What a week it has been. A lot has happened since the last blog post but first of all let me tell you we are now in Georgia! We have successfully completed our first border crossing, stocked up on duty free and we are now relaxing in the Georgian mountains. Well some of us are relaxing; others are on seven-hour hikes to see glaciers, but more of that later!
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| On tour in Goreme |
Goreme in Cappadocia, the land of fairy chimneys, cave houses and underground cities.
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| David, Hayden, James & Mahala |
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| Mary, Spike, Kelly, Anna |
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| Jo in the underground city |
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| Simon successfully climbed into a hole! |
Our first full day was spent seeing all the sites with many photo opportunities, it was like being in another world or in the midst of the set of a sci-fi movie. We crawled through tunnels in the underground city and watched a traditional Turkish potter and his wheel make a beautiful vase with seemingly little effort at all. Lou had a go and made a lovely bowl. She found herself with a job offer at the end although she wasn’t keen on the 8am start.
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| Traditional pottery wheel being demonstrated by an expert |
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| Lou making a Turkish cereal bowl |
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| The evil eye |
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| Our faces on plates! |
Of course the best way to see this stunning landscape is from the basket of a hot air balloon, so that is what we did! It was an early start; the bus collected us at 5am and dropped us at a little café where we ate bread rolls and biscuits while we watched the many balloons being inflated.
A short while later we march towards our balloon, clamber into the basket and up, up and away we go! For those that were feeling nervous about the flight it became apparent quite soon that there was nothing to fear and it was an enjoyable experience with fizzy wine and a certificate at the end!
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| The view from the balloon |
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| A special way to start the day |
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| Firing it up |
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| Julie & Mahala waiting for their balloon ride |
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| Walking to the balloon |
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| Alex, Teresa & Lou |
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| Bruce, Anna, Mahala, James |
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| Fiona, Alex & Dave |
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| Jo |
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| Pernille & Spike |
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| Phil, Andy, Simon, Julie, Mahala, James, Anna & Yvonne |
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| With our certificates |
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| Toasting our flight |
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| A sky full of balloons |
Once back at camp and filled with a hearty porridge breakfast some of us went to watch a carpet demonstration at a shop in nearby Urgup. For those interested in carpets it’s quite insightful, we learnt that Cappadocian carpets are easily identified by the colour and pattern that is used in the design. For those less interested in carpets it was another way to enjoy Turkish hospitality with cay, apple tea, kebabs and Turkish pizza thrown in.
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| Watching flying carpets |
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| Teresa attempting a double knot |
Simon and I took our opportunity whilst in Urgup to stock up on supplies with its supermarkets and grocery stores that tourist haven Goreme does not have. When we returned to camp laden down with bags full of veggies and meat we find that Warren has had an accident and Mary is looking after him. I leave my sack of potatoes to go check out Warren myself. The poor lad has grazes up his arms, bruising on his eye and, Mary tells me, lots of grazing and cuts up his back. Thank heavens for Mary! A pharmacy manager, girl guide leader, first aider, cake baker, car seat maker, knitter and fantastic story teller, she cleaned and fixed up Warren as best she could as well as fitting in a quick lecture on why you should tell people where you are going to be hiking if you go out on your own.
After keeping a close eye on Warren's condition it is decided to send him to hospital to get him properly checked over and hopefully be provided with powerful painkillers! So as Warren is taken off to hospital in an ambulance, everyone else is carted off in our own white bus to a traditional Cappadocian restaurant to eat delicious beef stew baked inside of clay pots where we toast to Warren's health and wait to hear for updates from Simon, who went with him.
There are many benefits to group travel, but it becomes more apparent when someone falls ill, gets injured or anything other foible life will throw your way. The kindness of others increases and you have an instant support network, to fix you up, offer a shoulder to lean on or in Warren's case, a thermarest mattress to sleep on.
After a night's sleep in the hospital Warren rejoins us at the camp and we monitor his pain levels and if he can manage a night sleeping in a tent we plan to leave the next day, so an extra day in Goreme is in order, and nobody is disappointed! Bike rides, hiking, sunbathing, shopping, drinking, all good things to fill our extra day with.
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| Andy, Alex & Spike go for a bike ride |
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| Andy wearing traditional Turkish pantaloons, or what are now called wine-drinking-pants |
From Goreme we head to Sumela Monastery, a real feat of engineering. Perched on the side of a mountain this stunning monastery is an uphill hike in order to be seen. By the time Calypso makes her way to the monastery car park it's time for lunch, so we fill ourselves up before hiking up the steep hill in the afternoon heat.
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| Sumela Monastery |
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| Monastery frescoes |
We set up camp in the nearby campsite and as we all get out our tents, clamber on the roof, set up chairs and light a fire we inadvertently provide the entertainment to the families eating their Sunday meal in the riverside restaurant that occupies the same space.
It’s an early start the next day as we make our way to the border and prepare ourselves for the Georgian wine, cheesy bread and Azerbaijan visa applications.
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| Becs, Spike, Warren & Jo stretching their legs and enjoying the view |
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| Teresa, Bruce and Simon snowball fight |
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| Snowball fight! |
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| Julie |
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| Lunch stop |
We have only been here in Georgia for a few days but I think it’s safe to say everyone has fallen in love with this stunning country. Expect photos of feasts, dancing and drinking as we begin the Georgian part of our adventure!
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| Mahala & James enjoying the hike |
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