If it hasn’t been muddied by the downpour, the surface of the Göksu fills with reflections. The ripple caused by the touch of the oars reflects nature in a different way, as if the poetic silence created in you a sense that the world is always filled with such tranquility. The deception actually begins on the road from Istanbul to Agva. Bordered by the Göksu on one side and the Yesilçay on the other, Agva is one of the last points northeast of Istanbul, situated on the delta where the two rivers empty into the sea. It even owes its name to its geographical position. The word ‘Agva’ has its roots in Latin where it means ‘place between two rivers’. To go to Agva, take the TEM (Turkish-European Motorway) on the Asian side of the Bosphorus and turn off at the Sarigazi-Sile exit. You won’t believe you’ve left the city until you reach Şile at 70 km. But everything will change once you pass the sign for ‘Agva’ which will direct you to the right as you enter Şile. The forest, the countryside and the rural atmosphere begin here. When you reach the village of Çayirbasi you’ll have a decision to make.