TURKEY October 7 - 18, 2020

 Turkey🦃

Oct. 7 - 18, 2020

Turkey (officially The Republic of Turkey) has a population of nearly 85 million (2020). 

At the time we travelled, it was ranked #22 in coronavirus cases (Canada is ranked #30). USA is ranked #1 followed by India, Brazil and then Russia is #4 (according to worldometer)

We flew Aeroflot from Moscow to Bodrum

Flew Pegasus Airlines from Bodrum - Istanbul - Kayseri (then bus shuttle to Goreme)

Flew Turkish Airlines from Kayseri to Istanbul

Then Aeroflot back to Moscow

1st up - BODRUM

Bodrum (a.k.a. the Turkish Riviera) is a port city on the Bodrum Peninsula stretching from the southwest coast of Turkey to the Aegean Sea. It's main landmark is Bodrum Castle - a.k.a. Castle of St. Peter and was (finished being) built in the 15th century.

Population: 35,795 (2012) 100,522 with surrounding towns and villages

Our room at El Vino Hotel (#112)

Craig truly enjoyed lounging in the cabana at the rooftop pool area. We spent 2 full days here - just what the doctor ordered. Ahhhh....🌞

These were the views from the cabana. I really felt at peace here within our hotel area

The pathway on the left leads to a secret garden area where we had breakfast one morning

The ole dead man float - in this case, to cool off

 

The secret garden area

Our hotel and main pool area

Beautiful tile work on the walkways of the hotel

Gorgeous Bougainvillea (I think?) throughout the hotel grounds and all around Turkey

Can't get enough of the views towards Bodrum town and the Aegean Sea

The lovely dining area where we enjoyed 3 amazing seafood meals with crab cakes, sea bass, baby octopus, jumbo shrimp, seafood tagine, etc. Doesn't get much better than that with the Aegean sea views to the left.

Just love the flowers and the views here. Our hotel did an wonderful job creating this tropical, intimate oasis ☮

View of the main pool from the hallway above

The kitty cats around our resort were VERY friendly. Not sure what Craig was trying to accomplish here - the cat definitely wasn't going to come in the pool to swim with him like his Sadie would have done! I think it was this same cat that jumped up on my chest when I was laying on a poolside chair. I didn't mind it until he started to dig his claws into me - then he got booted off! 🙀

The desserts in town were AMAZEBALLS! They were seriously as good as they look.

This chocolate cake with biscuits was delish!

This is the bakery! 

The ever popular Turkish Delights (we're not really huge fans). We brought back 7 boxes to give away!

Bodrum Castle (a.k.a. castle of St. Peter) from the waterfront. Built from 1402 (completed in the late 15th century) and taken over by the Islamic Ottoman Empire in 1523

Views from within Bodrum Castle

Peek-a-boo to the ocean while walking around Bodrum Castle

Last pic inside Bodrum Castle

 

Yummy seafood dishes we had on the waterfront at Dinc Cafe

Craig chillin', enjoying being down by the water, drinking beer and eating fresh seafood!

The lovely boardwalk area in Bodrum

Craig eventually took the date stamp off the camera 🙄

Craig finally broke down - here I am buying and trying out my new selfie stick for our upcoming hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia

The hillside part of town

Bye bye beautiful Bodrum... we've had a lovely and relaxing time here and we stuffed ourselves with seafood! Just what the doctor ordered (the relaxing time, not the pigging out on seafood part) 🤣

2nd stop - Cappadocia / Goreme

The Cappadocia region (the name meaning "land of beautiful horses") is famous for many historical sites including the "fairy chimneys" - also known as hoodoo, tent rock or earth pyramid. They usually consist of relatively soft rock topped by harder, less easily eroded stone that protects the column from the elements. 

They were originally formed due to a geological process that began millions of years ago. Volcanic eruptions blanketed the region in thick ash, which solidified into a soft rock called "tuff". Wind and water eroded all but the harder elements forming the fairy chimneys we see today. Some as high as 130 feet tall! You'll see lots in the pictures that follow.

People used to live in these chimneys and caves because the tuff was a malleable material for them to create rooms, churches, stables, etc. Many of the churches carved in the rock still have fairly intact frescos.

We also toured an underground city used to escape the evading enemies in war. 

The whole region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

And the moment you've all been waiting for... (as we were) the hot air balloon ride!!!

We were picked up at 5:40 am and driven to the launch site less than 5 km's from our hotel.

One of the balloons preparing for flight!

Balloon flight is relatively quiet. The only sound is the “whoosh” of the propane burners heating the air periodically to maintain a certain altitude. Balloons steer by going up and down to “catch” an air current traveling the direction the pilot wishes to go. Air at different levels will take different directions. The skill in ballooning is in being able to read the weather, the maps and wind currents to select a launch site that allows the pilot to maneuver his or her craft as close as possible to a target on the ground.

