The best part about traveling within a country rather than country hopping is the local airlines-
In this case Turkish Airlines (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_raeLlLdPE)
See- you cannot beat that Jingle!!!
Cappadocia is a large region in southern Turkey. We stayed in Goreme specifically. Sparing ourselves the expense of a proper hotel, Amber and I shared a “cave room”. (No really though- this was a cave with a door and furnishings added to it for comfort.) These rooms are ecologically and economically intelligent places to check out for your stay as they retain their cool temperature in summer and are easily heated in the winter.
After sleeping in a cave there is nothing like a 5:00 AM hot air balloon ride to bring one fully awake. The deafening sound of gas being released and burned is only slightly terrifying when you hovering thousands of feet up in the face of a long doormat volcano watching a sun rise while surrounded by 60 other hot air-balloons…
Sanara, our balloon’s captain was a fearless Turkish woman who seemed to enjoy grinning maniacally at us while the sun gleamed off her aviators. Every once in a while she would scream out: “Higher, higher!”a huge stream of hot air would released and up, up and away we would sail!
In case being blown across the sky at 150 KM high (or more) was not enough Sanara’s team of balloon chasers (think storm chasers) supplied extra entertainment by radioing-up sexual innuendoes at Sanara as they speed across fields, heedless of planted crops, in their monster truck tracking our balloon.
One recommendation: always ask to see your captain’s license prior to take off… Don’t wait until you find yourself huddled in the bottom of the gondola braced for landing, watching the earth rise up to meet you at a rather-too-rapid speed to think of asking for such things.
Cappadocia is known for it’s amazing geological structures called Fairy Chimneys or HooDoo’s. Normal people would probably spend their days hiking among these amazing structures with maps:
We certainly did some hiking including haphazardly exploring bits of the Rose Valley (where we crossed the gate keeper of the Nazzar Church) and by walking ALL the way over the mountain to the next town in an attempt to find the UFO Museum. (@LonelyPlanet- This museum does NOT exist anymore; nor has it been in existence for 5 years! Please take it out of your guidebook.)
We spent one day hiking in Pigeon Valley; okay I am almost 97% certain we were in this specific valley, but you know, those Turkish maps can be tricky….
The main tourist attraction of this area is the Open Air Museum. Once thousands of Cristian’s avoided persecution for decades by living in hills and blockading themselves into caves in times of striff. Today Pre-Byzantine frescos decorate the walls, the ceilings and window ledges. Mostly protected from the elements the earthy hues and techniques are fascinating to look at; just think from these drawings many illuminated scripts were made and passed down into what we consider normal Biblical art today!
I closed out my trip in Goreme by taking a thigh-wrentching trail ride with a Horse Whisperer, Cohen. This man had walked up into the mountains and coaxed 12 young wild horses down to live with him. These beauties now work for him, carrying the likes of me on trail rides. They live entirely on homeopathic remedies and natural diets.
After initially telling Cohen I was an alright, though not accomplished rider I proceeded to fall off my horse as soon as we started moving because I had not checked the saddle’s girth prior to mounting. Rookie mistake fixed, and only my pride and arse being seriously bruised, I remounted.
Finally on our way, Cohen rode bareback and reign-less leading the way with his serious spurs and Cheyenne war cry ringtone. We raced down the open lanes of side dirt roads, slithered up mountain trails and finally we slowed to a canter as we crossed the sandy dunes under the stars on that moonless night. I was sad to be heading home….
intrepid trekking 