Turkey - Istanbul and Cappadocia Part-2

Good Day to you all, 

Hope you must have enjoyed the Istanbul details, now, let me continue with experience of my visit to Cappadocia.

Once we reached after landing at Kayseri and an hour’s drive to our final destination of stay, it was a pleasant surprise and in aw to see the hotels and homes of locals carved in the volcanic mountains and all the modern facilities still available in those, beautiful looks from outside and such similar feeling in the rooms.

The day was for rest and evening dinner in the local Turkish Restaurant with the specialty of having Pot Kebab with rice with local red wine. This part of the country is famous for its lovely wine production, I could not resist to buy few bottle to take back home.

Next day had an option of getting up early for a hot air balloon ride of forty five minutes and see the sunrise right from the sky high, unfortunately due to the cold weather, I did not opt for it, so our guided tour started after breakfast at ten and we were off to Goreme Open Air Museum, similar structures from the centuries before of carved out of lava mountains where the earlier Christians lived with their belief in God. This took around two

hours to visit the whole place, and later on we passed by few more such places where the top of such hills had different shapes and you are free to guess as your imagination takes you to name the shapes of such stones on the top of such hills. One of the places we had a hot wine, with fruit flavors such as Orange and Pomegranate, taste good, nice in cold weather.

Later on after visiting those open air museums, we went for a buffet lunch and proceeded for Carpet Manufacturing factory and getting knowledge of how the Turkish old art of making carpets is still going on, saw the process of making carpets and also the finished ones, next stop was for the pottery making unit which was a family business for more than nine generations and they explained what different kinds of clay are used and how the pots and other things are made out of it, later on visited their showroom for finished products and it was amazing experience.

After those two manufacturing and marketing units, we went for hotel visits in area. Evening was set for the Turkish Night Dinner with live program which started with Sufi Whirling Dervish Dance, continued with the cultural dances and ended with Belly dance; it was a good entertainment for almost three hours. 

 At night, back to hotel and next day was a departure back to Istanbul and catching a flight for home bound.

On the information provided by our Guide, I decided for visiting one of the Underground Cities, one of the biggest which has eight stories below ground. So after early breakfast, left with him to about 1 hour drive to reach the underground city, it is not that this is the only one city which is underground in this area, this was one of the thirty seven, which were actually used by the Christians to hide from the prosecution by Romans who had invaded the country in early fifteenth century. Such underground cities are not recommended for those having heart problems, high blood pressure 

and asthma. It took about one hour to visit this underground city and saw many places inside used for storage, animal stables, church, meeting rooms, living areas and it has good ventilation system still working too. It is said that these underground cities are inter-connected too, and some of such connecting tunnels are as long as nine kilometers long.

Well, that was the end of our tour and our excellent guide made it sure that we are comfortable till the check in time and return safely back to our Country. Over all and excellent experience of seeing new place and experiencing the life style, local cuisine, visiting manufacturing units like carpet and pottery and ready for travel back to local domestic airport with about 1 hour drive and then transiting at Istanbul and reaching back to the home country.

Well, if this seems interesting, contact us to manage your all need of travel to Turkey including visa and ticket too.

Turkey - Istanbul and Cappadocia Part-1

Hello friends,

This blog is new venture in out bound travel about my own travel in different Countries, here I am starting with Turkey and places visited and experience about the same. Though as our different blog, this has got nothing related to India and its places, festivals and culture. Though hope you will like to know about my own experience for my travel to Turkey. In future I will come out again with other travel experiences related with different Countries.

Travel Shop Turkey, the Agency with whom our company Phila Tours & Travels Pvt. Ltd. will be dealing hence forth under contract for promoting Turkey tour packages in India, we feel proud for this company as have seen growing since last 7 years, first time I visited and met Mr. Murtaza Kalender, he’s the one enthusiastic for the business of tourism and had always felt comfortable and understood the needs of Indian travelers.

During last month, when we received the invitation to travel on the Agent’s tour to Turkey, it was a pleasant surprise and I grabbed the opportunity to meet Mr. Murtaza, well known as Mr. Murti again in his office and all of his colleagues and employees.

Though I had traveled Istanbul many times before, but taking a guided tour with the help of professional guides in Istanbul was the first experience, and I took this opportunity not only for such experience, but also knowing that I will be able to see Cappadocia and its wonders of the history and culture.

When we reached Istanbul, we started on first day with the Bosphorus Cruise, which takes about 1.30 hours and shows the Asian as well as European Side of Istanbul. I must tell you that this is the only city in the world enjoying both continents together. Our Guide was very informative over the area and a professional in his work, a pleasant experience.

Once completed this cruise, we returned and proceeded towards the Spice Bazaar, which is also known as Egyptian Bazaar, selling majorly the spices etc, but eventually grown and lots of shops selling many different items too, a heaven for tourist for shopping. In general such bazaar can take lots of time, but guide was knowing the tendencies of buyers, so made is sure we leave in short time, though we were granted about an hour to look around, it was surely sufficient time.

After that back to hotel and time was free to spend around exploring the city, walk about in the Taksim Square for the modern look of the Istanbul city, international brand  stores with local cuisine restaurant also nearby. Later on had dinner in Musafir Restaurant, serving Indian style food, though not one of the best as per my own opinion, but good enough for any Indian having urge to have Indian meals for their lunch or dinner around Taksim Area.

Next Day was a hectic one, covering up many tourist interest places such as Topkapi Palace which requires about 3 hours for the whole place to visit, later on, 

walked pass by the St. Sophia church which also need about an hour to see the place from inside, other nearby places like Basilica Cistern, the underground water storage place in earlier time takes about twenty minutes for whole places to see and understand the history behind it from the guide, Sultanahmet Mosque also known as Blue mosque, though it will be closed during the prayer time, and interesting place to see for its architectural 

beauty, outside the mosque is Hippodrome and a walking distance from there is Shoppers’ paradise, the Grand Bazaar, also known as covered bazaar having almost 4000 stores inside and selling everything from gold to carpets and leather products and not to forget the ceramic items and souvenirs.

When one is around this Sultanahmet area, the suggestion for Indian meals is given always for Swaad Restaurant, started just few years back, one of the best restaurants for Authentic Indian food as owner and chef both are able to understand the requirement easily for taste of individuals.

Later in the evening at last minute it was decided for us to go for a Bosphorus dinner cruise, it is for about three hours, serves local dishes of vegetarian as well as non vegetarian for dinner and then starts the program, with Turkish songs, cultural dances and ends on the belly dance. Later on we were back to hotel for a good rest and preparing for next day’s travel to Kayseri.

During the morning of third day, we all were taken for visit of 4 stars and 5 star properties in Taksim area, and later on transferred for the flight to Kayseri, the nearby airport for Goreme, about an hour’s drive and a stay for 2 nights.

Well, I will be continuing my further experience of Cappadocia in the next blog, meanwhile you enjoy this reading, hope it was informative and interesting reading.

See you soon friends....