7 Dec 2009

After five days of travelling with our bikes we finally arrived in Yazd today. It was a nice journey with a lot of things to report. We met a lot of nice hospitabel polite and interesting people and had a nice time on the road, in nature and in some villages and towns. Weather was sunny but very cold, especially during the nights in the tent. Within the next days you will find a more detailled report and some very nice photos!

after a long time working and being away of traveling with my bike, I decided to start a short jounrey in winter time,  Gerald is my German friend and I will cycle the road between Esfahan and Yazd for a few days. we will try to keep up date our report during the trip. 

About 10 km to Ardebil on the left was a road which goes to a famous city of different variety of mineral water called Sareyn, there is famous for the Hydrotherapy. You will see many tourists from different cities in Iran and some Foreigners as well,

I stayed there for a night and I went to one of the Hydrotherapy complex for an hour I really enjoyed of my time there. I left the town to a village called Viladareh on the north to Ardebil from Sareyn, there was a kind of cold mineral water with Gas, it was really amazing for me. I spent 2 hours there and then I went to Ardebil through other way.

Ardebil is one of the old cities in Azerbaijan region but for a few years it gets independence, I stayed there for a few days to get improve, the weather was awesome in Summer, it was cold in the evening till early in the morning and always breezy I really enjoyed, I visited some mausoleums there which the most famous was Sheikh Safieddin Ardebili I met a German architecture who works in this old monument to help for rebuilding, we had a short chat then I left there for having lunch in a local restaurant nearby the sheikh Safi foods and fruits are not very expensive in this city, I could find everything with the good price.

I think it was one of the most cheapest cities in Iran . From Sarab city I got so tired to reach Ardebil as all the time the road was windy in the opposite, so awful, that’s why I needed recovery, anyway.

Cycling to Astara was also hard in some part for about 30 km, in fact the breezy weather always is not interested for cyclists in opposite, but on the back is the best and helpful when you have a hug of luggage . On the way I visited Namin city and after this small town I had to cycle through a short tunnel, less than a KM. it was a bit downhill tunnel. But in the other side of tunnel I found a great and beautiful scenery, the road was downhill about 18 km and many rotates it was one of the most beautiful roads that I’ve cycled on in this journey, completely covered by forest.

At noon time I arrived in Astara city port, the weather was humidity and very hot, this city is on the border with Azerbaijan country, I stayed there for a day and then I went to Azerbaijan country as I’ve gotten the visa via its council while I was in Tabriz city, I didn’t tell you about just to surprise you guys but most of you knew about it if you’ve got my last Email, .

I start cycling after having the breakfast in the tent to Bostan Abad; this small town was about 15 kms in ahead from the lake.

There was a nice hot mineral water pool which I preferred to spend a couple hours there. I met some Turkish people who were coming from around the town just for swimming in the pool.

They believe this hot water will cure some illnesses like bone pain and so on, but in my opinion I guess, one time swimming have no any positive effect on those who were swimming for healthiness, it needs to use it for several times in a week, anyway. It was great for me to feel relax after few months cycling even I used shower every 2 days, Anyway.

After taking shower, I felt hungry and I went to one of the restaurant to have a great meal. And then I started cycling again to Sarab city on the way to Ardebil, the road was mostly flat but the asphalt was damaged on the sides which caused my rear tire got explosion: – ((it was just about 10 km to Sarab city) I had to stay for about 2 hours till someone stopped for me to help, he was a nice man who could take me to the center of bike sellers in the town, I could changed the tire and tube with a local shop keepers, he was a nice guy who was really interested to talk to me as an adventurer, he offered me a cup of tea and some cookies too, I enjoyed my time there even if I had to wait for about 2 hours on the road for help

After saying goodbye to my friends in the train I cycled to the downtown to find a place to stay for a few days as Tabriz has some good places to visit and also a big bazaar which is the biggest one in the Middle-east you will find everything there and all different products has its own bazaar there.

I went to one of the guest houses named Masood in Amin St. I stayed there for about 2 nights but as I found there is a nosy place I left the guest house and called to a friend of my friend Ingrid one of my website visitor’s friends (Ingrid) in Tabriz, in fact Marc is a nice guy from Netherlands who cycled in Iran before and he met this nice family, anyway.

