Fairyland Excursions

My time spent in Istanbul had definitely not been uneventful, but ultimately my distaste of large cities took over. Following a couple of days filled with driving through the megacity, that would better be described as a slow and painful crawling through traffic, the urge to see some of Turkey's natural beauty took over. In a paradoxically planned impulse I buy a ticket to Cappadocia and book a hostel on recommendation of a fellow couchsurfer. The flight leaves the next day from the distant Sabiha Gökçen Airport and I arrive half a moment later in Kayseri. There an older gentleman awaits me with a smile and a sign reading 'Nova'. The cold night had approached quicker than anticipated and I pack up warm before entering the almost empty van. Only one other passenger had joined us, which left us with 10 vacant seats and a slightly unhappy driver as it would likely be an unprofitable drive for him. Nevertheless, his frown changes quickly once we embark to travel on the empty dark roads into the direction of Goreme. Language barriers aside we managed to create a relaxing atmosphere that resulted in a little stop and wander in the town of Avanos where Tansu, the other passenger, was dropped off. On continuation of the journey I asked if he felt like some music and a few seconds later a funny scene was created as the two of us cut shapes to Macklemore's Thrift Shop. With a beating heart and seemingly permanent smile I get out of the van and enter the hostel.

The next morning the smile had not faded as I look out the window of the hostel upon a large rock towering high into the cloudless sky. During the small breakfast I make friends with some of the other occupants and end up trailing along them for the rest of the day. A rented car, a few conversations, beautiful views and some turkish pop radio later we find ourselves entering a large cave system that had been used by the people of this regions during frequent raids. A seemingly never-ending labyrinth had been excavated out of the soft tufa stone to accommodate people and store food. With only the occasionally broken light preventing a deeper exploration of the tunnels, we run through the tunnels with wonder and amazement. Questions such as how one could possibly live in such oxygen deprived conditions in a time where candles would've used a lot of the breathable air were answered by elaborate air shafts and other nifty technologies that had been implemented by the people of old. The trips continues at a slower pace after having to crawl through tighter tunnels that would have been every claustrophobics nightmare.

Back on the surface the running up and down hills and rocks begins once more - it appears that the time spent in slow moving cars in Istanbul had built up energy which I now released in excess. Also, with so many caves to explore even on the surface, many childhood dreams of mine were fulfilled by hurrying through as many as I could find. Following a snowball fight we got back into the car and followed the road to a Ihlara valley, were I was stunned again. This time by tall vertical stone walls that enclosed a slow-moving river and trees that had shed all leaves at this point of winter. Once more the caves scattered along the valley were my main point of interest. I already start sketching plans for the coming summer, as I am planning to come back to this part of the world. The main cave near the beginning of the walk would serve as the kitchen and sleeping place while one of the little caves nearby could be transformed into a romantic sanctuary. "Let's continue Noah" urges Peter who was standing at the exit of the cave with Gefion and Winlon. By this I am pulled out of my daydreaming and follow the three. Back at the hostel the night had dropped its black sheet upon the alien landscape surrounding us. However, the stars that had been hidden among the street lights of Istanbul shone brighter than ever on the firmament with constellations so different to the ones at home.