The Evliya Çelebi Way Project: 2009 Expeditionary Ride, Part 5
The next installment
Contributed by Gerald Maclean
In some villages, elder statesman reported what they believed Evliya to have said about their locality. In Ücbaş, we were told Evliya had praised the local garlic, but have yet to verify this.
A formal welcome: tea in Ücbaş
Thanks to the brave and agile horses, we forded rivers and climbed mountains.
In the River Yalak, September 2009. Photo: Mehmet Çam.
We made friends with local villagers and stopped for tea in village tea-houses.
Magnificent plane tree hosting a tea house, Erdoğmuş, 2009.
Tea-time in Kestel, while Ilos, Anadolu, Sarhoş turn their backs, 2009.
We explored ancient sites and Ottoman cities:
Temple of Zeus, Aizanoi, Çavdarhisar, 2009.
We attended rahvan (pacing) horse races and mounted cirit (javelin) matches:
Rahvan racing, all 4 feet off the ground, Bursa 2009.
Cirit; the hard halt immediately before the throw, Kediyünü village, (Uşak), 2009.
We rode on unmarked trails through unspoiled landscapes of staggering beauty.