Our chosen route to Georgia led us across the northern part of Turkey, following the coastline of the Black Sea. It was the perfect way to ease ourselves into a different world – without any sudden cultural shock, but with enough time to slowly absorb the new flavours, customs, and everyday details. From the very beginning we noticed subtle differences: the food, the toilets, and the ever-present mosques shaping the rhythm of daily life.

What charmed us most were the small towns and villages scattered along the coast. Narrow streets, countless tiny shops, workshops, family-run factories, and even sawmills operating on the ground floors of apartment blocks—everything felt authentic and wonderfully local. It was here that I fell in love with Turkish tea, a habit that has stayed with me ever since.

The campgrounds where we stayed were far from European standards, and almost everywhere we were the only foreigners. We actually enjoyed that – these places were simple, happy, and real. Northern Turkey became not just a transit route to Georgia, but a memorable experience on its own.

Map of this trip:

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