Cappadocia Region of Turkey

I like to think of Cappadocia as my second home. Even though I get a buzz from going to new places, I adore the familiarity of the region and I’m not the only one because there are many good reasons to visit. Sitting in the central Anatolian region of Turkey, Cappadocia is the country’s third most visited destination. Attracting an international audience of fans, travel magazines have labelled it as “must visit” while others called it one of the … [Read more...]

When I started travel blogging, I was quite naive because I thought it was purely about writing. However, it involves a lot more than that, and good photography is part of it. Indeed even the whole world of travel writing has progressed in that if you pitch any publication, famous or not, they generally ask for high-resolution photographs as well. Therefore, over the years, as well as trying to become a better writer, I have also delved into the … [Read more...]

Uchisar, a small village of Cappadocia is mostly renowned for two things; luxury hotels and an ugly castle that is the highest point in the region.  On my first visit to the area, I couldn’t afford to stay in any of their hotels but heard the castle that can be seen from miles away, gives off a wowing panoramic view of the valleys. With this in mind, I set off from Goreme with my camera, my best walking shoes and a rucksack filled with bottles … [Read more...]

Looking at the large map displayed on a billboard at the bus station, I noticed a small village called Ibrahimpasa. Figuring it might be similar to the old Greek village of nearby Mustafapasa, I decided to visit. Groaning inwardly when the bus driver said I would need to change buses twice to get there, I decided instead to bargain with the taxi drivers that had a rank in Goreme bus station. The boss, who was extremely proud that his nickname … [Read more...]

The open air museum of Zelve tells much the same story as other places in Cappadocia. Previously a monastery retreat from the 9th to the 13th centuries, in later years, Turks and Greeks lived side by side in the caves, carved out of the soft volcanic rock. It was a fully functioning community until the end of the Turkish War of Independence in 1923 that resulted in the Treaty of Lausanne requiring Greeks to return back to their homeland and … [Read more...]

On my first visit to Goreme in Cappadocia, Turkey in November 2009, I was all over it like a hot rash. The summer had officially finished yet it was still thriving with backpackers arriving from Istanbul on the overnight bus. There seemed to be travelers from all over the world heading there with eager anticipation to see for themselves the lunar like landscape, cave hotels, ancient churches and an amazing sunrise view of twenty or more hot air … [Read more...]

Sometimes the most unexpected and delightful events occur if we are willing to step outside of our comfort zone. A perfect example is what happened to me on my last visit to Cappadocia, when I discovered what was to be my favourite boutique hotel in Cappadocia. On every visit to the region, I always book hotels in Goreme, Urgup or Uchisar. However Suat, an online acquaintance of two years said that when I was in the region again, I should visit … [Read more...]

As I looked at the tour itinerary that I had signed up for, I saw the name “Sobesos Excavation Site” and was instantly intrigued. Having visited many off the beaten track places in Cappadocia, the fact that I’d never heard of this place meant one of three things. A: It was recently discovered B: It is nothing to boast about C: I was not as well-travelled as I assumed To my relief, although it had been discovered 13 years ago, excavation work … [Read more...]

Exploring an underground city sounds exciting, but the truth is that when you have seen one, you have seen them all. The central Anatolia region of Cappadocia has hundreds of them, a testament to the historical timeline of that area. Citizens retreated to them, during times of invasion and they acted as fully functioning cities with chapels, schools and rooms for the livestock. The first underground city I visited in 2010 was Derinkuyu, which … [Read more...]

I had returned to Pasabag Monks Valley, just outside the touristic town of Goreme in the central Anatolian region of Cappadocia. Standing there alone, I looked up at the tall domineering rocks in front of me. Some were rugged while others were smooth, a sign of wind erosion over hundreds of years. Many websites described them as mushroom shaped whereas all I could see was a strong resemblance to a man’s private part. Perhaps my mind is twisted … [Read more...]

Devrent Valley is a small place on the outskirts of Goreme, the transport and tourism hub of Cappadocia. Unlike other valleys in the region, it doesn’t boast of the normal cave churches and I had no plans to visit there since public transport doesn’t go that way, but my private tour guide suggested we stop by while driving through. “I hope your imagination is alive today” he said. Since I don’t like surprises, I groaned quietly to myself but we … [Read more...]

(Post updated May 2015 ) I have previously written about Avanos. It is a small town in the Cappadocia region of Turkey and on my first visit, I was not impressed. I wrote… “Avanos reminded me of the Wild West films showing deserted streets while playing an eerie whistling tune. I looked up and down the street, completed a full 360 degree turn and the only sign of breathing movement was a stray dog searching through the bins for scrap food. It … [Read more...]

