Singinalot's 2023 Land Trip to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Rome, Amalfi Coast, & Florence

[Bimmer09]

Crystal, I'm still drooling over post 192 just backaways before you eat at the Old Cappadocia- there's a shot of a nearby rooftop restaurant full of people and the lights have come on-such a magical "away from it all" ambiance there. I could imagine a lengthy belly bustin' Turkish meal there with some music and whiling away an hour or two after dining with a bottle of wine, looking up at the stars in the warm night air. Such a unique location!

What was the dish served in the flaming clay pot?

 

Norris

 

[HBE4]

6 hours ago, singinalot said:

 

Afternoon siestas in the wine shop

 

 

Who doesn't like a little late afternoon snooze after wine tasting on a hot day.  At least it looks hot & arid.

 

6 hours ago, singinalot said:

 

 

Love the old convertibles.

 

[HBE4]

5 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

Amazing drone shots Crystal! A one of a kind location and I can see why it is a center for hot air ballooning.

Such a change from Istanbul-Turkey on a more intimate scale.

Norris

 

100% agree. It's amazing how the town is just incorporated into the landscape, as if the building where chiseled out of the cliffs.

 

[HBE4]

5 hours ago, singinalot said:

OOTN

 

I'm pretty sure my step-daughter shops at the same stores/websites you do. Her OOTD & OOTN look almost identical to yours.

 

Obviously, you both have great taste.

[bobmacliberty]

17 hours ago, singinalot said:

How about a little drone footage? 

Finally?!!! Yes, I know.

 

My Movie 64.mov 134.22 MB · 9 downloads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nate talking to the kittens 🥰

 

 

the front of the hotel 

 

 

 

 

 

YES!  Drone shots!!

 

That place looks incredible.  For some reason, one of my first thoughts was that it would make a great chase scene in a James Bond or Jason Bourne movie.

[Guest]

15 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Crystal, as always, this is a superb trip report to a part of the world I will probably never get to visit.  Thank you.

 

thank you so much! hopefully it’s given you a small glimpse into this beautiful country. still so much more to come!

13 hours ago, BonTexasNY said:

WOW, just WOW!

agreed!

[Guest]

12 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

Crystal, I'm still drooling over post 192 just backaways before you eat at the Old Cappadocia- there's a shot of a nearby rooftop restaurant full of people and the lights have come on-such a magical "away from it all" ambiance there. I could imagine a lengthy belly bustin' Turkish meal there with some music and whiling away an hour or two after dining with a bottle of wine, looking up at the stars in the warm night air. Such a unique location!

What was the dish served in the flaming clay pot?

 

Norris

 

 

oh yes, I enjoyed a few glasses of wine at that very bar 🙂 It is part of our hotel! The clay pot dish is ironically enough named pottery kebab. It is served in so many of the restaurants. They cook the food in the pottery over the fire (lamb, beef, or chicken) and then crack the pot open. I had the chicken.

14 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

YES!  Drone shots!!

 

That place looks incredible.  For some reason, one of my first thoughts was that it would make a great chase scene in a James Bond or Jason Bourne movie.

ha that would be a great idea!

[Guest]

We did go back to sleep after sunrise and I eventually woke to find it was nearly 10am. I decided to walk the 1.5 miles to Goreme Open Air Museum http://goreme.info/goreme-open-air-museum.php

 

It was HOT. Of course, the days prior to us arriving there were about 10-15 degrees cooler, but it was 100 for us. I stopped at the market in town and grabbed a liter of water for my walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

 

 

smart horses hiding in the shade

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

As I walked, I passed the horse ranch above, and a pottery shop that had some very interesting trees out front.

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

I spied the Open Air Museum, but there were actually several rock caves on the outskirts that I decided to go ahead and explore first…for free

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

who’s moving in?

[Guest]

I found the animals 🥰

 

 

 

 

skinny horsey 🫤

 

 

[Guest]

did someone say drone footage? No? Well, here you go anyway. I was a sweaty puddle getting this 🤣

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

I walked back down to the museum entrance from my hike, but decided against paying the entry fee and continued on in my walk.

 

As I was walking, I passed this sign on the road and pulled up my google maps to see how far it was. Google maps said 5 minute walk. Ok, sure I can do that.

In reality, it was a 10 minute walk.

 

I just kept following the signs

 

 

encountered this wild baby pony and stood there for a minute just marveling

[Guest]

I reached the church! There was a gentleman there collecting the 60lira fee which I gladly paid. I was intrigued! There was no one around except for a few “influencers in the wild” off in the distance snapping pictures.

https://www.cappadociahistory.com/post/el-nazar-church

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 26, 2023 by singinalot

[Guest]

I sat on the steps of the church for a few minutes, enjoying the shade and the peaceful scenery around me. Eventually, I gathered myself and decided to start walking back to town.

 

Nate must have read my mind, because he texted me when I got out to the road, and said he’d meet me for lunch. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

once again, I’m a sucker for a restaurant with a balcony and a view

[maggieq]

@singinalot amazing doesn’t even do it justice.  You will have some great memories to look back on 😊 

[Guest]

25 minutes ago, maggieq said:

@singinalot amazing doesn’t even do it justice.  You will have some great memories to look back on 😊 

 

we both said this was our best trip yet! 

[Guest]

Love Valley is a national park in Cappadocia known for its fairy chimneys and hiking trails.

From lunch, we took a 70lira taxi to the trail entrance. Reminder that it is 100 degrees out and now afternoon….

 

about 5 minutes in we were both questioning our sanity

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

Finally, an oasis! This little cafe had several folks inside seeking shade and turkish tea. 

 

 

 

[Guest]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

I didn’t get any pictures of our walk back to the hotel, but suffice it to say I headed straight for the pool.

 

[Guest]

@Bimmer09 remember that rooftop bar? I headed there before dinner. I sat there for around an hour, offering to take photos for people, sipping my wine, and enjoying the view.

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

I took pictures of both couples in this video: one from Australia and the other turkish.

 

 

 

I did not take pictures of dinner that night, but I bet you can guess what we each got!

 

Edited August 27, 2023 by singinalot

[Guest]

Stay tuned for the next day! Our last full day in Cappadocia. Would we see hot air balloons? Would I ride in one? What would we do for our final day?