Here is my version of the shot that everyone who had a camera took from the hill, the town in the summer of '68. Picture

This one is a shot of the Turkish compound right behind our barracks. The entire time I was there I never had any contact with the Turkish troops but they were a tough bunch from watching them play soccer.

This picture is of an old olive orchard on the way into town. We walked passed it several times while I was there. It was taken on a warm summer's day and I remember how quiet everything was.
There was a farmhouse just across the road and the orchard was on a steep hill going up to our right as we walked toward Sinop. Picture

Here is a view of the old Russian fort on the point. I sure wish I had explored it more thoroughly. As I look at it now I can see gun emplacements and probably munitions storage caves. On this walk we met some herdsmen who accompanied us part way after we made friends by offering cigarettes to them. Picture

The story I heard is that this fort was built on the eastern end of the hill by the Russians to protect the harbor with a shore battery of artillery. I'm not sure what era that was but it was not modern. I'm thinking perhaps it was built in the era of the sailing vessel. It was possible to walk out there on a track that started just outside the gate and I think it might have been a good mile walk (or more) to get there. This next photo is of a farm that we walked past to get to the fort. Picture

We found these burros grazing on the grass around the fort. Picture

Here's a shot of Baba's boatyard along the Sinop shoreline. Picture

This photo is looking out of the harbor toward the Black Sea along the town shoreline. If you look closely you can see Baba's boatyard out near the point in the distance. There are some sailboats with sails hoisted near the shore. Picture

This view of the Hill was taken from the roof of the hotel ( Picture) and this one was taken from the bay (Picture).

Here is a picture of the quayside cafe. The staff would serve people outside here if you wanted to sit along the water's edge. It was very European...I remember having a pack of butts snatched out of my hand by a kid one day while I walked along the water there. He was probably tired of smoking Bafras (barfers as we called 'em). Most of the time I remember being treated very well and never got the idea that we were disliked in the town. Once in awhile we would order tea and crackers with goat cheese at these tables. I recall watching the fishing fleet come in one day and being amazed at the bounty of the Black Sea.

A bay vista from October 1968. Picture

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Ernie Wright is in the foreground of this photo taken at the Sinop sailing dock in 1968.	Ernie's barracks room in the winter of '68/'69. Note the Peanut Scale airplane hanging from the ceiling.

Click HERE to Email Ernie.

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