Above: Balloons float above Cappadocia, other-worldly in the predawn light.
TOUR DAY 4: ANATOLIA AND CAPPADOCIA |
Steps: 6,189
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Let us Sleep. Cappadocia Estates Hotel, Mustafapaşa (3 nights) FUN FACT! This property is owned by Rick Steves Turkey Guide Lale.
Let us Savor.
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Cappadocia hotel in the tufa rock!
A room I got to know a little too well ... but still, so excited to be here! |
A Tale of a Heroic Tour Guide.
Alternatively, Up-Close-and-Personal with the Turkish Medical System. Or, I need a Cappadocian do-over! If you'll indulge me, I'll quote the title of Cameron Hewett's recent book of travel essays in which his globe-trotting Aunt Mildred sagely claims, "Jams are Fun." Certainly, when we travel, we know that rarely does all go to plan, and often, as Cameron asserts, the "jams", the things that go wrong become the stories that we tell over and over again. While I wish this "jam" hadn't caused me to miss some of the most exciting days in Cappadocia, I do have a lovely story of human kindness and a brush with Turkish culture that I didn't anticipate - an ER visit in Ürgüp. Friday Journal: A miserable night and morning ensue. Delicately put, this night I make friends with the bathroom floor. Sad, sad, sad. I miss the 4:15 am balloon ride continuing to hug the commode and feeling so crummy that, in the moment, I don't even care what I'm missing - I'm just glad I don't have to move. A muscle. The ballooners return when the sun is up, and they are giddy! I am not giddy, skipping both breakfast and the morning walking tour of Mustafapaşa. Naive and wildly hopeful that since I've kept my fluids in for 5 hours, I'm miraculously cured and will be able to go to Göreme at 11. Like a fool, I wobble onto the bus, sink into the seat and close my eyes. 10 minutes into the bumpy ride I know this is a mistake. Fortunately, Göreme is only 15 minutes away - I'm not sure the wheels have stopped moving as I bolt for the nearest bushes. Taylan jumps into action ... he, like the very best mother hen, gathers me up, calls and pays for a "taksi", sends me back to the hotel, alerts the staff that I'll be coming and has them on standby to help if I need it. Utterly wretched, I sleep. After "the most amazing day!" Neil returns to find am still not successful in keeping anything down. Concerned, Taylan insists I go to the ER. This wonderful man not only calls another "taksi" he GOES WITH US to the hospital. Taylan checks me in and translates from the other side of the curtain during the doctor's examination. Taylan brings a wheelchair, needed barf bag, and stands by with Neil while an IV is administered. It's not food poisoning, it seems I have had the unfortunate luck of catching a flu bug that is tearing through the region. Joybells (as my mother would say, flat with sarcasm). Taylan then puts us back into the cab and directs the driver to the pharmacy, helps Neil order the prescribed drugs and then delivers us back to the hotel. FUN FACT! Want to take a guess how much it all cost? The taxi rides, the ER visit, the IV, the meds? $43. Only $43 dollars! All of it. Saturday Journal: I wake up so tired. I'll tap out again today with the hopes that it will give me the boost to be well enough to continue tomorrow. We have been so thankful that I caught this dumb thing on the first day of a 3-day stop! A total silver lining in the midst my sad disappointment. So now, without further ado, I turn over the narrative to Neil who got to experience what many people considered to be their highlight of Türkiye! The ancient churches of Göreme and it's Countryside Charms... |
TOUR DAY 5: ANCIENT CHURCHES OF GöREME |
Steps: 535 (See Sidebar for explanation)
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Many considered the sunrise hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia to be a highlight of the Türkiye tour.
TOUR DAY 6: COUNTRYSIDE CHARMS
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Steps: 1,225
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TOUR DAY 7: MOSQUE VISIT AND MEVLANA'S KONYA |
Steps: 12,221
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Let us Sleep. Selcuk Hotel, Konya (1 night)
Let us Savor.
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SAY "MERHABA" TO RICHARD AND KATHY! Floridians Richard and Kathy have done four Rick Steves Tours (all in Italy!). The Best of Turkey trip was in celebration of their daughter Jennifer's 30th birthday (and included her boyfriend, Alex in the fun!). What we love about Rick Steves Tours: Rick Steves takes you places you wouldn’t think to visit! Best Travel Tip: Be sure to arrive a couple days early before the tour starts. Favorite part of the Turkey Tour: We enjoy meeting fellow travelers. Next big travel adventure: We're doing Rick Steves Best of Sicily in 11 Days this May! |
TOUR DAY 8: ANCIENT ASPENDOS |
Steps: 8,135
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