Leaving Nakhchivan and heading toward Erzurum, the freshness you feel in the shadow of high mountains accompanies us from the very first moments. Our road story is starting just when the border is silently opened and a stone-built city appears on the horizon.
When we arrive in Erzurum, we meet the weight and clarity of cut-stone architecture; on wide streets, the rhythm of our own steps is heard. The first greeting of the city is the touch of cool air on one’s face and the warm smiles of hospitable people.
As we stand in front of the Çifte Minareli Medrese, we are reading from the stone the patience in it, and our cameras catch unique details. We breathe in the calm of the inner courtyard at Yakutiye Medrese and naturally listen to the stories of its history.
When we draw near to the castle walls, we are walking with the sounds the wind brings; from above, we observe the ordered pattern of the rooftops and grasp in one glance the depth of the city.
Smokes of cağ kebabı are opening our appetite during our taste break, while kadayıf dolması gives a sweet finish. We observe the craftsmanship of the masters at the Oltu stone workshops up close and leave with a small, shining keepsake in hand and a quiet smile on our faces.
The scenes of the season the stillness of white on snowy days, the cool breeze on summer evenings — were resting our minds on the road stretching toward Palandöken. On the way back, our suitcase is being settled not only with gifts but also with stories that have been gathered up gently. We are feeling the spirit of both the road and the city on the line from Nakhchivan to Erzurum and the pleasant atmosphere that ties them together.
