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Published: December 29th 2009
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We stayed ın Göreme from September 28th thru October 2nd the average temperature durıng the day was around 27 °C or 80 °F. Durıng the nıght temperatures were around 10 °C or 50 °F.
After leaving Istanbul we headed to this area of Turkey called Cappadocia. Formed from volcanoes approximately 9 to 3 million years ago (late Miocene to Pliocene epochs). The rocks of Cappadocia near Göreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and minaret-like forms. The volcanic deposits are soft rocks that the people of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out to form houses, churches, monasteries. Göreme became a monastic center between 300—1200 AD.
Unfortunately, Emily caught a cold in our hostel room in Istanbul so our first few days in Goreme were non eventful as she was recovering. But it was nice because we splurged for a private room in our cave hostel the first night and definitely noticed the temperature change once we got down to the dorm rooms.
We stayed in a "cave" hostel formed by these volcanos. It was sooo cool. But very cold in the dorm bedrooms, as they do no turn on the heat until mid
November so the temperatures are a cool 40-50°F in your room. Emily and I had two blankets plus our sleeping bags, our long johns, fleeces and double pairs of socks on every night to stay warm. It did work. The scenery around Goreme was amazing!! I've never seen anything like this before, it was so beautiful. Seeing all these volcanic formations and then seeing how people used these natural formations to make homes and other dwellings out of this sediment was amazing.
I even took a hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia which was incredible. I could not even imagine taking a hot-air balloon ride anywhere else because the views here are one of kind. I had to wake up at 5am to depart. My hostel dorm roommates from Korea were going on the ride, as well as these Australian kids who were also traveling for a year. It was nice that I was not completely alone. Emily has a fear of heights and expensive excursions so she did not participate. I had to hoist myself over and into the balloon basket, but since we had to even out the weight I had to jump back out and hop over
Yasin's Place
this is the hostel we stayed at, where mama cooked us breakfast every morning. to the other side, which was such an ordeal just getting in, I'm sure I was cracking everyone up.. haha.. what are you gonna do. So finally we took off and it was great. You took off right around sunrise and traveled wherever the wind blew you. It was also cool seeing all the 50 other balloons in the sky.. they all looked so cool. I'm sure my friend Sherene is going to be completely jealous as she has a goal set for herself to do a hot-air balloon ride before she turns 30. Sherene, you should've met us in Turkey!
We also decided to splurge on a guided tour, since a lot of the Cappadocia area is spread out and it would be difficult for us to reach some of the surrounding sights. Such an action packed day, we saw awesome volcanic formations, an cave ghost town, the Göreme Open Air Museum, and a complex of medieval painted cave churches carved out by Orthodox monks from 900-1200 AD. And we met some awesome travelers, as well.
We had a great time in Goreme but left for Malatya to see the heads of Mountain Nemrut Dagi.....
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Kristy
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Nice!
Dude, Brad is afraid of heights too. He would NEVER get in a hot air balloon! Sounds awesome, glad both of you are doing well. :)