This one was on my list for a while, and now that destinations are rather restricted I decided to take advantage of the fact that travel to Turkey is relatively easy to arrange.
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Obviously flying directly to Cappadocia would be too boring. Getting there on a bike from Antalya sounds like a much more interesting option especially because the road goes though relatively unknown Turkish "lake district".
Antalya to Konya
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| Antalya surprises me with cycling paths. It's not gonna take long before they're over but it's a nice experience anyway |
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| How many places are there where you're randomly passing something like that? There was even a concert planned that evening. Aspendos amphitheater, first longer stop of the day. |
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| I immediately learned that my tires don't like this terrain. Little bit too many thorns and two flat tires at the same time 😠 |
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| That's gonna be the spot for my first night. I was prepared this time - hotels are difficult to come across in this part of the country, but you don't need a hotel when you have a hammock with you |
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| There's even a spot to take a bath, five stars! |
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| I'll be going along this gorge for a long time now |
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| Shepherd's camp was a pleasant place to spend this night in. They even left supplies and a kettle but I promise I didn't take anything! |
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| Waiting in a queue to get some water |
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| This was probably my slowest climb ever but I've done it! |
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| Sun slowly rising in my next camp. I'm waking up early on this trip |
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| In any other place this area would be full of tourists, shops, restaurants. Here I have the lake district only for myself |
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| Laundry is drying quickly in this sun |
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| One of the places I had to visit on my way was Rumi's mausoleum in Konya. You don't know who's Rumi? You should! |
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| Cemetery dedicated exclusively for wives of dervishes is not a common sight |
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| In Turkey you're getting invited for tea all the time. For example when re-supplying in a bike store |
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| I'm gonna sell this pic to Cannondale as promo material for their adventure bikes |
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| Cycling around Konya you need to be careful not to run over a turtle. At least they won't run fast |
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| Bike tea house is obviously not a place I can just pass by without stopping by |
Towards Cappadocia
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| I did mention about invitations for a tea, right? Now imagine you're being invited for a tea at a bus ticket counter 🙂 |
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| Having skipped short part on a bus I'm entering Cappadocia |
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| And here it is when it starts to look unusual. Like these beautifully painted cave churches |
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| Just before going to the very center of Cappadocia I'm visiting an underground city consisting of seven floors dug into volcanic rock |
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| Here it is. "Pigeon valley" does indeed have a lot of pigeons |
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| ... and then you wake up in the morning and see this! |
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| People still do live here! |
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| Views on my hike are rather unusual |
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| My two new fiends drank all my water and they followed me for quite a while |
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| Somehow I always end there stories with a sunset, so here it is, last sunset before going home |
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