After breakfast on a sunny veranda of Hotel Karahan in upper part of Artvin.,
pleasant van ride in
sunny dry weather. Left hotel 5 minutes ahead of schedule!
They hill side was carved at various levels in preparation for a dam that
was going to be built soon. When the lake is filled,
the high way will go over the
viaduct which is already casting shadow on the old silk road bridges.
First
view remains of fortresses on the Silk Road from east of Turkey over the
mountains to the Black Sea.
See dam under construction- current jobs and future electricity at cost of
ecological destruction.
10:10 Fortress at Savsat marks the other end of the
pass.
10:45 Tea at Laset Rest stop and upwards to the higher yaylas.
12:15 Pass at 2470 meters (Group Photo)subset of "birders" enthralled at raptors
The white horse was dyed
with
henna to
keep evil eye off her
The cow looking at us,
wondering what we were doing in her territory
The land of the eagles
When we reached the peak at 2370 meter, we left
the high mountains and the forest behind.
12:45 Lunch on sidewalk ( standing) in Ardahan.
It was Ramadan and all the restaurants in Ardahan were closed except one.
The barbeque was indoors so the smell will not bother the fasting people
out side.That was very thoughtful of them but the smoke made it
impossible to eat in the restaurant so we chose to order our lunch to go
and ate it right there on the sidewalk.
Take in local commerce: hay, ducks, and dung .
01:25PM Drive northeast around Cildir Lake
look northward into Georgia and see railroad being built to bypass Armenia into Georgia.
Stop to photograph a woman beating wool. Invited in for tea with family who used to live in Istanbul but moved out
for a less hectic life.
Ken tried to card the wool.
Said that it was not as easy as it looked.
Her husband was not at the house, but
neighbors came in and joined us for tea and a wonderful
conversation.
We were told that the new rail connecting Georgia and Turkey
will soon be finished, They are hoping that the new rail way will
change their lives for the better.
04:45 PM Tour Archaeological Museum in Kars
Dinner and overnight at Sim-Er Hotel in Kars
Kars carpets are made of sheep wool and
the colors are the colors f the sheep.
The art of HAT : calligraphy
Copper and bras
The food at the hotel was like home made food.
The eggplant and yogurt were the favorite meal tonight
The menu : Lentil soup
Salad
Egplant and zukini fried
the next day
Day 07
Vegetable Kebab
Fruit
First
view remains of fortresses on the Silk Road from east of Turkey over the
mountains to the Black Sea. 
The food at the hotel was like home made food.