Kapadokya
We stop at a point and shoot again for lunch today and I have more lentil soup. After lunch, the landscape begins to change. We have arrived in a fantasy land with fairy chimneys. The first night, we have time to enjoy our beautiful hotel, Cappadocia Estates, before dinner together at The Old Greek House. Each room is different and the group walks around to see everyone else's rooms.
The next morning we were up before dawn. Most of the tour reviews list the hot air balloon ride as their "wow" moment of the tour. For me, the experience was fabulous and well worth the cost (not included in the tour price), but well down the list of favorites compared to the cultural and historical experiences. Luke was definitely out of his comfort zone, but he enjoyed it too.
We saw several other treasures in Kapadokya including the Goreme Open-Air Museum and the underground city of Kaymakli. We had lunch in the home of a villager. Luke joined others on a hike in Mustafapasa. We visited a carpet weaving facility and learned about different carpets and how they are made. Pictured below is the small rug we bought Nana for Christmas. So far, this tour is packed with fantastic activities.
TRIP TIP
Be sure to meet and spend time with your tour mates. They will add texture to your trip. If you are traveling with a companion, don't hesitate to split up to do different activities. When you meet back up you can share experiences so it is almost like you did twice as much.