Türkiye - Day 10-14: Noah’s Ark & Kars
Long drives, Noah’s Ark, some rest days before the stunning Ani Ruins
With so much go, go, go we were tired. We had a long beautiful drive to Lake Van and arrived well after nightfall and into Z’s work time. We finally got into our Air Bnb and unpacked. We picked this location as a halfway point with a washer so we could refresh our clothes and it was well overdue - although I’m no stranger to washing our clothes in the shower. or a sink!
The following day we were treated by family in Van to a luxurious hammam - bath, scrubbing and hour long massage. It was well needed after so much travel and we both were extremely grateful. There’s something so soothing about being bathed by someone else. I’m not as into the aggressive scrubbing in a hammam, but I did enjoy feeling extremely clean! One of our favorite hammam spa experiences is actually on the island of Lesvos in Eresos at The Eressian. We spent the next few days resting heavily - we had a ton of plans in the area, but we opted to relax, spend time with family and recharge. It was Bayram which means a lot of places were closed as families get together to celebrate! Lake Van is quite beautiful and while there are some wonderful things to do in the area - there is a time for rest, and we needed it!
Heading to Kars
Our next location would take us 7.5 hours north and a little farther east towards the city of Kars. Kars is located near the Armenian border and is one of the highest (and coldest) cities in Türkiye. It’s also home to the stunning UNESCO site of the Ani Ruins! It’s famous for its Kars Gravyer (Gruyère cheese), a local delicacy with Swiss origins, a stunning frozen lake where in winter you can take a picturesque sleigh ride and the specialty in many restaurants is goose!
It’s a LONG drive from Lake Van to Kars and while we’re on a tighter timeline, we cannot miss the alleged site of Noah’s Ark in the mountains that’s on the way “enough’! Simply the idea that we were tacking on Mount Ararat and Noah’s Ark to ANY DAY’S plan is wild. We are so far east that we are traveling from the Iranian border up to the Armenian border and everything here feels older than time itself. We make the turn off the main highway and drops of rain begin to pelt the car, we both laugh a little as it’s very fitting for a journey to the ark. Hopefully, there will be no apocalyptic flood.
Noah’s Ark
The Durupınar Site, located in eastern Türkiye near Mount Ararat, is a geological formation that some believe to be the remains of Noah’s Ark. This site has been a subject of debate for decades, attracting explorers, scientists, and religious enthusiasts searching for evidence of the biblical flood. The site is a boat-shaped formation, measuring approximately 160 meters (525 feet) long, which closely aligns with the biblical dimensions of Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6:15). We knew we had to see it! It’s a beautiful drive up along a winding mountain road and we followed the relatively easy signs to get there. We arrived at a little tourist lodge at the top with some displays and a park officiant. From there you can see the shape of the ark in the distance on a broad hill.
So, is it the ark? Much conflicting information! Some researchers, such as Ron Wyatt (1980s), have suggested that the formation contains petrified wooden structures and metal rivets, possibly indicating a man-made vessel. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scans allegedly detected compartment-like formations beneath the surface, which some believe could be remnants of an ancient ship. The Qur’an (Surah Hud 11:44) and Bible (Genesis 8:4) mention the ark resting on "Mountains of Ararat," which aligns with this region. However, most geologists believe the site is a natural rock formation, formed by mudflows and erosion. Scientific investigations, including those by Turkish geologists, have concluded that the structure is a natural phenomenon. It’s well worth a visit regardless and it really underscores the depth and connection to religion and history that this region has. The stories from religious texts are not simply stories here, they are real, tangible, moments in time that don’t feel quite so far away.
I can tell you that as it begins to rain it feels both eerie and fitting - the clouds are dark and ominous in the distance and you can’t help but imagine the origin of the story. A man desperate to save his livelihood, putting his animals onto a boat, something he was told to do by an unknown power. To travel somewhere is to experience why the people in that area are the way they are. Religion is not something one adds to their identity here. It is their identity. It is their history. It is their culture. I am a non-religious, but open-minded person. I see this depth of faith and I think about the way I see religion practiced in the western world. The television evangelists, the megachurches with rock bands playing, the church-only-on-holidays folks and the way religion feels like an optional add-on instead of something interwoven into the very fabric of your existence. Again, I am reminded of how real these stories are in this part of the world. Noah is someone’s father’s, father’s, father’s, brother’s, cousin’s, grandfather.
Kars
Kars is a cute town - I think it would be fun to see it in all of it’s winter glory, but it was beautiful midsummer as well. Quaint buildings lend an old-world charm and there’s a mix of well-rated restaurants and shops. We are a bit tighter on time here than we’d like, so we get settled in our hotel. We stayed at the Kars Atapark Boutique Hotel which suited us just fine - I wanted something in a decent price range with WiFi and included breakfast as I knew we’d be working in the evenings and want to eat quickly in the morning and head out to the ruins! The staff was friendly, the location was quiet and the room was sizeable.
A big part of being able to travel so frequently is making mindful itinerary and financial choices. Sure, there are luxurious hotels in Kars, but our time in Kars is limited and we’re focused on the Ani Ruins. Because we are working Monday - Friday in the afternoons and evenings, there is not an emphasis on ‘vacation’! We live abroad and on the road, so the concept of vacation is rather infrequent despite the gorgeous instagram pics! I think while it’s not as exciting to talk about, it’s super important to know HOW we do it!
We limit our shopping (both for luggage space and expenses)
We limit our dining out (frequently we have dinner in the room and cook if/when possible)
We pick and choose our excursions carefully, often opting for more off the beaten path ‘authentic’ experiences than ‘bucket list’ items with high price tags and log queues
We keep in mind that our hotel rooms are for work, sleep, shower and rest and bypass the uber luxurious options that feel fancy but don’t provide any real value
If you want to travel - it IS possible, especially if you can work remote, but it takes shifting your mindset!
Stay tuned for our day at the Ani Ruins - it’s a DO NOT MISS!!! This is one of the most legendary days on this trip and in 2024!!!!!!!!!
