Ankara, the capital of Turkey (not Istanbul – surprise!) is a busy, smoggy city. Most tourists give it a miss, but there’s a few sights worth checking out if you’re passing through. Ankara is also a major transportation hub – and it was the perfect way for us to break up our travel from Cappadocia to Istanbul. Be warned, I never got so much crud in my eyes as I did in Ankara. The air is thick with exhaust fumes, cigarette smoke, and dust kicked up from all the cars. It was quite a shock to arrive hear after the peace and nature of Capadoccia.

The otogar is Turkey’s largest. It looks more like an airport, with arrivals on the first floor, and departures on the second floor. There is a huge board showing all the bus companies departure times. (although apparently the board doesn’t always work). The terminal is starting to show it’s age, however. Getting downtown is a breeze, thanks to a brand new modern subway system. Service is frequent, and fast.