It was a little chilly at 6 am (about 8 degrees Celsius), but quickly warmed up to 26 that day.

Our balloon getting ready to soar! So exciting!

It's just about ready for us to climb in!

And off we go! Up, up, up! There's always tons of people getting photos of the balloons and also many young couples getting their wedding photos taken (keep in mind, it is about 6:15 am) 😴

This is not our actual balloon, but it's the company we flew with. There are many companies to choose from, but I think we made an excellent choice in Voyager.

I mean, come on! how amazing is this?

You can see 2 brides in this picture

The sunrise behind Red Valley Cliff

This is where the views became most interesting

This was an experience of a lifetime. I've flown once before in a hot air balloon and that was amazing, but it was only one balloon and it was out of Gatineau, Quebec (Canada). So although it was great (with my Dad, Bruce💗), it could not compare to how magnificent this adventure was due to the other balloons and the incredible scenery. It was Craig's first time and he was a little concerned about the heights, but as I reassured him, it somehow isn't an issue in a hot air balloon. Maybe because you're going with the wind and also the sides of the gondola (basket) are quite high?? I really don't know, but it's awesome!

Photo from the pilot's GoPro camera... not sure where Craig was looking! lol The 2 beside us were a very nice Russian couple.

Any guesses as to why they call this "Love Valley"??? 🤣🍌 Our balloon and others flew SO close to this fairy chimney. Luckily the pilots are very skilled at navigating the balloons and it's no wonder - they fly them about 250 - 260 days a year (depending on the weather conditions)! The balloon can reach 100°C. Rain falling on it can cool it down and the hot air inside causing the pilot to use the burner more often and making it harder to control. Luckily we were blessed with fantastic weather. Ideal wind conditions are 6 - 10 kilometers per hour and flights likely will be cancelled if winds are greater than 16 km/hr or if weather conditions are expected to change for the worse

Craig's shots of the sunrise

This one looks like a postcard to me. Seriously couldn't stop smiling and could not get enough of this view. Incredible!

Good view of the fairy chimneys

This gives you a good idea of the sheer scale of this valley because you can see cars and people up on the cliff and how small they are in comparison

Craig using the "vivid" setting on his camera

Millions of years of layers

At times I thought the balloons were going to pop on the tops of the chimneys! 🎈

This is what they call a "kiss" in the hot air balloon biz (when 2 or more balloons touch in the air)

A kiss with a view! 😘

That's me waving from our basket - I'm in the "H" of the word "Mithra"... our pilot purposely created this shot for us

Peek-a-boo! Look at how happy he looks - not scared at all!

Traditional champagne toast. Because we were in a 8-person gondola he was able to do it during our flight instead of after as is customary. The first hot air balloon flights were started in the 1780s in France. For one of the first manned flights the passengers carried along a bottle of champagne to enjoy during the flight, but decided to offer it as a goodwill gesture or peace offering to the farmer whose field their balloon landed in (as farmers did NOT like them landing there and disturbing their crops and animals). The champagne smoothed things over and the tradition was born! 

750 meters / 2460 feet in the air - in a friggin basket! 🧺

Before landing, we were given instructions from our pilot on how to "brace" for it, but with the wind conditions and our skilled pilot / ground crew we flawlessly landed our gondola directly on its trailer! I was very impressed considering when my Dad & I went, the pilot hit a tree top upon our landing and we landed on the side instead of upright! 

Proud to receive our official certificates!

Our balloon slowly deflating

Back to our unique cave hotel after ballooning to eat a quick breakfast and then head out for an 8-hour guided  "green" tour

Entrance to our room - I can't get enough of authentic, boutique hotels

I mean, come ON, this is so cool!

Our cave room

Very interesting bathroom in our cave

This is called a "testi pot"... it's a Turkish dish (traditional to the Cappadocia region) that is similar to a stew (lamb, beef, chicken, carrots, celery root, onions, garlic, potatoes). The dish is cooked in a sealed clay pot using high temperatures and pressure and then is served with flare at your table when the knock the lid off and sometimes even light the plate on fire. I think I had it twice and it was VERY delicious.

I am in LOVE with these gourd lamps. Unfortunately I didn't get one, but maybe we will return one day for me to add to my collection

These were at the restaurant beside our hotel (Pumpkin), which was excellent with a set menu

Part of breakfast at our hotel. So unique and delicious

The rest of breakfast. Yup, that is fries for breakfast!

