Turkey Journal - continued!!! (Part 16)

So in the morning of Monday, 13 October, all our alarms had to go off VERRRY early, and for those who didn't hear theirs or regularly oversleep them, there was a telephone waking up service in operation, too.
For we had to be up and out and about before (!) sunrise - the journey lying ahead of us was going to be looong one.

So one last view through the bus window - as it was still parked in front of the hotel in Istanbul - across the Golden Horn and onto Fener (Phanar), and out of Istanbul we went, travelling west in the direction to Edirne at first, but soon enough turning south towards Gelibolu (which was Gallipolli back in Roman times).
That was from where a ferry boat was going to carry us all (bus included) across the Dardanelles to Lapseki, and once there, we'd set our feet into Asia for the first time.
Here a view off the ferry boat into the harbour area of Gelibolu with its little marina.

Another ferry left before us, heading towards Lapseki and the Asian part of Turkey east of the Dardanelles.

The sun shone brightly, though there was quite a haze in the air, and the water of the Dardanelles glittered so much, it was almost blinding to look down on it.

Once left from Gelibolu, here is one last look back onto part of the town...

...with the Asian coast already in sight all the time, too.

And that pilot boat? Was it for us? Did we need guidance through difficult waters?

Ah no. No worries. Our captain knew his path in his sleep!

He was the coolest captain ever - "Hi! Peace!" ...

... he manoevred his ferry boat with only the tip of his finger!

This big bulk carrier (or is it a tanker?) needed the guidance by the pilot!

But the ferry out of Lapseki to Gelibolu sure also had as cool a captain as we had...

... who manoevred the boat in his sleep and with the tip of his finger only!

Our wake, Europe now far behind us ...

... and Asia in front.

Soon we were to arrive at Lapseki Harbour, get back on our bus, and continue the journey all the way to Troja (Troy).