Day 2 - Exploring Ankara

Spent most of the AM getting organized.  Went through bags, threw away old boarding passes, receipts, notes, etc.  Showered, buffed and pufffed.  Removed the rats nest in the ponytail.  

Received some tourista info from the host at the hostel and then booked the Sunday flight from Ankara to Trabzon, on the Black Sea coast about 40 miles west of Georgia.

Took off walking.  Walked about a mile or two and saw "the castle on the hill" described by the hostel host in the distance.   Hailed a taxi and in 15 minutes was up there.  The area had an old city feel, much different from the hustle and bustle of the Kizilay area where the hostel is located.  At the castle met 2 women from Estonia - one was teaching English here in Ankara and the other lady had married a Turk from Ankara.  Both lived here.  We talked travel, work, vacations, living the dream of international travel.  

While talking, the 4PM call to prayer stared booming from all the mosques in the city.  The oldest mosque in Ankara is 100 feet below the castle, right across the street from a quaint, classy immaculate hotel I checked out only 30 minutes before.  

Walked down the hill from the castle to the tourist info center and met Hasan.  He was extremely helpful and provided a 30 minute overview of the towns and cities along the Black Sea coast.  He lived in Germany for 10 years, spoke German, English with a strong German accent and is a native of Ankara.  We talked international politics, war in the middle east, radical muslims and ISIS, travel in Europe, and space exploration.  He gave me great info on the Black Sea coast and helped me feel confident about going there in several days.  He had traveled to 70 countries but had not been to the US.

The "And Butik Hotel" is the white building next to the mosque.

Walked all the way back to the hostel from the hilltop castle, the mosque and the "And Butik Hotel" that is smack dab between the two.  The area around and below the castle had a great feel.  Small, winding roads with all types of rug shops, tinsmiths, small quaint restaurants and felt like a world away from the hustle and bustle of the region around the hostel.  I kept telling myself "I am not lost"  "I am not lost" '"I am not lost in a city of 4 million.".  I have found it most beneficial to approach women for directions versus men.  Women have been more helpful for the most part.

Walking back to the hostel took an hour but It was all downhill and I knew I finally made it when I saw the Burger King restaurant.  Everyone was most helpful along the way, even if they did not know a word of English.

Bought a few beers and canceled the room tomorrow night and Saturday night at the hostel.  Had the hostel host book me a room for two nights at "And Butik Hotel" between the mosque and the castle on the hill.

A great day that allowed me to say "This is why I travel".