Van was like another mini holiday. I arrived quite anxious about the upcoming winter and fairly exhausted from the previous few days. I also wanted to drink beer. Van was perfect.
The first day I head to the local hospital where Levent, my warm showers host works. While he is busy working I take over his computer and do the usual catch up of emails, Facebook, news and blogs. Lunch is a kebab at a nearby restaurant followed by çay in the doctors lounge. It turns out that Levent gets an hour and a half for lunch! He then finishes work at 3.30pm. A little different to the hours I see the doctors working back home.
That evening we catch up with Selçuk and a couple of other friends and have beers at a bar that overlooks the lake. This is followed by dinner with different friends and more beer.
I head out of town on a bus the next day to Akdamar island. There is a beautiful Armenian church on it that was built about 1100 years ago. I spend quite a few hours wandering around the church and the island. If it wasn't for the snow capped mountains surrounding the lake it would be easy to forget about the crazy snow I went through just a few days ago. The sun is out and it feels like a very cool brisbane winters day.
I spend the following morning at a western style cafe, paying far too much for a coffee but also using their wifi for two hours.
In the afternoon I move all my stuff to Selçuk's apartment - Levent's girlfriend is visiting and he understandably wants the place to himself. After the move Selçuk and I head to the castle. On the way we visit some cats that have an interesting mutation and can only be found in Van. We wander around the castle and then watch the sunset over the lake. Awesome.
That evening a few of us go out for dinner. I have my first Pide (pronounced piday, not pied as I thought!) and it does not disappoint. Dinner is followed by beers with more people at the smokiest bar I have been to in years.
Saturday is the day I have been waiting for, the famous Van breakfast. Levent, his girlfriend, Selçuk, Özgen and I head out on our bicycles to a hotel that overlooks the lake.
Breakfast is a smorgasbord of many different dishes, bread, cheeses, honey, jams, olives, dried fruit and endless cups of çay. I feel like I am about to explode. Someone may have to tow me back to town on my bike.
We sit in the sun on the deck, admiring the view for a good couple of hours. We eventually ride back to town, through the back streets, pick up some beer and go to the castle. It's a perfect afternoon lazing in the sun, enjoying the view.
My plans for a quiet night and a small dinner are abandoned once we head to Özgen's house for dinner. A quiet dinner turns into a dinner party followed by a party proper. I drink far too much red wine.
That night I say goodbye to many of my new friends. I plan to catch the ferry to Tatvan the next day and won't see them. I am very sad to say goodbye to this great group of people that were so welcoming and showed me a great time.
Total cycling van: 99km, ODO 3567km
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