That is NOT a flattering picture of me, but a good reminder of our lovely breakfast area

The breakfast area

Views from the breakfast area

Off on our 8-hour"green tour" adventure (right after the hot air balloon adventure)

Just can't get enough of these views

The shop owner put this on my head. It doesn't look as ridiculous on me as I thought! It is a traditional Turkish headwear (for men I believe)

Derinkuyu Underground city 

(1985 World Heritage Site)

This is one of many ancient, underground cities in the area. It is multi-layered and very intricate with rooms that suggest their use (for instance, rooms with black ceilings were most likely kitchens). Parts of this underground city are as deep as 200 feet and is large enough to have sheltered as many as 20,000 people and their livestock and storage of food. Can you imagine how it must have smelled down there? 

It has these "doors" (that were a huge stone) that could easily be closed from the inside, but somehow it was extremely difficult to open from the outside (thereby keeping the enemy out). Each level could be closed off separately. They also, of course, had ventilation shafts for air and to allow for supplies and water to be brought in.

Either the inhabitants were really short or this was a strategic military maneuver or they were just tired of carving!

Not a whole lot of room in these passageways!

This is a Syrian refugee camp area.

Selime Cathedral in Guzelyurt

We really enjoyed exploring this area carved into the rock. It is said to date back to the 8th or 9th Century BC

Just friggin' cool! Lots of pictures of me, sorry

It almost looks like I superimposed myself into this photo, but trust me, it is real

Is that dot one of those "ghost" bubbles like from the haunted castle in Ireland??

A strange "throne" within the church part

Me taking a picture of Craig, taking a picture of me! lol

Craig gets a kick out of these kinds of things in foreign countries. It's usually something to do with human anatomy

Aksaray Ihlara Valley hike

It was nearing the end of our tour, it was stinkin' hot and we were about to go on a 4 km hike. Thankfully, it was in the shade in the valley and it was quite pleasant

Aren't these little huts adorable?

The classic "hold up a rock and save the damsel (or tour guide) in distress" shot

Every once in a while they had these little spots to sit by the river

The very next day we managed to get on the 

"Red Tour" of sites closer to Goreme. Another long tour, but not as long as our day yesterday!

The open air museum - Goreme

The next morning as the hot air balloons take off over Goreme

Sunrise on top of Goreme

Istanbul

Population 15.52 million (2019)

We arrived in Istanbul airport, waited a while and then had covid tests (to be valid within 72 hours of our return flight to Moscow - as a negative covid test is required for entry). All went fairly smoothly there - except the technicians doing the test were brutal! We then took a shuttle to the city and when we arrived we were bombarded with the chaos of the city and someone trying to show us where the tram was - although we were asking for a taxi. Eventually we managed to get in a taxi and get to the hotel. Definitely a different feel in Istanbul compared to Bodrum and Goreme. I didn't really welcome the chaos, but I was excited to shop at the Grand Bazaar.

We managed to get to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Mosque, but we were tired, so we headed back to the hotel. When we were relaxing in the hotel we received our covid results. We were a little shocked when Craig's came back positive for covid! After some f-bombs he got to work notifying people and trying to figure out what it meant for us. Immediately the hotel moved us to an isolated room (which was great because it was bigger, with a bigger bed and a huge balcony). I thought because I was "negative" I could leave the room, but when I tried to leave the hotel, they stopped me and told me to immediately go back to the room. 😕

We were stuck in the room for 2 days.

We thought I could still leave as scheduled, but since I was in "close contact" with Craig they said I'd have to stay too.
The Canadian Consulate in Istanbul helped us out by arranging a mobile covid test to come to us. It took more than the 24 hours, but we were so relieved when both tests came back negative!!! Once we had that, we confirmed with hotel staff that we could leave and we hit the streets for a little power shopping! Stores were either closed or closing, so we had a very short time, but managed to get a few treasures. No Grand Bazaar for us this time... maybe we'll come back once all this is over.

The Blue Mosque
(a.k.a. Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
It is a functioning ottoman-era mosque constructed between 1609 and 1616.
Currently, many of the historic sites are under construction (since there are less tourists with covid), so it was not as impressive, but still great to see

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

Built in 537 BC as a Christian church and was converted to a mosque in 1453

A beautiful sunset we were fortunate to be able to see from our large balcony

Trying to have a little fun while in quarantine... not to worry, he's not naked! He had shorts on.

Everything was SO close to us, but we were unable to see most of what Istanbul has to offer. We hope to be back one day! 

Despite the "covid false positive" scare, we had an absolutely wonderful time together in Turkey and I would love to go back.

The highlights for me were 

1. the serenity of our hotel in Bodrum and all the fresh seafood
2. The unbelievable and beautiful landscape of the Cappadocia Region
3. The hot air balloon ride
4. Enjoying time with my hubby