More Mount Nemrut then the Euphrates River 20/9/24

At the first sound of tyre upon gravel this morning, the excitable one was up making coffee. I swear it was nearer to four than five!🙄Sunrise at 6:20am though, can’t miss it, twenty minutes drive up the road (ten) and thirty minutes walk to the top (twenty).
Thank goodness for the head torch as we set off, it was so dark, I was very pleased to be accompanied by a Dalek. Already about thirty people up there, one old lady receiving a round of applause as she reached the top (no, not me!).
The stone heads on the eastern side have their bodies stacked against the rock behind them, but still de-capitated. It makes for a very atmospheric sun rise though.

I was very grateful for the secondary coffee that Guy had carried up in a flask and almost ecstatic when I realised it had sugar in it (I actually thought it was rum!). We’ve become grown ups very recently and have stopped having sugar, but I still crave it in a morning.
It was 6:30 before the sun rose above the low cloud, but worth the wait.

We walked back down the eastern path, which was a little bit more challenging for me, but was ok.
Stopped at the bottom carpark again to sort ourselves out and then found that the gate was shut for our exit. We’d heard stories about people being charged for two days even though they leave around 7am. Guy was having none of that, so opened the gate and we drove off just as one of the guards was approaching.

Seemed a long road down off the mountain,but luckily, as we came across the Nissibi Euphrates suspension bridge, we found a lovely picnic spot on the other side.
Time for a sleep.

Sat in the shade for lunch, by the lovely Euphrates River which sounds quite biblical to us. At this point, the police paid us a visit – I thought it was because I was wearing shorts!
“Salaam alaikum” they said,as I ran inside.
“Alaikum salaam” replies Guy, thankfully, without putting Mrs Shah on the end 🤣(The film, ‘East is East’ for anyone that doesn’t know what I’m talking about!).
Just wanted to know where we were from, had a nosy around and off they went.
A hot sunny day, turned into thunder, lightening and heavy rain before we even had chance for a walk! Looks like cards and wine then.