Day 170: Gallipoli to Kesan
Exploring the Gallipoli Peninsula
Leaving Gallipoli we found a really quiet backroad along the cliffs. We skirted several military bases — the army obviously still have a big presence here.
We climbed up onto the ridge that forms the Gallipoli Peninsula and had an occasional view of the highway below us, revelling in the track that was almost entirely free of traffic.
At the top of the ridge we found a fortification. It had been a Byzantine castle in the 12th Century, but the original Çimpe Kalisi had long fallen down. However, the strategic importance of its location continued, and fortifications were built in the Crimean War and in World War I, some of which still remain.
We had a lot of trouble working out if it had been a gun emplacement or a barracks, but we had some fun exploring.
This is our last night in Turkey, tomorrow we cross the border into Greece. We accidentally chose a Greek restaurant, although the cuisine and selection seems very similar.