Day 94: Leaving Friends Behind

Weather Update: Rain Clearing Later: High 6-9°C

Elevation Above Sea Level: 39 Metres

A Bittersweet Farewell

Day 1: Today was filled with emotional farewells as I left Dima and Mustafa behind, marking the beginning of a new chapter in my journey. The rain poured down all morning, echoing the sombre mood of parting ways.

The Journey Begins

My bus trip to Sarp, on the border of Georgia and Turkey, was fraught with unexpected challenges. I had unknowingly booked through a Turkish bus company that operates on Turkish time, one hour behind Georgian time. This discrepancy led to an early arrival at 11 am, despite my ticket indicating a noon departure (which was 1 pm Georgian time).

Traffic Troubles

The bus arrived an hour late, causing us to hit rush hour traffic. What had been a mere 20-minute walk the day before turned into an over-an-hour ordeal. As we neared Turkey, the rain subsided, giving way to showers and brighter intervals.

Scenic Views and Border Crossings

The Black Sea lay to the right, and though I chose the left side to enjoy the mountain views, the low clouds hampered visibility. On a sunny day, the scenery would have been spectacular. The border crossing was straightforward and quick, but we had to wait an hour for the bus to clear the busy crossing.

Navigational Challenges

I watched our route on Google Maps as we approached Trabzon. Just when I thought we were nearing my hotel, the bus took an unexpected left turn, further away from my destination. What was initially a 3-4 km walk turned into an 8-9 km trek. After walking about 5-6 km, I finally opted for a taxi, costing 200 Turkish Lira (approximately $9.63 NZ). A small price to pay for comfort after a long day.

A Well-Deserved Rest

Exhausted but relieved, I finally reached my hotel and eagerly embraced the comfort of my bed.