A spread of many dishes of many types of olives, cheeses, fresh vegetables, breads, and coffees and teas at a babbling stream alongside the Hotel restaurant.

It was hot at 40 Celsius and some vehicles overheated.

Every motorbiker and traveller to Silk Road starts with Marco Polo in mind. He began his journey in a barrel as Dad Mattei had not permitted young 16-year old Marco to join  him and his brother to their 2nd Central Asian trip.

"The best street in Croatia" exclaimed our  our friendly waiter proudly, when he poured the Black Queen or Medvedgrad Crna Kraljica to Paolo’s glass

Simply searching the internet, we came across the Best Motorbike Repair Shop that Shasha was just moving to its new location. Professionally he fixed our puncture in 15 minutes and we were on our way. Not without a good photo shoot though.

On Sasha's recommendation, we drove to Osijek, where he like to ride on weekends. At the Osijek Cathedral, the waiter advised us to visit Principovak Vineyards, if we loved wine. And do we not?

Fantastic place to catch your breath. Hit the balls at the tennis court and have a wonderful Croatia dinner with delicious Traminer to savour.

Slighly unlucky as we found this historic 10th century  church closed and needed to move on, we were more fortunate with the All Seasons Hotel in Sofia's lusch Vitosha Mountain area.

Once scrubbed at the Seraglio Hotel, we headed to dinner. The old town, or Sultanahmet, is a really touristy. Dining room managers hawk visitors into the restaurants by getting you far before and long after you passed the joint. Still, sitting outside listening to the subterfuse rock on pillows with Turkish Sauvies makes a nostalgic evening. 

Cute cottage-like rooms with fireplaces, with comfortable bathrooms and breakfast. 

When there is no choice, the gas station nescafe will do.

This fantastic week ended with a beautify sunny August Sunday beckoning us for the drive to Istanbul.

This Cave Hotel was recommended by our  2023 Ride Across China group and it is nice with an incredible location built into the rock. The staff and owner are super friendly too. 

So we thought that the trip ended when we broke the very last key we had. It shattered into the pannier lock and that was that. Locksmiths really are very useful as they can recreate such small but totally essential instruments as keys. Even the police came to support. 

Fanstastic experience to see how the people, a lot shorter than some, lived thousends of years ago in a cave, away from the cold and the heat, with vents and cooking facilities, wine storage and all underground. 

Kahramanmaras is famed for the world's best ice cream and it is. Its thick and creamy with pistacchio power on top with a kind of Baba Limoncello on top. 

Kahramanmaras had suffered an earthquake just 6 months ago that took an enormous human toll with it. All the ice cream eater at the Ice Cream Container with us had lost dear ones. Rubble was everywhere and everyother 

Nice Caravanserai smack in the middle of the Gazientep Old Town right next to the Fort. 

Everything imaginable came to the table, lamb kebabs and cheeses, olives and all sorts of vegetables and yogurt sources.