I look forward to reading your updated report. I enjoyed your original smugmug posts.
With regard to your comments on Turkey’s political situation, as a resident I shall refrain from commenting other than to say that visitors to Turkey interested in hiking in the country would be likely to find themselves unaffected by the situation and should expect experiences pretty similar to your own. I believe they should not let themselves be put off. And in spite of its recent slight rise, the fall of the Lira this year means it’s currently cheaper to visit now than when you came.
