Day 33: Gombe to Korkutelli - 55 miles

pleasant day of riding on a high plateau through apple orchards. All towns here have muslim prayer five times per day. The prayer is played over the loudspeaker for the whole town to hear. The surprising thing is that the prayer is a comforting song of sorts (except for the 5am prayer, which often wakes us). It is like a religious chant similar to St Marks in Seattle. It has a calming effect. Turkey is 98% muslim, but separates religion from state. Women are not often seen outside of their home and they always have all limbs covered and the vast majority have headscarfs as well. Men dont talk directly to Sarah until they have talked to me first.