Cappadocia... hot-air ballooning and food poisoning
All night bus trips are always excruciating and the ride to Cappadoccia was no exception, especially when the bus was fully packed and leg room was trading at an extreme premium. Then, just when I managed to get some shut eye, the bus would stop. But enough moaning, we arrived at Cappadocia safely after a few close shaves on the Turkish freeways. Our hostel was awesome – a cave carved out of some solid rock meant that it was crispy cool inside our room and we didn’t even need A/C.
We took it easy the first night and tried a regional specialty, the pottery kebab. The kebab filling is cooked in a ceramic pot, which is brought to the table and smashed before your very eyes. Unfortunately, however, it doesn’t shatter everywhere sending a volley of shards into surrounding patrons, as one might have expected. A very pleasant meal nonetheless.
Morning number two in Cappadocia – hot air ballooning. Despite having to wake up at 4.45am, it was awesome. I can’t think of enough superlatives to describe the experience. The sunrise, the unique Cappadocia landscape, the extreme skill of our pilot, the champagne that followed. Just an all round good morning. The rest of the day was spent on a tour of the region. Most interesting were the underground caves which were amazingly elaborate, even if most of the occupants were obviously vitamin D deficient. But that’s neither here nor there.
Following the tour we headed out for a “Turkish night” – traditional mezzes, some traditional Turkish dancing and all the sub-standard vodka and raki (Turkey’s answer to Ouzo) we could drink. The result was a foregone conclusion – drunk people a plenty. After dinner we headed to Pacha Bar where the debauchery continued. Mearle and I held the pool table for what seemed like hours, fending off challenges from locals and foreigners alike. The greatest victory, however, was beating this muppet from Sydney who was an absolute tool and would not stop trash talking (see photo of the moron holding the oversized camera). Get a hair cut, you foul unit! Meanwhile, George and Ricky were respectively busy passing out.
Highlight of Cappadocia – a certain member of the touring party wiping his arse with a two 1 lira notes since there was no toilet paper in the public lavatories. Charming.
All night bus trips are always excruciating and the ride to Cappadoccia was no exception, especially when the bus was fully packed and leg room was trading at an extreme premium. Then, just when I managed to get some shut eye, the bus would stop. But enough moaning, we arrived at Cappadocia safely after a few close shaves on the Turkish freeways. Our hostel was awesome – a cave carved out of some solid rock meant that it was crispy cool inside our room and we didn’t even need A/C.
We took it easy the first night and tried a regional specialty, the pottery kebab. The kebab filling is cooked in a ceramic pot, which is brought to the table and smashed before your very eyes. Unfortunately, however, it doesn’t shatter everywhere sending a volley of shards into surrounding patrons, as one might have expected. A very pleasant meal nonetheless.
Morning number two in Cappadocia – hot air ballooning. Despite having to wake up at 4.45am, it was awesome. I can’t think of enough superlatives to describe the experience. The sunrise, the unique Cappadocia landscape, the extreme skill of our pilot, the champagne that followed. Just an all round good morning. The rest of the day was spent on a tour of the region. Most interesting were the underground caves which were amazingly elaborate, even if most of the occupants were obviously vitamin D deficient. But that’s neither here nor there.
Following the tour we headed out for a “Turkish night” – traditional mezzes, some traditional Turkish dancing and all the sub-standard vodka and raki (Turkey’s answer to Ouzo) we could drink. The result was a foregone conclusion – drunk people a plenty. After dinner we headed to Pacha Bar where the debauchery continued. Mearle and I held the pool table for what seemed like hours, fending off challenges from locals and foreigners alike. The greatest victory, however, was beating this muppet from Sydney who was an absolute tool and would not stop trash talking (see photo of the moron holding the oversized camera). Get a hair cut, you foul unit! Meanwhile, George and Ricky were respectively busy passing out.
Highlight of Cappadocia – a certain member of the touring party wiping his arse with a two 1 lira notes since there was no toilet paper in the public lavatories. Charming.
posted by Aaron McGovern at 2:01 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home