A fast forward about cycling four months across six countries in the Middle East and Caucasus region.⁠
⁠
After I already cycled from my home town Flensburg, Germany all across eastern Europe to Istanbul, Turkey, I continued my way to Oman.⁠ On this leg of my cycling the world journey I faced challenging steep mountain roads in the freezing cold Caucasus region and also had to push myself through some extremely hot and windy deserts of the Middle East. I was lucky to meet Patrick the way. So we teamed up and pedaled together across the Emirates and Oman.⁠
⁠
I came across Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, United Arab Emirates and Oman.⁠

If you enjoy watching this video then please support my fundraising campaign to equip school class rooms in Darfur, Sudan. Thank you!
 
And if you enjoy watching it a lot, then I'd appreciate if you'd support me with a virtual cup of coffee on Ko-fi. Cheers! :)

Click here if you want to take a look at my equipment.

It was easy to find camp spots along the way. On the country side I pitched my tent off the roads while I was surrounded by massive mountains which tops were covered with snow. I cooked quick and easy meals such as canned soups and had some bread on the side and then wrapped into my sleeping bags to stay warm.

I sat on the stairs in front of a historic building as a girl approached me.
"Are you here for the film festival?" she asked.
"Film festival? What film festival?" I answered.
"There's a European film festival and it starts today. The premiere starts in one hour. Do you want to come? It's for free."
"Sounds great!" I answered. "Where is it?"
She laughed. "You're sitting right in front of the entrance".
It turned out that the historic building was the Moscow Cinema.

"Are you from the press?" a lady asked as I was filming and photographing inside the building.
"No, I'm just a regular guest", I said and regretted my answer right away. I thought: I should have said yes. Just to see what happens. Nobody knows me here. I can be who and what I want. I wonder what kind of funny or weird situation I missed. Maybe I'd have gotten a better seat or would have gotten the chance to talk and shake hands with the filmmakers and officials. I'll never find out but I'll for sure say yes if I'll ever get into similar situation again. :D

I already climbed 20 of a 30 turns serpentine, as I sat totally knackered and frustrated on the side of the road. This steep road was the hardest climb that I experienced thus far - physically and mentally. I really wanted to give up and go home. A car stopped. The driver opened the window and handed me a bottle of water. In this moment I was so overwhelmed by this little gesture that I was close to tears. It took several hours until I arrived the top of the mountain and as soon as I arrived there a pick-up truck stopped in front of me. The driver got off the car. He didn't speak a single word of English but it was clear the he was asking if I'd need a lift. Since I suffered more than enough I gladly accepted the offer.

We rumbled over the forested mountain road alongside the border to Azerbaijan and as Igor maneuvered his car through the winding roads, he gave me some juicy apples and some self-made vodka. Later he even bought me pizza, lemonade and coffee in a cafe. Thank you again for everything my friend.

My last night in Armenia I stayed in a Hotel in Meghri from where I cycled the last few kilometers alongside the border fence to the Iranian border crossing. I was nervous regarding what to expect in Iran due to everything I ever heard about this country on the news but I was more excited since I always dreamed about visiting the old Persia.

If you enjoy reading this blog then please support my fundraising campaign to equip school classrooms in Darfur, Sudan. Thank you!

And if you enjoy reading it a lot, then I'd appreciate if you'd support me with a virtual cup of coffee on Ko-fi. Cheers! :)

Click here if you want to take a look at my equipment.