Kars, RoT

Kars is not a busy tourist destination. Rather, it is a conservative provincial town supporting the surrounding agricultural region. The local economy thrives on dairy production, and as a result, the town is dotted with numerous cheese and honey shops, offering a glimpse into its culinary specialties.
Autumn scenery = golden fields, neatly clipped and dotted with high haystacks and the potato labourers digging their crop ready for the winter months. Mostly importantly, the annual farm cheques have been cashed so the wedding celebrations can proceed. Beautifully decorated bridal cars pass us in the street, accompanied by their lively, horn tooting convoys.
However, it doesn’t take much to scratch below Kars bucolic surface to find all is not well. After crossing the remote Georgia/Türkiye border post our van was checked for extra persons. Recently refugees have been identified in this area. Türkiye now has 7 million refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Russia.
Kaan, our young, well-educated local guide explains how the refugees impact his life: housing prices/rents have escalated, refugees are undercutting professional fees and Kaan can no longer easily access travel visas to other countries due to the international concern he will not return to Türkiye.Leer más