Cappadocia, Türkiye

Hello! You’re back! It’s good to see you again.

One of the experts in this geographic area of Türkiye is Sidar Duran, and if you have a few minutes, read his short posts on Cappadocia. I am a traveler, not a history buff, so his posts will give you that information if you need a more historical perspective. For a basic travel perspective on the importance of Cappadocia, go here.

That’s me above, slugging up the hill in boots, coat, and the mandatory hat. We came to Cappadocia to get away for several days last winter. We were in between holidays and thus away from the crowds. There was snow and cold, but we bundled up and walked parts of the city.

Thirty-five years ago, I toured these caves, even though I have a significant dose of claustrophobia that follows me around. Because of the group I traveled with then, our focus was on the early Christians. For a more detailed explanation of the caves, the formation, and who lived there, go here and here.

We spent hours one afternoon at Lil’a Restaurant, a farm-to-table restaurant part of the Museum Hotel, the only Relais & Châteaux hotel in the country. Click the link and look at the photos taken during the summer for a much better understanding of how comfortably fabulous this restaurant is.

The fairy chimneys are numerous and striking. The Smithsonian gives information on their formation.

The hotel where we stayed was very rustic, not as much of a tourist magnet as some of the larger hotels you see on the Instagram pages. Was it luxurious? Not exactly, but you did get the full Cappadocia experience.

What did I not see? Because of the weather, taking a balloon ride was impossible. They also have horse riding, which I will take advantage of on the next trip. Cappadocia is a UNESCO Heritage site, and almost a half million people come here each year to ride over the fairy chimneys in a balloon. This area is one of the most photographed places on Instagram and one of the reasons I was happy to be here in the off-season.

Will I return? Of course. I want to take my own balloon ride at sunrise. I’m a tourist at heart, like the rest of the world.