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y adventure to Cappadocia, a miracle of nature in the heart of Turkey, began in the airplane itself, flying down from Istanbul to Nevsehir Capadokya airport. With my face stuck to the window, I was like a little child spellbound with the views of the honeycombed hills, fairy chimneys and towering boulders. Cappadocia, created from a series of volcanic eruptions, is a world
no less than a palace. There are plenty of cave accommodations in Cappadocia for travellers of every budget – from cave hostels to luxury hotels. Don’t miss the experience! A bustling local market lay a short distance away, with all sorts of dried herbs, flowers, pottery, household goods and foodstuff like dried fruit and teas on sale. I bought five varieties of teas and a bag of pistachios from a hazel-eyed girl
L-R: An open-air museum in Cappadocia; souvenirs for sale in the shape of the unusual rock formations
heritage site and a must-visit for any travel enthusiast. My first steps along the pebbled road leading to an enchanting cave hotel were just the beginning of an unimaginable adventure. A 30-room property dating back to the fifth and sixth centuries, a large part of the hotel was actually a Greek mansion from the 19th century. Six of the largest cave houses have been luxuriously renovated here, and mine was MARCH 2020
who pulled out a bottle of syrup when I told her I love cooking. She said the syrup was called pekmez, its grape molasses made in Cappadocia, and is used to make a chewy dessert similar to the Turkish Delight. Before it got too hot I decided to visit the Goreme open-air museum. This museum has eight of the bestpreserved churches in Cappadocia. My favourite was Karanik Kilise with its beautiful Byzantine frescos.