Ingrid was busy but she invited me for having lunch together in their garden 25 Km outside of the town, we made an appointment to meet each other somewhere around her home, then I went there, it was close to the EL GULI garden(it is one of the famous places in Tabriz with a really good atmosphere), in the lunch party I met their friends as well and I had my favorite food which I didn’t eat it since I started my journey, it was a really time there with those guys, at the night time I went to her home for having a cup of tea but her son Yasha and me were talked a lot until midnight then I slept there, I got up around 7:00am,

I gave water to the garden and flowers till they got up, we had a good breakfast it was very delicious, then I went to the bazaar again to see more and find out more about the good sights for visiting in the city. I stayed for 2 days longer in Tabriz but I put my tent in EL GULI garden which was really nice place but something was bothered early in the morning around 5:00, it was nothing just the Crows sound it was too much annoying early in the morning and I couldn’t sleep well anyway.

After 2 days I left Tabriz to Bostanabad in the evening late around 4:00. The road was mostly hilly and windy, I couldn’t reach the town in daytime as it was about 55KM far from Tabriz and I was started so late, I stayed in a small village on the way near the Quory Gueol Lake (Quory gueol Lake is one of the most beautiful leisure places of the province, and one of the natural shelters for many migrant birds) but I had a really bad experience on that night, the weather was cloudy and too much wind, hardly I could find a place to put the tent and no one helped me to direct a place to stay in that village, I was so sad about this because I was in my homeland and I had different expectation from the people from my country, anyway.

The weather got rainy and too stormy at midnight and I got worry about the rain if it doesn’t stop, because it was too hard rain, but fortunately, I fixed the tent so strong on the ground and the rain drops didn’t come to the tent, I’m always appreciate the staffs of Wechsel-tents they are so detail about outdoor tents. The rain stopped around 3:00am and after that I could sleep for a while until 7:00 am. Then I stayed a bit longer for the tent to get dry. I went to the bakery to buy some fresh bread for my breakfast; in the morning the weather was nice even I had a bad night before that.

2008

I cycle to Aleppo early in the morning; the road as usual was narrow and very busy as it was the only way from Latakya to Aleppo, the drivers are mostly crazy on driving at the roads unfortunately………..

2 long up hills were on my way to Aleppo, the weather was really good as the area was mountaineer and forest, but the trucks pollution made me nervous most of the time on the roads. I was so tired and the weather was really hot, at noon time, I found a mosque and I got in to rest for a while, I took a nap and started again to cycle heading off to the city before Aleppo named Edlib, at the entrance of the city I met a couple road cyclists who where coming back of training, we chatted for a short time and we cycle together until the first square and then we got separate, I was cycling in the town to find a good place to eat,

then by chance I met an Iranian who was working in that city with some other Engineers, they were living in a same apartment, he got happy to see an Iranian in Edlib as a tourist, then he invited me to stay with them for over a night, I accepted his invitation and I got the apartment address, then I went there earlier than he arrive lol lol, in fact his roommates was surprised to see me as well, I stayed there for over a night and in the morning I left that nice people in Edlib to Aleppo at 9:oo am, it was around 12:3o when I arrived in Aleppo, again I went to Al Gawaher hotel where my friend works there, he and his workers got happy to met me again,

In Latakia I stayed for bout 2 days and I visit some places around this city.

hosn Citadel was a nice and hug castle that I’ve seen in Syria. it’s between homs and tartus city.

It was around 1:30 pm that I arrived in Tartus city, first I looked for a single bedroom in the cheap hotels but the had no vacancy at that time, then I decided to visit one of the castle called Hosn Castle about 50 kms one the way back to Damascus, I found someone who accept to take care of my bike till I go to the castle with a mini-bus and back

it was a nice castle but I had no time caz I arrived there at 5:30 pm and they told me that I have just 30 mints left to visit, I tried to take some photos instead.

