Caribbean - Getting Stuffed in Turkey - A Travel Journal

Seatback blockbuster on-demand movies and the freshest airline meals I've ever had, amenities kits, economy class provided the new sliding seats to maximize legroom. Turkish Airlines revamped it's entire fleet now vying to rank #3 of all European carriers. I was never so happy to board an airplane along with 44 wonderful adventurers of our group tour in tow, april 22. The volcanic ash cloud parked over Europe was heading straight for Istanbul. I as engulfed in fear this trip wouldn't go, days prior to departure.

The chronic pleas from vendors can assault one's senses if you don't know how to bounce it off. Later we got lost in the labyrinth of the 4300 shops of the Grand Bazaar. Harems and eunuchs I stood in awe there at the 87 carat Spoonmaker's Diamond that was found discarded in trash and traded for 3 spoons, home to sultans, hippodrome and Topaki Palace, haggia Sophia, it included the Blue Mosque. We covered all major sites with the frenetic energy of whirling dervishes, on a city tour. She was so outstanding I doubled her anticipated tip, from day one. Our guide Gigi was assigned to fly with us 24/7 throughout the entire tour of this magnificent country. Located in both Asia and Europe is the only city that straddles two continents with a thrilling cultural mosaic blending the old with the new, istanbul.

The younger group participants partied late into the night Istanbul never sleeps. I felt I was being water-boarded and wanted to "spill my secrets" but left squeaky clean as I ever felt in my life. It ends with torrents of water. Then they loofa off several epidermal layers followed by tons of soapy suds and an oil massage. First you get naked in a steam room and are pounded like a piece of meat on a warm marble slab. Many experienced their first authentic Turkish Bath at a 300 year old hamman which can be totally confusing if you don't know the procedure and no one speaks English, at night. My greatest treasure was a butter leather "Prada" or should I say "Prado" bag for $30, i pretended to be a deaf mute strolling zen-like with a smile.

I could have carved a new room off my cave-suite. It was completely surreal I hung some clothes on the wall and the soft porous rock crumbled. Dark and cavernous with flatscreen TV and jacuzzi tub, terry and I were upgraded to a suite. We checked into a 4 star cave hotel. Most establishments begin with the name "Flintstones". Restaurants and hotels, today they still carve out troglodyte styled houses. Ancient civilizations here created huge underground cities. The entire region is a geologists dream and most worthy of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is all surrounded by meringue-like hills that look like Mars. The tuff layers eroded to form bizarre rock formations of dramatic gorges and breathtaking fairy chimneys. We flew to Cappadocia which was like a Salvador Dali painting from the lunar landscapes formed by volcanic rock and weathered over a millennia.

Turks call visitors "tanri misafiri" or God's gift. It is overwhelming where one is offered apple tea just for entering a grocery store, in this rural central region. Turkish hospitality is world famous. I should have out this on YouTube. This is the life I aspire to. Outside were 2 pet cows and organic garden. She served us all honey cake and tea. There was solar electricity and plumbing. We crawled into her living room which was layered with 4 fine Turkish carpets she spent decades weaving. She inherited this cave from past generations and lived here 43 years. Fatma came running to greet us with open arms, as our bus pulled up the dirt road. " Gigi phoned her to ask if she could bring "a few Americans" to visit her cave home. The highlight however for me on this trip was our visit to Fatma's "house. Kitchens and chapels, wineries, stables, it was fascinating to crouch through a maze of monasteries. This place harbored 4000 beleaguered Christians. We toured Kaymaki which spirals downward for 8 stories! 360 in total. Tens of thousands lived underground in elaborate cities with subterranean houses and churches. Early Christians fled Jerusalem from Roman persecution, in the 2nd century. The next day we explored the Goreme Valley.

I hope to visit Fatma again! I hope this awesome hidden gem doesn't become exploited by global tourism. Cappadocia is one, there are few places on earth where I want to linger. I practiced the meditative dance and collapsed in dizziness after 3 minutes, back i my cave room. The most tolerant arm of Islam dating back to the 13th century, they are of the Sufi sect. Six dervishes danced themselves into a trance for us. That evening we attended an authentic and mystical performance of the Whirling Dervishes. I couldn't afford a mouse pad carpet, on my travel budget. I was surprised when 12 members purchased elegant carpets to ship home. We also visited a carpet factory to view the weavers working and silk worm cocooning. We bought exquisite pottery with designs dating back to the Hittites, later in Avanos. They floated silently over sleepy villages and canyons pocketed with endless caves, in brilliant sunshine. Most of our group launched at dawn for a hot air balloon ride over spectacular topography. Cappadocia has won global Balloon Championships.

But morphine for medical export, there are also fields of unique purple poppies cultivated to produce not heroin. Walnuts and roses, honey, cherries, apricots, this is the land of pomegranates. To visit the Dervish Museum, the spiritual center of Turkey, enroute we stopped in Konya. We headed out on a long drive to Pamukkale.

We also toured the amazing ruins of the holy and healing city of Hierapolis. The "Cotton Castle" is a geological wonder. We climbed the snow-like white travertine terraces of mineral pools. Pamukkale with hundreds of hot springs was an ancient spa where even Cleopatra came for treatments. We checked into Lycus River Thermal Hotel where we marinated our bodies in the indoor and outdoor thermal pools.

Kabobs and Turkish Delight, flatbreads, on olives. I gained a few lbs. Everyday was a feast with most meals included, as for cuisine on this trip. 000 people, this ancient port city has an intact theater that held 15. They continued to the impressive ruins Aspendos. Apostle Paul preached here in 48AD. I shopped the bazaar of Old Town while the group toured Perge founded by the Romans 3000 years ago. But the balmy ride was glorious, it wasn't Niagara. We did a private boat cruise on the Mediterranean Sea to view Duden Falls. The sand and sea crescent bay reminded me of Rio. " The Sheraton Resort sat cliffside with beautiful views of the blue water and a backdrop of the dramatic Toros Mountains. Our last days were spent on Antalya on Turkey's "Turquoise Coast.

But I vow to present this trip again, i tend not to repeat to many destinations. Turkey was truly stimulating with unlimited memories. Many destinations hyped as exciting turn out to be dull as paint by number. I get tons of materials, as a tour operator. This Adventures For Singles trip was $1175 land with abundance you'd never find in Europe. It's one of the few places left in the world where one can get an affordable luxury vacation. I hope Turkey never joins the EU or changes it's currency to the Euro. But this trip was flawless and the group blended so well, there are usually hiccups with international travel.