cappodocia

We just spent the last few days in a town called Goreme in Cappodocia. It was so amazing. You have to check out my facebook photos to see what the landscape is like there, because it's way too hard to explain.

The first day after we arrived we went to the open air museum and looked at all these churches and caves which had been carved into the rock. It was so incredible.

After that we headed back into town and bought some lunch at this little cafe. The food was great! Jo and I had these turkish crepe things with spinach and a really yummy salad. In syria they are similar to saj's but i can't remember the turkish name for them atm.

In that cafe we got talking to the owner about what were the best things to see, and he offered us one of his employees to drive us around for the day, which was really nice. It;s winter here, so business is sooo slow for these guys, so they kinda pick up whatver work they can. So this guy took us around to all these places and was really helpful, getting us in an out of the fairy chimneys, and when he couldn't understand us, he rang the guy back at the shop to translate. At the end of our tour, we gave him $20, he didn't want to take it, but we made him.

The next day we went on a tour of an underground city and for a hike through the ilhara valley. It was a fantastic tour, and was worth the fifty lira we paid for it. Again, you have to see the photos to see what I mean. But we had to share a bus with these whining brits. We knew them already becuase back at the hostel they complain about EVERYTHING!!!!! "my foods not hot enough... fix it" nah it wasn't that bad... we just had to put up with it for a good 8 hours.

That night we caught a 7pm bus for istanbul. 11 hour trip... it wasn't too much fun at the start. we got the back row seats, and it took us about three hours to work out that our seats do in fact lean back... we just couldn't find the buttons... our bad. after that it was easier to try and sleep. i've had worse bus rides, but it proabably wasn't the best. but i did get to sleep most of the way.

So this morning we arrived in Istanbul. Took an hour to find a hostel, with thanks to the helpful locals who had conflicting directions :) but eventually we found it. it's quite nice. and only $12 aussie a night, so no complaining there. We couldn't check in until 12pm so we went to get a coffee and went for a walk around the Sultanahmet part of the city where we are staying.

One thing that sucks about Istanbul is that it's expensive. Especially compared to Jordan. Food prices are still better than Australia, but it kinda sucks when you have to eat out for every meal. So we've already sussed out some of the cheaper options.

Not sure if I'm gonna stay here for a full week and then head onto troy, ephesus and gallipoli once Belinda and Jo leave, or if I do it with them in the next few days and then head back to Istanbul. I leave here on the 20th for Beirut, so I've got plenty of time.

Ok keep you all posted

lots of love

carly