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Two travellers take off for Turkey
Intrepid members Sandra and Lyle have shared the first part of their travels:
Email from Sandra & Lyle: received 8th June 2010
Hi Everyone,
It worked! Lyle and I met at Istanbul Airport as arranged!!
Pleased to see the driver with our names up, and felt like VIPs. Arrived in the hotel to find everyone out for a meal, however they were only in the street outside, easy to find.
Next day we all walked around the Old Town, in fact walked for 6-7 hours!!!!
Left on our train journey overnight to Ankara. Shared a room with a couple he East German she Belgian, bit hard to understand.
Breakfast was an hour and a half away by bus, but had a flush loo!! Goody!!! Though it did mean two of them including Lyle went to the mens!!
Drove through an area which reminded us of the McKenzie Country, and arrived in Goreme, in the Cappadoccia area, in a room with a dear wee balcony.
Spent the evening walking round the town, and the caves which were where the people lived in about 1000 years ago. Had a group dinner, and it appears we are turning into a pleasant group. 6 Kiwis, 6 Canadians, 3 Aussies (the belguim & German) & 1 Yank. Ages from late 20's to 74.
Up at 4am to go ballooning. About 50 hot air balloons up at one time. Wonderful experience. Got lots of photos. Walked through a valley for 2 hrs in the heat, and saw different nuts, stone pigeon houses in the rocks. Temp 35+!!!
We then visited a pottery, and saw some very beautiful works. which took 6 mths to do. Turkish lunch in a cave, 4 courses!!! In the afternoon went to an open museum to see some early churches with paintings. Photos forbidden.
Next day we walked up another valley to see different shapes and colours in the rocks before being taken to a carpet place. The silk carpet Lyle liked was $7-800 lire, the ones I wanted were only $4500 and $2500.
Had our first outside meal made by 2 women mixing flour and water to make Pita wraps with cheese and spinach in. OK but have now sampled better ones!!!
Early evening went to see the Whirling Dervishes. Impressive!!
Ended the evening drinking wine in the sunset looking at fairy chimneys. The day ended with us having dinner with a Turkish family in their home.
4th June visited underground city for an hour and a half. We went down 8 floors and learned how they lived underground.
Bussed then to Ihiara Valley which we went down 280 odd steps to visit more churches etc. Ended up having lunch by the river. Pleasant after all the walking.
The bus took us then 3hrs to Konya, but we stopped to look at a trading post which was on the silk route. Arrived in Konya to find that nearly all women were covered. The countryside here looked similar to Nth Canty. Visited the Konya Museum where the Whirling Dervishes was started about 1220.Had to cover our heads here too!!!
Another 5hr bus trip, where the land has become more mountainous, with trees growing wild and it is very stony. Arrived at 5.30pm at Antayla.
We were then on the Med. Lyle and I walked round the city, enjoyed a beer looking over the Med, and then got lost getting back to the Pension.
Woke up to find the mossies had been busy, (Sandra several bites including one on the eye) A bit hard to see for a couple of days!!) Lyles bites were on her hands and feet.and didn’t worry her.
Next stop was Chimera where we walked an hour up hill to see fire coming out of holes in the ground. On to a trout farm for lunch outside under trees, peaceful and cool. Fish was nice and arrived in Kas at 5.45. More next time.
Cheers, Sandra & Lyle.
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