The Long Journey Home

Underground cities, balloon rides, turkish baths and cave rooms Cappadocia had it all.

As we only had a couple of days in Goreme we used two day tours to fit in as much as possible. So after arriving on the night bus and settling into our cave we were quickly whisked away for the first of our day tours.

The tour consisted of visting the Derinkuyu undergound city, hiking through the Ilhara Valley and visiting the Selime Monastry. These places were amazing and a tribute to the Turks who used the landscape to its fullest for housing and protection.

We got speaking to alot of people on the tour and at our pension who were just starting their travels along the Silk Roads and were heading all way to China. I think it made us a little jealous but maybe it is something for the future.

The next morning we organised to go a hot air balloon ride over the Rose Valley to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary. 30 balloons or more sailing over the region at sunrise was a wonderful sight. Louise was urging the pilot to go a bit higher but he seemed more intent on showing us his slight of touch and how he could manoeuvre around the rocks.

Another day tour left us absolutely exhausted by the end of day. We remedied this the following day by going to a turkish bath. The amount of dead skin that came off my body was a sight to be seen. I did join in and start by going nude under my little towel but soon chickened out after seeing what kind of sights the others may be subjected too while watching Louise have her massage.

After the massage it was back on the overnight back to Istanbul for the start of our ANZAC Day Tour.