually in a fairly good condition.

Accommodation is cheap compared to Western Europe. Camp sites are rare, the further east you get.

Turks are very friendly and helpful people. I always enjoyed their company. Further east you'll encounter more and more road-blocks. The police are polite and friendly, but often you'll see people without uniform along with them. I reckon they must be guys from the secret service. I have seen them bullying civilians in Kurdish regions. And I never felt comfortable with them. So, be careful there.

Car tyres won't be a problem if need arises. The further east, the more difficult it becomes to get m/c tyres

The Balkans have no safety issues. Alternatively you could take a ferry from Venice to Greece and further from Piraeus to Turkey. Saves lots of kilometers....

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Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

If you want to shorten the driving time, consider the overnight ferry from Ancona Italy, to Igomeniza Greece. This cuts out the balkans though.

Greece has a newish motorway crossing the north, it can be crossed in a day.

Make sure you check out getting extended green card insurance from your current car insurer especially as some cover the balkans.

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https://fernsforays.wordpress.com/

Hi All,

you will need the V5C for the car (and bike if taken)! Also as mentioned before you will need the vignettes for some countries motorways, so best check first. Also some cities like Paris you need you to buy "Crit'Air clean air stickers" or equivalent.

As regards to where to stay have a look at Air B & B or Couchsurfing if you are brave! I did this with my young daughter last year on my bike last year and we both had an amazing time travelling around Europe last year as far as the Czech Republic and had a fantastic time!

Happy travels!