Quarantine Cappadocia through the eyes of Ukrainian tourists. Part 1
*** as always there will be a lot of long, boring text, details, details and photos of the same type; )
Introduction (non-politically correct).
In the spring of 2019, the only question I had about the future was the end of the folk saying "swim, swim and shore ... ", because there are two options: optimistic "shit" and pessimistic "drowned".
In early 2020, it became clear that in addition to all our troubles in the world flew his "black swan". And we learned to accept the fact that kovid is a long time and we have a new reality.
In the current 2021, the world is actively vaccinated, planning to return to the documented rhythm of life. We continued our difficult choice between "shit" and "drowned".
And I wanted to travel abroad. I really wanted to. So let's see who receives us unvaccinated. Hmmm, Nigeria or Uganda?
Somalia or Iraq?
Gabon or Botswana? Okay, let's be realistic. Egypt or Turkey?
Tourist Turkey looked more attractive, so I stopped there. Here I want to thank cgistalker and Iren48 , because it was their Turkish stories on the forum that prompted me to choose the right direction. Another link with maps, appearances and passwords is here (but be careful, there is some inaccurate and outdated information)
Then she carefully chose to travel so as not to run into local state or religious holidays. Bought tickets, booked a hotel. And here, dad! Turkey has decided to introduce a complete lockdown with the total closure of everything and everyone, a strict curfew and restrictions on traffic. But then she promised to abolish mandatory PCR testing for tourists. Well, at least some winner))
Further PCR testing was indeed abolished (by the way, returned in June), but the bans within the country itself were only slightly eased. The restaurants were to be open, curfew on weekday evenings and all weekends, the malls are open only on weekdays, everything else is still closed. Balloons do not fly (aaaaaaaaaa, disaster !!! ). It sounded too pessimistic. Well, let's check the reality in practice.
Day 1. How I missed the road! Behind this poignant anticipation of future discoveries, adventures and divination. And for the unknown that is always waiting for you in a new country.
It was raining. We went. The rain stopped. We went. The driver was so focused on the road that he forgot to drive to the airport.
It's good that during the dream I controlled the road and noticed in time that the minibus behind Boryspil is somehow gaining speed, as if not going to turn towards the airport.
While we were looking for a place to turn, while circling the roundabout, I realized, firstly, why the airport is asked to come earlier, and secondly, that the trip, judging from the beginning, promises to be interesting))
Borispol know-how. The construction of the airport is allowed only upon presentation of a plane ticket. Plus the traditional check of speeches at the entrance. Lots of people. From a dozen flights to Antalya, a pair to Sharm el-Sheikh and Marsa Alam.
Please note that an interesting interactive exhibition "Signature Power" has opened at the airport (Gate area D3).
Here are the most interesting stories of signatures that changed the map of the world, the lives of millions of people and, ultimately, the share of each of us.
Impressed by the story of Japanese diplomat Tiune Sugihara. In 1940, he rescued Jews fleeing occupied Poland by issuing them transit visas to islands in the Caribbean (refugees could only get there through Japan). When the consulate was liquidated, Sugihara rented a hotel room and continued his business there. When the official forms ran out, drawing visas by hand. Six thousand lives saved is the price of one signature.
The exhibition has a lot of interesting historical, artistic and forensic stories. In short, arrive at Boryspil airport earlier))
First flying with Pegasus Airlines . All scheduled flights and without force majeure. The only thing that surprised me was the online check-in for the flight, which started in 7 days. Plus, at the airport check-in desk, be sure to check the HES code (get on the website , not earlier than 72 hours before entering Turkey).
I meet the dawn at the Izmir airport:
Interesting works by local artist Nuran Hazan:
I found a small balcony in the corner of the airport, officially there is a "smoking place". Warm. Fresh air. The birds are singing. There are no people.
I pulled the mask off my face and enjoyed the moment.
My next plane is to Kayseri (one of the closest airports to Cappadocia, the other closest to Nevsehir). Aerial photography from a seat near the aisle is a bit problematic, but sometimes it is possible))
The airport in Kayseri is small. From the plane we walk to the terminal to get our luggage. There are a lot of people.
Worth it. We are waiting. Next to me, a Turkish grandmother tells me something angrily (apparently tired of waiting). I nod approvingly. Because in Turkish I can only nod and blink approvingly))
Starting to leave luggage. Although no. He did not leave, he flew. Bach! Boom! Bach! Boom! The people are rehearsing. Suitcases are flying. I am silently trying to find my own. The crowd is thinning. Happy owners of mattresses suitcases go to the exit.
Others envy them and continue to listen to this magic - bah! boom! bah!
When there were only a few of us luggage left, we managed to catch an airport worker who said that our luggage was waiting for us on the other wing of the airport. Went there. And here I am finally reunited with my suitcase))
I went on to look for the promised uncle from Cappadocia Transfer, who was to take me to a hotel in Gö reme , the place of my permanent location.
Cappadocia Transfer did not disappoint. Uncle got off his feet looking for his last passenger on the bus.
*** ordering a transfer from the airport to the hotel is best through the hotel itself, the asking price is 60 Turkish lira or 6 euros. Payment to the driver after transportation to the hotel. If you pay in euros, the rest will be given to you in lira.
