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Title image - BAI takes you to:  Mount Ararat & the Wonders of Turkey
Why climb with Berg Adventures

Mount Aratat & the Wonders of Turkey Expedition Dispatch

July 21, 2013 – Leaving for Eastern Turkey

Charles Gielen at our first break – Muradiye Waterfall

Charles Gielen at our first break – Muradiye Waterfall

We woke up this morning ready to go. Everyone is excited to move on to the next phase of our trip – climbing Mount Ararat. Not all of us will be attempting the summit; Laurens and Jan have another plan for this part of the trip; they will be visiting Kurdish shepherd families around the mountain. I am sure they will have a great time and learn a lot about the rich way of living in this part of the world.

Today was a transfer day. We started with a one-hour drive from Uchisar to Kayseri where we boarded our flight to Istanbul and then took a connecting flight to Van.

Our flights were right on schedule. Our 19 duffel bags arrived promptly as well. Jamal who will be on the mountain with us met us at the airport and soon we were off in a bus for Dogubeyazit where we will spend the night before moving to the mountain tomorrow morning.

Along the road to Dogubeyazit we stopped at a lovely spot, the Muradiye Waterfall. We then drove north along the Iranian border and at about 6:30 PM we had our first view of our goal: the imposing snowcapped summit of Ararat came into view from the highway.

We stopped for dinner before going to the hotel and we experienced a fun dinner evening at a unique local restaurant. I will let you judge the by the photos the uniqueness of this place!

Although we had to connect in Istanbul we were actually on the same plane for both flights.

Although we had to connect in Istanbul we were actually on the same plane for both flights.

No better way to kill time between connections than checking out our dispatches on the Berg Adventures website.

No better way to kill time between connections than checking out our dispatches on the Berg Adventures website.

Evert Broekers and Peter Broekveldt enjoy a beverage with a beautiful view.

Evert Broekers and Peter Broekveldt enjoy a beverage with a beautiful view.

Charles and Richard – roommates and friends

Charles and Richard – roommates and friends

A smiling Bart Peek

A smiling Bart Peek

Laurens Brinkhorst and Peter Idenburg enjoying the day

Laurens Brinkhorst and Peter Idenburg enjoying the day

Evert and Wally together on our break

Evert and Wally together on our break

Peter Broekveldt deep in thought

Peter Broekveldt deep in thought

Jan Eisenloeffel- a great spot for a photo

Jan Eisenloeffel- a great spot for a photo

Jan Eisenloeffel and Peter Broekveldt

Jan Eisenloeffel and Peter Broekveldt

Bart Peek with one of our Ararat Mountain guides

Bart Peek with one of our Ararat Mountain guides

Our first view of Ararat at 6:30pm

Our first view of Ararat at 6:30pm

Everyone got out of the bus to make sure they had a good photo; it was “foto maken” time.

Everyone got out of the bus to make sure they had a good photo; it was “foto maken” time.

We saw several beautiful local markets on our drive.

We saw several beautiful local markets on our drive.

The group at the restaurant

The group at the restaurant

Fons enjoying the food and the company

Fons enjoying the food and the company

Richard taking in the uniqueness of the restaurant

Richard taking in the uniqueness of the restaurant

The owner of the restaurant came to display the dinner options.

The owner of the restaurant came to display the dinner options.

Richard and Peter ready to try the fresh bread

Richard and Peter ready to try the fresh bread