In the afternoon at 6:10 I left the castle at the gate I got friend with a couple from Germany, we talked about 10 mints and then I asked them if they are ready to get a share taxi to reach the main road and then everybody can go on his way, but as I was so luck they had their own car which have been rented in Damascus, they took me down and we exchanged our email address, after that I went on the main road for the mini-bus to get in Tartus city, after a few mints waiting a car with a young driver stopped to take me, I got in and he took me free to the restaurant where I left my bike there, he was a nice guy, he was employee for the navy in Tartus city.

I stayed for over night and the day after to guys helped me a lot and they parked my bike it their shop and showed me around the city and some ruins which was about 5 kms away from the town. I had a great time there, and then I left the city around 11:am in a same day to Latakia.

Latakya is a big city that is located on the Mediterranean sea coast, I stayed in a hotel for about 2 nights plus tonight it will be 3

Yesterday I went to another castle called Salaheddin Castle about 30 kms away from the city on the top of a mountain in the eastern part of the city.
The castle is not so nice inside, the roads and the forest was the only things which was great for me to see, and the scenery of the castle from away.
I backed to the Latakia in the evening and I had some sightseeing in the town and shopping, I’ve bought some especial sweets from the shops that you can find it just in this city, it was really delicious,

Tomorrow I will leave this city to Aleppo again and then back to Turkey.

While I was cycling to enter Damascus city I’ve seen a big board on the right side of the road it was written IRAN KHODRO it is the main and oldest car manufacturer in Iran.
I went there and introduced myself and stayed for about 30 mints for visiting all cars that they assembled there, the staffs were very friendly, they showed me around and offered me a cup of coffee, then I left there to visit my friend in Damascus.

I met my friend after 2 days staying in Damascus, he was too much busy at work as he is teaching Arabic to none Arab speakers, I was staying with 2 students from America and England, they were studying Arabic in my friend’s (Ghazwan) Arabic language Institute, totally I stayed there for about 8 days but not all in this city I left my luggage’s in the room and I had some short trips around Damascus, I visited some holy places for Muslims, it’s the most interesting places for Iranian visitors in Syria, I spent a few days there and I met many Iranian from different cities in Iran, one day I’ve invited for lunch and dinner from one of Iranian group from my city shiraz, I was really happy to meet people from my town after about 3 months, anyway.

I went to Bosra city to visit a nice Roman theater and some ruins around the town, Bosra city (also called Bozrah or Bostra; Arabic: Busra ash-Sham) is an ancient city 67 miles (108 km) south of Damascus. Once the capital of the Roman province of Arabia, Bosra was an important stopover on the ancient caravan route to.
Bosra roman theater is one of the most beautiful monuments in Syria which is still stable to use as an old theater I think it was a one day trip and I got some friend there as usual, but this time they were tourists from Swiss and Taiwan, anyway.

In Damascus, I visited the main hamidiyeh bazaar. The length is about 600 miters but at the end you will find 2 more branches which are 2 big old style bazaar and you can find everything there. At the end of the bazaar there is a big and old mosque. The Grand Mosque of Damascus, known more commonly as the Umayyad Mosque, is one of the largest, oldest and holiest mosques in the world. All shies and sonnies are going to this mosque for praying. The atmosphere in the mosque is great in the evening and early in the morning I hope one day you guys could go there to visit and enjoy your time, in fact it’s a good place to rest after shopping for all Muslims at praying time, .
2 days after visiting the city and Bosra I went to Palmyra city. There is a huge Ruins which needs whole a day or 2 days to visit if you are very detail about ruins, Palmyra has a lot to say, but I would prefer to add a link to give more information in detail about this city in the middle of Syria.

I stayed there for over a night, then I could take some photos in both sunset and sunrise, the day after I went to visit a city called Dair-e- zur it was on the side of Al Furat stream, the weather was horrible when I arrived there, completely stormy, in fact this city is located in the mid of desert and every 2 days they have a sand storm form the desert, I walked in the city for about 2 hours to see how it is, it was too dirty and people didn’t take care about it and very easygoing people are living there.