So we go to Goreme - the very center of Cappadocia. Geographically, Cappadocia (from the Persian "land of magnificent horses") is a small plateau in central Turkey.
Once there were volcanoes, the eruption of which about 70 thousand years ago led to the emergence of incredible reliefs.
Then wind erosion joined the work. The wind picked up the dust and drove it around the rocks. Small grains of sand have become a material that grinds rocks like a lathe. Further more - due to the climatic features of the region and the oxidation process, the local reliefs have changed color. All this together created a unique spectacle, more like the surface of Mars than on Earth.
But so far the scenery outside the bus window does not resemble the Martian.
Karadut Cave Hotel . Impressions of the hotel are mixed. At first, not so much at all, because I was housed not in a reserved "cave" (the same "cave" in which every decent Cappadocian tourist tries to live), but in a small stuffy room.
They said that they had a technical error and that they would relocate me to order a cave tomorrow.
Deciding not to spend an hour and nerves on clarifying the relationship, I ordered a balloon flight for tomorrow (hurray, they still fly!! ) at an unexpected dumping price of 60 euros (the company Kapadokya Balloons ). From now on you can go and get acquainted with the city.
Apparently there used to be a river here:
In the central square of Goreme there is lively music and a huge "shop on wheels". As I understand it, this is a charity sale to help the families of the dead police and military.
Pay attention to the flags, they are here, in fact, everywhere - in houses, observation decks, shops and offices.
Direct to the Gö reme Aç k Hava Mü zesi (Open-Air Museum), one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey. The road to the museum is extremely picturesque.
I also got to the photo shoot of the Turkish wedding))
But in Gorem today + 32 °. The heat is such that all the internal boards melt and the autopilot turns on, which leads you strictly from shadow to shadow. In addition, the path to the museum goes up, that is, constantly scratching up.
And the scenery continues to delight the eye.
Local fauna:
I crawl to the Museum. In the season they work until 19-00, in the quarantine period, according to Google, until 16-15. At 15-00. What do you think about the museum? That's right, closing. Oh, and I so honorably climbed here! Well, well, the road back down - already lucky)) And I'll come to the museum tomorrow.
Halfway through, I decide to change my trajectory and return to the city via Gö rkü ndere Vadisi or Valley of Love - 2.
It is a small valley that got its name from the finger-like rocks that stand apart from each other. Entrance to the valley of signs with a concrete sign.
Shadow on the road is available - you can go))
Some even have a pool:
In front of this sculpture by an unknown author we take to the right:
View of Gö rkü ndere Vadisi:
Judging by the sign, we are on the territory of the Academy "Little Prince":
Pan))
Another view of the Valley of Love - 2:
I wonder how they got there? ! ! (spoiler, I didn't know yet that I would have to go there))
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Locals are actively using both the valley and the preserved "caves" as dachas:
I may be wrong here, but by analogy with the pipes that protrude from the hills and are ancient cellars-refrigerators, I assume that these are also the cellars of the locals:
Closing the third circle of honor in the towns of Goyoremkivtsi, even my brain, flooded with heat, states that there must be a way out somewhere. But where?
I'm going to the fourth round:
I'm still surprised that there is a moderately gentle rise between the rocks.
By the way, this is where I first saw how slippery tuff is, especially when many of these small stones fall under my feet.
Get out! The shadow is missing - it's a minus, but the landscape - it's an absolute plus))
A little further a panorama of the city of Goreme:
Welcome to the main observation deck (entrance from the city fee - 3 lira):
My first Cappadocian fresh.
In tourist destinations, prices range from 20 to 30 lira per glass, but at the entrance to Gorem from the side of vu avuin (Chavushin) I found dumpers at a price of 10 lira per glass of fresh juice.
Of all the options for fresh fruit, I liked the most pomegranate. I never thought that the phrase "drink all the money" could mean something completely positive))
Going down to the city:
In the central square of Goreme (landmark bus station) there are a number of ATMs , where you can withdraw cash from the card (the exchange rate of hryvnia to Turkish lira with all bank fees is 3.6). If you pay by card in shops or restaurants, the rate is 3.3 hryvnia for one lira.
There are no supermarkets as a class in the city.
But there is a small shop with a minimum set of products, water and economic speeches, which locals call Discount Supermarket . Go to it from ATMs in the direction of Chavushin, there, literally in another span, look for a shop in blue tones.
Alcohol is sold in some locations, the best value for money is TRZ Market . It is located on the way to the Open Air Museum, just around the corner from the city. I do not write the mode of operation, because everything here works according to one known schedule))
I return to the hotel. Wi-fi is not available in the rooms, only on the territory, so I hang on the site overlooking the city:
Meet me, this is Nyavkalka.
Although she has a different Turkish name from birth, she is a meower, because I have never heard the gut meow so pitifully and professionally and demandingly, begging for food from every two-legged person who was careless in getting into it. in the field of view))
Everything, the energy in the body is over. Lizhechkooooo, I'm coming to you))
Continued here .
The technical part with maps, links and summary of all series is located here .
