Lots of phalic symbols ın Cappadocıa!!!

I decided to fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia to save myself the 13hour overnight bus ride. For an extra 50 aussie dollars it was a 2 hour plane ride from Istanbul to Cappadocia. I guess if i was exploring more of turkey like the coast line, it would have been a shorter ride. (actually i dont think i would do the coast given all the reports i hear of the tourist throng!) But Cappadocia was more of a logistical point to stop before heading into Syria. (actually now looking back maybe i should have crossed the boarder of Iran and Turkey and explored the east of Turkey like Anni and Van ) Actually no then i wouldnt have went to Istanbul. ANYWAY

Cappadocia was great. I stayed in Goreme, described as a "magical city of honey combed cliffs". Two nights in Goreme was sufficient. I think Cappadocia isnt the jaw dropping WHOA-ness that guide books say it is. Its definitely worth while seeing! But becomes a bit numbing after a while. I met an Spanish and American dude in my dorm and together we explored some fantastic hiking trails around Cappadocia. The views from the top of the hills and in the valley's where spectacular! Cappadocia was full of back packers which made for some cheaper food and less nanna tourist groups. (actually there were some old folk around. INFACT there was a group of Israelis! In a muslim country! I was in line buying some nuts and beer, and the glass counter infront of me was plastered in international money, us dollar bills, african etc. and the guy infront of me points to a 20 dollar shekel note on the glass counter, and in a thick isrealie accent says to the attendant behind the counter "ZIZ IS MY-KHH MOoNEEY" The 50 year old attendant's eye lit up! He looked behind the Israeli at me wondering if there was more behind him, then said very dismissively "$1.50 Turkish Lira" I guess you had to be there... it was very amusing!

Cappadocias open air museum was good to see, though all the admission fees in Turkey are astonishing! 15L to get into an area where empty caves use to be homes and church. Once you peered into 2 or 3 caves, you had really seen them all. Infact i enjoyed the hikes around Cappadocia much better. Its built up for tourist with the hire of vespas, 4x4 and jeeps and cars. Though you dont really need one, hiking
was great! My photos tell the rest of Cappadocia really.


I left Cappadocia early on... monday morning? anyway the other morning (i dont know what day it is anymore? ) and caught a bus to Antakaya, a town south of turkey outside the Syrian border. It was Antioch in biblical days, where st peter built the first christian church. I could have caught a taxi up to the mountains to see it. Though after the 8 hour bus ride, we arrived to Antakaya around 4pm. I say 'we' cause there ended up being 5 foreigners on the bus, myself, two American females, and one aussie and irish. (all mid 30s) None of us had accommodation booked so we all transfered into the middle of the city from the bus terminal and walked around to find hotels, parting ways depending on pricing! HAHA

I wrote this part of the blog last night when i arrived in Antakaya, note to self, NEVER blog when your tierd and hungry, i did this before i had dinner so have a read:

"I dont have much to say rıght now. Im a lıttle bıt tıerd and chuffed. I realısed ı left my jumper behınd on the bus. Its more about the process of loosıng a pıece of your belongıng then the actual jumper ıtself. I was only cursıng the jumper the evenıng before when hiking, thınkıng ıt was not warm enough and the uber cool non fleece raın materıal on the sleeves and shoulders made for a quıck escape of heat. On the bus from Cappadocıa to Antakaya ı took my jumper of whıle ın a half sleep and put ıt on the floor next to my bag. Then the bus stopped and ıt was one of those 'fıgure ıt out yourself' stops, so ın the confusıon ı dıdnt take my jumper off the bus. Its really no bıggy but ıts really annoyıng!! I cant belıeve ım harpıng on about a lost jumper! but thıs makes 3 lost ıtems now. 1st i lost my soap case. Its most convenient havıng a soap case ınstead of throwıng your bar of soap ın your toıletry bag and makıng all your other toıletrıes slıppery and wet, and ı left thıs soap case behınd somewhere ın Iran. Item 2 ı left my phone charger ın a wall somehwere ın Iran, that was a gıven though ı always leave my electrıcal plugs ın walls as the power sockets are always hıdden and ıts a task fındıng them. Now ıtem 3. My Columbıan jumper on the bus. There ıs a 4th but that wasnt my fault. My cleanser busted ın my toıltery bag from Iran to Turkey, now that was a paın cleanıng everything although the spıll was ısolated to one area of the bag and my raın coat was protectıng my other clothes so that was all good. Oh and my tıcket whıch ı threw out but that was fun. SO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TRAVELLING GOD I DONT WANT TO LEAVE ANYTHING ELSE BEHIND!!!!!!!!! "

What looser wrote that? HA!

I didnt like that jumper anyway! Wont be needing it now! I arrived in Syria this morning. If i knew crossing the border was an easy, timeless process i would have went up to see the first christian church in Antakaya.

Anyway, I cant say ive seen alot of Turkey to make my mind up about the country. Its definitely more touristy and easy to travel around with great facilities like buses, convenient stores, hostels etc. I dont think i would do the coast though, i mean, i think id rather see more of the Mediterranean from the Greek island. I would have liked to go to Gallipoli, but the six hour trip from Istanbul to Cranckendale wasnt logistical, i would have spent another night in Isntabul before heading out again.(I am on a time frame, need to be in Lebanon by the end of the month, unless i pull the plug earlier) As i said if i was to return id go to Istanbul to party, then maybe explore the east of Turkey as it sounds less of the tourist track and more authentic. But Istanbul and Cappadocia was great to see!

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