It was difficult to see 50 meters further where ever I visited. After that I went directly to the bus station to get a ticket back to Damascus, I needed to take a shower because of the storm, I arrived around 10:30 pm in the same day. I got a bad experience from that journey, anyway.

Oh I forget to tell about my visa to Jordan and Saudi Arabia; I tried both but they said it’s impossible for Iranian to get the visa on the border, then I tried to apply from the Embassy’s of those country in Syria, but it didn’t work out, they’ve just saying you can’t get the visa, that was really shame I tried to explain that I’m a cyclist and my message is toward peace for all Muslim countries on my way.
But they even didn’t listen to me, especially in Jordan Embassy, it has no such good staffs. After that I decided to go to Lebanon and visit this small country for a week, this country has no any Embassy in Syria as they have some political problems between, so everybody told me it’s easy for you as a cyclist to get the visa on the border, then I left Damascus one day early in the morning heading to Lebanon border it was about 50 kms and all the road was uphill, I got puncher for 2 times on this hard way.

I went to the check point to show my passport and get the visa but they also didn’t give me the visa and they said you had to get it in your own country before, I tired a lot but it didn’t work out, I’ve seen some European had got the visa on the border to visit this country at the same time, and it made me so sad. After 2 hours staying there to find a way, but there was no way and I was really disappointed about it, I backed again to Damascus because the road is just heading to Damascus, otherwise I would prefer to visit other city in Syria on my way back.
I found a local road which directed me to Damascus via other entrance to this city, on the way I’ve seen many garden with the nice view, I enjoyed this road.

I stayed in Damascus for 2 days more, and I spend time with my friends and sightseeing in the old town with Justin,
On 11th of may I got a bus ticket to go to Tartus and start cycling on the coast to Latakya city on the north west part of Syria, actually I didn’t want to cycle from Damascus up to the north because the road is about 50 kms was uphill and too much busy road,

I left the nomads after they feed me breakfast, I really appreciate their hospitality, it was great even we had no long conversation together.

I was heading off to Damascus and didn’t want to stay in the other town, because I had planed to apply for Jordan and Saudi Arabia visa, before getting late.

I arrived to Hama and I had lunch somewhere in one of the restaurant on the way, the weather was hot at the time but I was still eager to continue I needed 2 days more to reach the capital as I could cycle max 120 kms everyday, and it was 250 kms still left, someone at the restaurant start talking to me when I was ordering my meal, then we seat in a same table to have lunch at the end he paid for me and as he had a pick up, he took me about 60 kms after Hama, I really got surprised of his attitude, in fact as I was really eager to go to Damascus as soon as I can, I accepted his offer to have a travel with a pick up in some part of the road, it was really helpful after that, I cycled again down to my destination.

I could passed most of the road, then I reached in a small town, called DER ATIEH, I looked for a place to set up my tent but it was a bit late around 8:00 pm and I couldn’t, then I went in a good restaurant to have a good dinner, the weather was really cold as this town was located on the height of the mountain, then I ordered a good Syrian Kebab and fresh bread. It was a good and clean restaurant in that town.
When I was in the restaurant I asked some youngest about the park or any sport club that I could my tent and stay for over a night; they had no Idea but one of them said around the University you can, then I left them to the Al Kalamoon university, it was about 2 kms away from the town, the Uni area was really vast and all was asphalted, no place for me to put the tent pins in, I asked the gateman of Uni if there is any park or so……but when we were talking the weather got more cold and foggy he invited me to stay in the room for a tea until he could find a way to accommodate me somewhere, about 20 mints after he called to the dormitory manager of the Uni and told him about my situation, then they let me to use one of the room at the Uni dormitory ? I was really lucky, and I got very happy about this

I left the bike near the gate and went to the dormitory to get in my room, it was furnished and didn’t need to use my stuffs ? I slept there and early in the morning I left the university to Damascus, again I thanks all the staffs at the Al Kalamoon University.

I had something about 90 kms left, the road was good and still hilly, up and down, but after 45 kms pedaling the rest of the road was mostly deep downhill which I needed to break always, I arrived in Damascus at 11:30 am at the same day. It was a good journey even I got lots of smoke from the old Army trucks