Maçka - Sumela Monastry

Trabzon - Maçka
206 km from Erc city center.

Sümela Monastry:
"The Sümela Monastery (Greek: Μονή Σουμελά, Turkish: Sümela Manastırı) stands at the foot of a steep cliff facing the Altındere valley in the region of Maçka in Trabzon Province, modern Turkey. Lying at an altitude of approximately 1200 metres, it is a major tourist attraction of Altındere National Park. Founded in the year 386 AD during the reign of the Emperor Theodosius I (375 - 395),^[1] legend has it that two priests undertook the founding of the monastery on the site after having discovered a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave on the mountain." Wikipedia

Girlevik Waterfalls

Girlevik Waterfalls:
"Gürlevik Waterfalls are situated 29 km south-east of Erzincan in Turkey. In the years 1950-1953, the State Hydraulic Works (DSI) built a hydroelectric power plant at its lower section of 3,040 KW. When the third group was added in 1965, the water capacity of the Gürlevik power station rose to 3*866 1/sec. The Gürlevik waters fall from a travertine platform in a disorderly fashion.^{[1]"  Wikipedia}


It is a promenade location famous for its natural chill and beauty. Girlevik Waterfall allows a suitable medium for climbing as Stalactites form in winter season and a chilly water for cooling in summer season and therefore attracts numerous local and foreign tourists to the region. 

Grab your coat even if it is August!

Erzurum

Erzurum:
"Erzurum (Armenian: Կարին, Karin, also Կարնո քաղաք, Karno K’aġak’, City of Karin; Greek: Θεοδοσιούπολις, Theodosiopolis) is a cityin eastern Anatolia, Turkey. The name "Erzurum" derives from "Arz-e Rûm" (literally The Land of the Romans in Persian).^[1] To the Arabs, the city was known as Ḳālīḳalā (adopted from the Armenian name Karno K'aghak').^[2] The town was known in Roman and subsequently Byzantine times as Theodosiopolis, acquiring its present name after its conquest by the Seljuk Turks following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071.^{[2]" Wikipedia}




June 2010

Çifte Minareli Medrese
"Çifte Minareli Medrese is an architectural monument of the late Seljuk period in the Turkish city of Erzurum. Built as a theological school a few years before 1265,^[1] it takes its name, Twin Minaret Madrasa, from the two fluted minarets that crown the monumental façade." Wikipedia

Erkan and his friends:

A beggar

Yakutiye Medresesi

Erzurum kids

Clock Tower

Taşhan (Oltu)

Erzurum houses

Kemah (District)

Kemah:
"Kemah (known historically as Gamakh or Camakha) is a town and district of Erzincan Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.

Kemah is a town with a present population of some 4000. The town is located almost somewhere in the centre of the Erzincan Province in the Eastern Anatolian Region of Republic of Turkey.

The necropolis of the Armenian Arsacid dynasty was located in Kemah including the tomb of Tiridates III, who was instrumental in the conversion of the Armenian people to Christianity." Wikipedia

Famous for the salt whiter than snow.

Salt:

  Building reflected onto the saltpan.

Railroad along Fırat.

Azim;

(give him some money or cigarettes - no drinks accepted!)

Sultan Melik's Tomb:

Tombstones:

Gülabibey Mosque:

Kemah Train Bridge:

Acemoğlu Canyon:

This canyon is the one where soldiers rolled over into the river in a military vehicle. It is said that the vehicle nose-dived  but still could not be seen as it is deep. 

Kemaliye (District)

Kemaliye

"Kemaliye (formerly Eğin) (Armenian: Ակն, Romanized Old Armenian: Akn, meaning "spring") is a town and one of the 9 districts ofErzincan Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The town was re-named Kemaliye after the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, in honor of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, although former name of Eğin is still known and used locally and sometimes even beyond. It has a population of a little less than 10,000 people. It was part of Elazığ Province until 1926, and Malatya Province between 1926-1938."

142 km to Erc city center and 41 km to İliç.

Sırzi Bridge:

Old house:

Swimming pool:

A typical Kemaliye house:

A door:

Flour Mill:

Kırkgöz (forty springs):

Row, row, row your boats through the Canyon: ( + rafting + mountain climbing)

Tercan (District)

Tercan is 99km to Erc city center.

"Tercan (formerly Ottoman Turkish: Mama Hatun) is a town and district of Erzincan Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The district covers an area of 1,592 km² (615 sq mi) and its total population is 33,643 in which 11,207 live in the town of Tercan.

The town is especially notable for the 12th century complex of buildings built by the Turkish Saltuklu Beylik's ruler Mama Hatun, which comprises her tomb, a mosque, a hammam and an impressive caravanserai which was heavily restored in recent years.

Also, according Stepanos Asoghik, in Tercan was born Samuel the Emperor of the Bulgarian Empire (997 - 1014)." Wikipedia

Mama Hatun Tomb:

"Mama Hatun Külliyesi: It is located at the Tercan district. Mama Hatun, who was the daughter of Saltukoğulları Monarch İzzettin II, had constructed a large külliye( complex of buildings adjacent to a mosque) in Tercan during the reign of Saltukoğulları State which was composed of caravanserai, bathroom, small mosque and her own mausoleum. This külliye was counted as the most interesting and important creation of Turkish architecture of Mediaeval Era"

 Kervansaray:

Abrenk Armenian Church:
"The date of 1854 was inscribed on the entrance gate of the church located at the vicinity of Üçpınar Village of Tercan district. There is a chapel and two obelisks with the church. These stones had attracted attention with their architecture and decorations and carry epitaphs dated at the period of Seljuk Prince Nasurettin after the 12th Century."