Turkey: An Armenian Adventure on Two Wheels

[Mos]

Re: Turkey: An Armenian Adventure on Two Wheels

are (male) Armenians greeted at passport control in Armenia with

“Bari galust Hayastan, sireli yeghbayr!” ?

And so....

[lampron]

Re: Turkey: An Armenian Adventure on Two Wheels

Turks are very good at lying - they will give you false security than at the last moment stab you in the back.

are (male) Armenians greeted at passport control in Armenia with

“Bari galust Hayastan, sireli yeghbayr!” ?

[ayrudzi]

Re: Turkey: An Armenian Adventure on Two Wheels

Well, they are, sort of - if you compare them to the mosque forms found in Arab or Iranian spheres of influence, or pre-Ottoman mosques in Turkey. Though they are also all surprisingly boring: a sort of corporate "international-Ottoman"-style, a style that continues to be used (and seems to be obligatory) for new mosques in Turkey to this day. See one or them, and you've seen them all.

well we can say the same thing about our church architecture as well.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Turkey: An Armenian Adventure on Two Wheels

His comment on the "surprisingly Byzantine" exteriors of Istanbul mosques was more shocking.

Well, they are, sort of - if you compare them to the mosque forms found in Arab or Iranian spheres of influence, or pre-Ottoman mosques in Turkey. Though they are also all surprisingly boring: a sort of corporate "international-Ottoman"-style, a style that continues to be used (and seems to be obligatory) for new mosques in Turkey to this day. See one or them, and you've seen them all.

[TomServo]

Re: Turkey: An Armenian Adventure on Two Wheels

His writing tells you more about Armenia than Turkey. Actually, he seems to know next to nothing about the lands he is travelling in: a typical tourist, with a LP guide to maintain that lack of knowledge. In Ardahan he writes "There is some architecture and details that remind of Armenia" - doesn't he realise that those buildings ARE Armenian? "Ardahan. A very oriental city, kinda underdeveloped. Does not really compare to any city in Armenia ... All roads are strangely made of cobblestone." Such blind ignorance. doesn't he know that the cobbled streets, and their gridiron layout, are there because the town was laid out by the Russians in the 19th century, and is thus as un-oriental as you can get.

His comment on the "surprisingly Byzantine" exteriors of Istanbul mosques was more shocking.

[Mos]

Re: Turkey: An Armenian Adventure on Two Wheels

impressed by the welcome. Turkish PR is faultless!

Turks are very good at lying - they will give you false security than at the last moment stab you in the back.

[londontsi]

Re: Turkey: An Armenian Adventure on Two Wheels

It has no historic or personal significance to me and it is subject to spontaneously change depending on the circumstances I face during the ride.

It appears to be a very well planned endeavour with firm objectives.

[lampron]

Re: Turkey: An Armenian Adventure on Two Wheels

“Mehraba!” (Turkish: Hello!)

“…Hay es?” (Armenian: Are you Armenian?)

“Ayo!” (Armenian: Yes!)

“Bari galust Turqia, sireli yeghbayr!” (Armenian: Welcome to Turkey, dear brother!)

impressed by the welcome. Turkish PR is faultless!

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Turkey: An Armenian Adventure on Two Wheels

His writing tells you more about Armenia than Turkey. Actually, he seems to know next to nothing about the lands he is travelling in: a typical tourist, with a LP guide to maintain that lack of knowledge. In Ardahan he writes "There is some architecture and details that remind of Armenia" - doesn't he realise that those buildings ARE Armenian? "Ardahan. A very oriental city, kinda underdeveloped. Does not really compare to any city in Armenia ... All roads are strangely made of cobblestone." Such blind ignorance. doesn't he know that the cobbled streets, and their gridiron layout, are there because the town was laid out by the Russians in the 19th century, and is thus as un-oriental as you can get. And given that Armenia has but two real cities, comparing Ardahan to them is just silly. Compare it to a similar-sized place in Armenia and Ardahan will beat most of them hands down for amenities and modernity and vibrance (though that is not saying that Ardahan itself is anything to write home about).

He also comes across as a rather superficial, rich, spoit brat. The poor thing had to spend a night in a hotel with no hot water until after 9.30pm - oh the horror, the trauma.

Note his constant mentioning of the Turkish police, about how polite and professional (and honest) they are, and things like about how they don't intervene to stop a demonstration in Istanbul, etc. He is obviously comparing them against what he thinks police in Armenia are like.

And are there only 50 motorcycles in Yerevan?

That bus whose "comfort level was no less than in the Airbus A380" is a typical city-to-city bus in Turkey, the real luxury buses have only 3 seats per row and individual LCD TV screens for each seat.

[Eddo211]

Re: Turkey: An Armenian Adventure on Two Wheels

The longest motorcycle ride is over 75000 miles which took two years and covered many countries......he should have been more prepared, not to mention learn how to ride and fix your own freaking bike before taking on the trail you amature.