{"id":2812,"date":"2023-02-06T09:35:19","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T06:35:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/what-does-the-black-sea-tell-me\/"},"modified":"2023-05-21T12:44:09","modified_gmt":"2023-05-21T09:44:09","slug":"what-does-the-black-sea-tell-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/en\/what-does-the-black-sea-tell-me\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does the Black Sea Tell Me?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<iframe style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/71hZ6bDV37Ccqm3CJqGUOT?utm_source=generator\" width=\"330px\" height=\"80\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">If life is a game, you need reasons to stay in the game. When I realized that the time it takes to get over my disappointment, to digest his absence, would never be enough, I had to listen to the instantly coming inner voice. My beloved Black Sea, which I had said I could never go back to, was calling me. I didn\u2019t know if my time waiting on the sidelines was up, but there was no way I could not accept the invitation. It wouldn\u2019t be long before I realized that this trip taking me a thousand three hundred kilometers away, was actually a journey to my inner world waiting to be rediscovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Every corner of the Black Sea is paradise, but the Eastern Black Sea fascinates people in a different way. Now, rather than the trips pretty well known or the plateaus you often see on social media, I will tell you about the hills, lakes and plateaus that are very difficult to reach, or maybe you have never heard of.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Ko\u00e7d\u00fcz\u00fc Plateau was a difficult destination for me. The fact that the plateau has been accessible for only about last ten years gives a clue about this. The view is worth every challenge. In a landscape that makes you feel so far away from the world, with minus two degrees in September, I come to my senses a little. Although the lack of internet is difficult, it is perhaps the most beautiful part of the plateau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"1080\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1920 \/ 1080;\" width=\"1920\" autoplay controls loop src=\"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cicekli-Yayla.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">As I head towards Adal\u0131 G\u00f6l in the plateau, the never-ending rain of the Black Sea hits my face. It\u2019s a magnificent view. The largest natural lake in Turkey with a floating islet on it, as the name suggests, Adal\u0131 G\u00f6l (\u2018Lake with Island\u2019). The ancients used to say that the three floating islets moved in the direction of the wind so they were making weather forecasts accordingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">I aim to get to the top of the plateau, but it is quite difficult for an amateur like me. Every now and then I turn back and look at Adal\u0131 G\u00f6l and try to regain my energy. Although the cold and rain slows me down, altitude at 2500m and the name \u2018Heaven and Hell Hill\u2019 excite me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Though I do understand this name at first, when I reach to the top I get it. I come face to face with what my dear teacher always tells us: \u201cHeaven and hell are actually in this world and are within ourselves\u201d. On one side, a paradise with a green that cannot be achieved with any artificial paint and the Lake with Islets, and on the other side, a hellish landscape with steep cliffs with brown stones and rocks. A thin road separates these two different landscapes and offers opportunity for a long reflection. The choice is entirely up to us, with one step to heaven or with one step\u2026 Just one step\u2026so I sit at this fine crossroad. Not realizing how wet I am getting, I watch the spectacle of this world being just a passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"848\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 480 \/ 848;\" width=\"480\" autoplay controls loop src=\"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cennet-Cehennem-Tepesi.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">One of the hidden beauties is the \u00c7i\u00e7ekli Yayla (Flowery Plateau). It is possible to gaze upon these landscapes by loving the \u201cdifficult\u201d. As the name suggests, it is home to unprecedented flowers. The altitude is around 2500 meters again\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">The plateau, which is recommended to be visited in spring, fascinates me in the fall. It is so impressive that it reminds me of a verse from Holy Qur\u2019an: \u201cHe Who created the seven heavens one above another: No want of proportion wilt thou see in the Creation of (Allah) Most Gracious. So turn thy vision again: seest thou any flaw? Again turn thy vision a second time: (thy) vision will come back to thee dull and discomfited, in a state worn out.\u201d A sight that reminds us to look for miracles not too far away. Just a little contemplation\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">While enjoying the beauty of the landscape, suddenly the fog rolls in and everything becomes invisible as if to remind us when we say everything is fine, an event covers all the beauties like a fog. Nature shows that this fog is a temporary curtain and the fog that obscures everything is disappearing just as quickly. Obviously our efforts are being questioned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">I inhale deeply the fragrance I have never encountered before. I don\u2019t want to leave the view, even though increasing cold restricts my movements. I look around and see no one as everyone has gone to different corners. After a while I try to photograph every moment, not wanting anyone to miss this unique beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Our next route is \u201cKale-i Bala\u201d. The name sounds quite interesting. I learn that the word means \u2018the castle high above\u2019 and that it was recorded in Ottoman archival documents as Kale-i Hem\u015fin Zir and Kale-i Hem\u015fin Bala. It is the castle with the highest altitude in the Black Sea region. On a steep cliff, close to the source of the F\u0131rt\u0131na Stream. The view is once again mesmerizing. The small but very meaningful martyrdom on the opposite side, with its story dating back to the Ottoman period, is a must-visit. Of course it is very difficult again. I climb hundreds of steps, everywhere is lush green and with tree species I\u2019ve never seen before.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">At the point where I run out of breath, I reach the martyrdom and the magnificent view. Sometimes what you see says a lot, but you can\u2019t put it into words, that\u2019s how it is\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"1080\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1920 \/ 1080;\" width=\"1920\" autoplay controls loop preload=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cat-Vadisi-2.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">I leave the Black Sea with the wish that everyone should walk on the \u00c7at Valley where the two branches of \u00c7at Creek meet, and everyone should see Karag\u00f6l in \u015eav\u015fat, Men\u00e7una Waterfall in Arhavi falling from\u00a0\u00a092 meters height; and Derindere Dam on the \u00c7oruh River, which is the highest dam in Turkey and the twelfth highest dam in the world with a body height of 249 meters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Once again I realize that expatriation means not being miles away, but not being able to say anyhing to someone you love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">May you always be in good terms and love with your loved ones\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If life is a game, you need reasons to stay in the game. When I realized that the time it takes to get over&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":2767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[181],"tags":[206,204],"class_list":["post-2812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life","tag-black-sea","tag-guldemet-gultekin-en"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hernefes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_0233.jpg?fit=1125%2C1261&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2812"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3775,"href":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2812\/revisions\/3775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hernefes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}