Cappadocia

Having just spent one night camping in Cappadocia I find myself on the street the next morning, looking for an accommodation. And that's when I meet another long-distance cyclist, a Brazilian! He has just arrived the previous day, too and suggests me to join him and 2 tandem cyclists (also from Brazil) in a hostel called "Kose Pension" not too far away, in Goereme.

I don't need to think for long and check in the same day. 25 TL incl. breakfast per night

Everyone including me is tired from the last few days, but we spend time together over breakfast and beers (separate meals!)

The three travelers have been on the road for about 17.000 km / 1.5 years each and met each other in Istanbul only by chance. It is great to listen to their stories and experience. After all I still feel, just a bit, like a novice cyclist with a mere 6000 km (actually 7000 including all my city rides) under my belt.

While I still want to explore the area for a few more days they are leaving Cappadocia after only 2 nights: an understandable decision if they have a mere 30 days on their Turkey visa left.

But I'm almost sure to meet them again, later: even though the group will split up and take different ways, all of them are heading to Georgia.

In my previous entry I wrote about Turkish hospitality. And this experience only goes to underline my statements: A hotel owner who has seen my post on Couchsurfing invites my to stay in his hotel in the heart of Cappadocia -- for free!

I cannot believe my luck when I'm also treated dinner with the family the night of my arrival. The owner, who has studied in France, is about to retire and the small hotel he owns and runs has only 6 rooms, 2 of which are used for couchsurfing purposes.

He tells me he has just recently sold the hotel and with the new season middle of March the place will run under new management.

I wonder What he will feel like, not having to work anymore... ;)

If you have ever googled the term "Cappadocia" before, you have probably seen some photos featuring hot air balloons, which is the most popular activity in the area.

Every morning (if the weather permits), up to 100 hot air balloons take off from various starting points around Goereme. My host recommends me to get up early enough to witness the whole spectacle, and venture to the panoramic viewing point near the Rose valley.

The balloons will start rising just around dawn and so I leave the hotel around 6:30 am. I find the streets surprisingly busy: heavy jeeps and pickups with trailers roaring around, small buses full of people passing by. The tourists are being picked-up from their hotels and driven to the take-off spots.

Still in the dark I reach the viewing area and witness the first balloons being blown up and taking off.

The skies are clear and the atmosphere and the view of the balloons starting, passing by is truly special. Some balloons pass by only just 2 or 3 meters above my head. I am really lucky to witness this in Winter, when not too many people are viewing the spectacle from the ground.

Still there are many balloons in the air, even in off-season: according to official figures, up to 100 of them take off every day--if weather permits, of course.

On the other hand when the spectacle is over after about 1.5 hours I am almost as cold as an ice block. Not even cycling uphill for a few minutes can warm me up but thanks to my "couchsurfing hotel's" warm shower I am back to normal body temperature shortly after.