Today, I make my way to the old Ottoman town of Safranbolu.
I had allowed myself 11 days in Turkey this trip. But with irresistible fares to Sarajevo as a sidetrip, I’m down to a just a week in Turkey, split into two lots. It doesn’t leave me much time to travel around Turkey.
As I had done most of the country’s highlights, Safranbolu seemed like a good choice. It is “only” 6 hours away by bus.
I woke early and left the hotel at 0700 by tram-then-metro to Otogar (the main bus station). The tram-to-metro transfer wasn’t suitable for people with luggage; luckily I only had my daypack.
I had secured the ticket online from Ulusoy bus company some weeks before; they were the only one accepting foreign credit cards online. I collected my printed ticket and had time for a rip-off breakfast across the road. A measly sandwich was about TL6, about double that being charged in the touristy area.
The bus was supposed to leave at 0900 from Otogar. But I couldn’t find it! I transpired that due to congestion, there is one bus leaving at 0900 to a suburban station from which various services (including mine) would later depart.
The bus was nearly empty. I had wanted to use other companies which had more spacious seating (3-across) but they couldn’t process foreign credit cards online. As it turned, out it doesn’t matter as I had tonnes of room.
The journey took about 6h30 with a rest stop. In 1992, Turkish buses wowed us and the rest stop facilities were so well set up. Well, the rest stops have now evolved into malls with food courts and fashion outlets.
I took a taxi from Safranbolu’s station to my guesthouse. There was time to wander around town and grab dinner before sunset.