Day 3 - We had an early start and made out way to the station with great excitement. Our train was waiting and a very helpful guard helped up with our bags. Our room was comfortable with a little fridge which turned out to be warmer than the room itself and a wash basin. The toilet was ok but it was early in the journey! I bought a sade acma (a bun with a hole in the middle) and tea for breakfast and the train got under away. We passed places we knew - Pendik, Hereke, Sapance and then on to new territory passing by fruit orchards and small towns. At Pamukova people with large packages got on and the people at the end of our carriage started making a movie - yes literally a movie with people running up and down the corridor with bloody sheets and lots of drama happening. Our next door neighbours were a Canadian couple and Ross was very interested in birds and he and Sue were able to exchange notes on birds they saw. My great contribution turned out to be a crow! I think I need to swot up a bit more. After 10 hours we arrived in Ankara (it takes 5 hours on the bus - this train is never going to beat any speed records but a great way to travel). We got off the train and went to the Bufe to buy bread etc for tomorrow's breakfast. Caused great confusion as I got food for Margaret-Ann too (Ross's wife) so there was a long rather ratty queue behind us by the time we finished. Our steward made up our very comfy beds for the night and after dinner in the dining car (very average) and a couple of glasses of red wine had a great night apart from noisy soldiers going up and down the corridor at some stage during the night.

Day 4 - Got up and crept out to have tea in the restaurant car. We were going along a small stream which we later identified as the Euphrates. The time passed bird watching, reading and tut-tutting at the environmental tragedies which we could see from the train - dams, new roads, quarries abounded. More interesting were the irrigation systems which were obviously old but still in use. Scenery changed many times but was particularly good going through the mountains with the Euphrates constantly running along side the train (or vice versa). Ross and Margaret-Ann got off in Erzarum and the last 4-5 hours of the journey dragged somewhat as it was dark. Eventually got into Kars and took a taxi to the hotel which was a bit of a dump - I had a room for six people and slept pretty well.