Look at any travel brochure or website for visiting Turkey and you’re almost guaranteed that they lead with a picture of this place. The mythical, magical wonderland of Cappadocia. You’re basically on a Star Wars set. In fact, George Lucas himself took inspiration from this fairy tale land for scenes in his epic space saga. And as much as the area is beautiful and stunning to explore, so too are there a plethora of touristic delights to enjoy. It’s the thinking wo/mans amusement park. And yet it never really feels overcrowded. This I assume is attributed to the thousands of Asian tourists who visit here shuttled off to do day tours following their early morning balloon rides. And if there is one thing that Cappadocia is famous for; it’s the balloons.
Up up and away
Hot air ones obviously. Not the kind you give a lung to blowing up for parties. Every morning just before dawn, thrill seekers and those not terrified of heights wake in the dark to be transported to launch sites all across the valley. From there they pay top dollar to be lifted 1600 metres into the sky in a wooden basket attached to a tarpaulin with propane gas tanks above their heads. OK so I’m not the best at selling it, but then again I don’t need to. Apparently it’s an incredible experience, and who am I to dilute it with my own scorn and fear? From my vantage point safe on terra firma, I can safely (literally) say, that it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. I counted 95 colourful airships taking silently to the skies, defying gravity, like a Galileo thermometer. Serene, peaceful, mesmerising, and simply breathtaking. Another world indeed.
No words required
Goreme is the central hub. A town cut out of the rock the area is so famous for, vying for tourist dollars with cave hotels, balloon flights, regional tours, massage spas and ATV hire. The unique, geological rock formations were sculpted by the three volcanoes in the region, and then carved into cute little homes by troglodytes (cave dwellers). The persecuted Christians flooded the place around the 4th Century, turning many of the caverns into al-fresco churches. Goreme open air museum is well worth a visit to experience the handy work of some early god-botherers.
Christians. Christians everywhere…
My only bum note during my time here was struck by an aging American woman. Driving around Charlie-and-his-angels-style in a hired jeep, I was rather perturbed when, on asking for a picture of me and my attractive Australian companions, the following exchange took place:
“Where are you taking them?”
“Somewhere romantic…”
“Well they’re both gorgeous so I don’t think so”.
Kick a man when he’s down. Clearly her 60 year old conservative ways were aghast at the possibility I was having a threesome. As if I would ever do something like that…
No seriously I wouldn’t. It’s just not happening for me. Can’t seem to make it work. I’ve come close so many, many times…
Nasty, condescending woman just out of shot to the right, but still no chance anyway
I digress. Underground cities, naked in a valley of giant cocks, a museum of female hair, joy riding in a jeep, spine-bending massages, nearly stranded in a ravine, and my first ever encounter with a camel. It’s fair to say I got my money’s worth visiting this place. But it is the balloons that will live long in the memory. I will be back, and with it, perhaps conquer the fear that holds me so steadfast to the ground.
A tree of evil eyes. Said to ward off bad omens/evil spirits
X-files
Pottery. The area is riddled with it
Uchisar castle
Pigeon valley
Underground city at Derinkuyu
Going up
The fairy chimneys
The stone camel
A real camel
Famous stuff
“In the land of giant cocks, the bare arsed man is king”
Cappadocia
Look at any travel brochure or website for visiting Turkey and you’re almost guaranteed that they lead with a picture of this place. The mythical, magical wonderland of Cappadocia. You’re basically on a Star Wars set. In fact, George Lucas himself took inspiration from this fairy tale land for scenes in his epic space saga. And as much as the area is beautiful and stunning to explore, so too are there a plethora of touristic delights to enjoy. It’s the thinking wo/mans amusement park. And yet it never really feels overcrowded. This I assume is attributed to the thousands of Asian tourists who visit here shuttled off to do day tours following their early morning balloon rides. And if there is one thing that Cappadocia is famous for; it’s the balloons.
Up up and away
Hot air ones obviously. Not the kind you give a lung to blowing up for parties. Every morning just before dawn, thrill seekers and those not terrified of heights wake in the dark to be transported to launch sites all across the valley. From there they pay top dollar to be lifted 1600 metres into the sky in a wooden basket attached to a tarpaulin with propane gas tanks above their heads. OK so I’m not the best at selling it, but then again I don’t need to. Apparently it’s an incredible experience, and who am I to dilute it with my own scorn and fear? From my vantage point safe on terra firma, I can safely (literally) say, that it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. I counted 95 colourful airships taking silently to the skies, defying gravity, like a Galileo thermometer. Serene, peaceful, mesmerising, and simply breathtaking. Another world indeed.
No words required
Goreme is the central hub. A town cut out of the rock the area is so famous for, vying for tourist dollars with cave hotels, balloon flights, regional tours, massage spas and ATV hire. The unique, geological rock formations were sculpted by the three volcanoes in the region, and then carved into cute little homes by troglodytes (cave dwellers). The persecuted Christians flooded the place around the 4th Century, turning many of the caverns into al-fresco churches. Goreme open air museum is well worth a visit to experience the handy work of some early god-botherers.
Christians. Christians everywhere…
My only bum note during my time here was struck by an aging American woman. Driving around Charlie-and-his-angels-style in a hired jeep, I was rather perturbed when, on asking for a picture of me and my attractive Australian companions, the following exchange took place:
“Where are you taking them?”
“Somewhere romantic…”
“Well they’re both gorgeous so I don’t think so”.
Kick a man when he’s down. Clearly her 60 year old conservative ways were aghast at the possibility I was having a threesome. As if I would ever do something like that…
No seriously I wouldn’t. It’s just not happening for me. Can’t seem to make it work. I’ve come close so many, many times…
Nasty, condescending woman just out of shot to the right, but still no chance anyway
I digress. Underground cities, naked in a valley of giant cocks, a museum of female hair, joy riding in a jeep, spine-bending massages, nearly stranded in a ravine, and my first ever encounter with a camel. It’s fair to say I got my money’s worth visiting this place. But it is the balloons that will live long in the memory. I will be back, and with it, perhaps conquer the fear that holds me so steadfast to the ground.