I was not expecting much from Soganli Valley in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. In guidebooks, the likes of Ihlara or Pigeon Valley overshadow its presence. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised. Sitting off the beaten path, the pigeon houses carved into the rock fairy chimneys, and ancient cave churches promoted a surreal appearance but I was mostly in awe at the old abandoned village. My visit was part of a tour and after we left, I can say, with … [Read more...]

When I started this blog, my aim was to visit every village, town and city in Turkey. Perhaps I was drunk when I made this bucket list because it soon became clear to me; this goal was going to take a lifetime to complete and despite popular rumours, I have not won the lottery nor received a hefty inheritance, so it was also going to take a huge chunk out of my finances. Maybe that was why, somewhere on my quest, I got side-tracked. Despite … [Read more...]

Despite my vast knowledge about Turkey, I had never heard of Keslik Monastery until I signed up for a Blue Tour of Cappadocia. The Blue Tour didn’t exist on my last visit to the region but its aim is to satisfy repeat visitors, like myself who have already been to all the popular tourist attractions. Keslik Monastery is “off the beaten track” and my collection of guide books at home, hardly mentioned it. About Keslik Monastery Located close … [Read more...]

You could be under the assumption that in this post,   I am going to tell of the day I took advantage of the numerous Cappadocia Hot air balloons trips over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Before I left for Cappadocia, I read many blog posts of the experience and saw photos from other blogs of the fantastic views available. I was all geared up to take the trip of a lifetime. However when the time came, I took one look at the balloons and said … [Read more...]

Lately I have been breaking off from my Cappadocia posts to write about other thoughts and my recent Bodrum trip. However last night, I started looking through photos so I can put  together my last posts on the amazing region of Cappadocia. Cappadocia had such an profound impact on me and visiting the area kicked off an interest in photography. I started snapping everything in sight from street cats to mosques to sunsets. Since then I have also … [Read more...]

I received an email from a reader who asked where to stay in Cappadocia. D wrote... "I was wondering, which town should I make my base? Goreme, Urgup, Uchisar, or...? Which would be the most quaint (for lack of a better word) town to stay, although, I would love to see all 3 towns mentioned and/or more if possible. Having said that, I am also interested to see and experience the ongoings of Turkish rural life as well, as I am a … [Read more...]

When I was searching for accommodation in Cappadocia, the choice was between Urgup and Goreme. I finally settled on the latter  but still had to go to Urgup for the day to see why my good friend Brenda Farrell loved it so much and recommended it for accommodation. Urgup and Goreme : Both small towns in Cappadocia Both of them have their own unique vibes but within half an hour I had spotted the unique character of Urgup and why it attracts a … [Read more...]

The ancient Derinkuyu underground city is proof of what man can achieve when his life is threatened. It is a complex network of tunnels and rooms that formed a city 100 meters under the ground. Hundreds of years ago, when the area was attacked, citizens used to flood to the underground city and stay until it was safe to re-enter the land of the living. Derinkuyu underground city is not a place to visit if you suffer from claustrophobia, high … [Read more...]

I sometimes wonder if I should be barred from traveling due to my lack of navigation skills. My inability to read maps does not help either and getting lost is not unusual for me. Sometimes it works to my advantage and I discover little gems not listed in any guidebooks. On other occasions, I start to panic, and wonder if this will be the day that I disappear from the face of the earth forever. Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia, Turkey was no exception … [Read more...]

Ihlara valley in Cappadocia is a place that you will either love or hate. It is a 14Km hike through a gorge that was formed thousands of years ago when there was an earthquake and volcano eruptions one after the other. If you don’t want to complete a full 14km trek, there are four entrances and exits situated at various points. Just completing 4km of the Ihlara Valley trek will amaze you and remind you about the power of Mother Nature. The … [Read more...]

Near to Goreme in Cappadocia, there is an area called Panoramic View.   If you are in this area, then definitely make the effort to go. It gives you views over the whole of Goreme and if travel photography is your thing, you can guarantee that you will end up with some award winning pictures. There are many seats like the one in the picture, where you can sit and let the world pass you by. There are also a few restaurants serving traditional … [Read more...]

In my opinion, the Panoramic Viewpoint of Esentepe, Goreme is a tacky, touristic spider web. Tourism agencies regularly visit it while taking customers on excursions around Cappadocia. It is marketed as a toilet stop; place for refreshments and of course a wonderful landscape view. Located between the small towns of Uchisar and Goreme, what the guides forget to mention is the dozen or so tacky tourist shops that all sell the same souvenirs but … [Read more...]

My long-suffering husband says I am every hotelier’s worst nightmare. I am not a habitual complainer but am critical of everything from the décor to the cleaning to the staff attitude. As soon as I enter a hotel, I start thinking, “What would I do if this were my business?” I am not sure why I do it. Maybe it is because I have worked in a Turkish hotel before and seen what goes on behind the scenes. Maybe it is because I get a kick out of … [Read more...]