Day 9, Friday 11 October

No Regrets…….. I get half a night’s sleep as my sinus problem persists but again there is no activity planned for today as we need to change rooms. I suppose I could have ordered a taxi every time we needed one to reach Coco Cave but for 600 metres that seems rather daft. The view across the town from Coco Cave is amazing and I don’t otherwise regret staying here watching the balloons in the morning and sitting out on the terrace for breakfast. Yet we don’t really feel that comfortable in a room that has character but otherwise small and short of furnishings. While there are obvious advantages, we decide to give them up for the remainder of our stay in Göreme. So, what is the plan now for today? After breakfast we pack everything and by 10am we’re done. However, our room at Mevlana Cave may not be ready until 2pm but we can at least leave our luggage in reception and do some walking as we did yesterday.
Exploring Göreme…….. Göreme lies in a depression caused by erosion in a larger valley amidst those curious rock formations. The depression is elongated with the town covering about half of it. With more building work going on, I’m sure the whole area will be built on some time in the future if allowed. Yet there are some important features in the remaining area which are of historic significance. As we take a walk, we locate Yusuf Koç Kilisesi, a remarkable relic of Christianity. There is no clear evidence of when the church here was created but it is an early example of religious practice taking place in a larger rock cavern. Inside the cavern is all you would expect to see in a Christain church; the altar, pulpit, congregational area and a font for baptism. The cavern is larger than one used as a residence and rock pillars give the impression of the columns so familiar in churches found up to the present day.
During our visit, a film crew is at work. Could it be that they know something important? Is this site so old that it has connections with the Bible? Well, it is really good to see and has opened my eyes on this day of transition.

Göreme to Uçhisar Trail…….. While exploring this fascinating area we note a trail that leads to Uçhisar and to Pigeon Valley beyond but the latter is more than 4 km away. Yet the trail is described as suitable for all ages and has a number of features including tunnels through the rock. We have time so why not just extend our walk and see where it takes us? Well, initially as described, there is a well-prepared path, level and undemanding but finally the passageway through the narrowing gorge is blocked. At Lost Heaven Cafe we note that the trail leaves the path and starts to ascend up to the pass at the top of the valley. It’s a point where I could choose to return as the walk has already been satisfying but I decide to challenge myself and head for the pass. After 15 minutes of climbing, we arrive at Caglar Tea Garden and a chance to rest. Getting my bearings, I realise we are much closer to Uçhisar than to Göreme so I hatch a plan to proceed and return by taxi. As we press on, I note a trail over another steep ridge to Pigeon Valley. Now that is too much to ask of me unless I suddenly change into a pigeon. Nevertheless, the trail continues to rise towards the town of Uçhisar.

Uçhisar…….. The town here looks like it's been built around a volcanic plug with a castle on top but arriving here, access to the summit is just too strenuous for me but at least we are not far from the main road. As we descend through narrow alleyways, restaurants and souvenir shops appear. We can see a coach park and realise this is one of the stops offered on tours. At the car park we ask a taxi driver who has brought up a party of visitors about transport back to Göreme. It’s time to ‘phone a friend’. A taxi soon arrives and we take the opportunity to head straight back to Coco Cave and collect our belongings then using the same vehicle, head back down to Mevlana Cave. Now that wasn’t too difficult was it but I’m shattered from the walk and just flake out in the room?
Mevlana Cave…….. The room at Mevlana Cave is superior to the one at Coco Cave. It’s more spacious, better maintained, has a fridge and importantly is just 100 metres from the main street in Göreme. The price is a bit more and we have lost our breakfast but there are no complaints. Being so close to amenities now, means we can pop out any time to the shops and save money too.
Light Bites…….. After a well-deserved rest, we head off into the town square to find something for dinner but I’m well off Turkish food by now and Katoon will not consider kebabs of any kind and after deliberation, we end up in a burger bar and really enjoy our burger and nuggets. Now after dark it’s decision time now we are settled. I top up my cash holding at an ATM and return to the room with a couple of beers.
Red it Is!…….. Day two of four here at Göreme has ended and we have come all this way to do what? As pleasant as it is to just walk around and with the benefit for health, the area of Cappadocia is vast. The town of Göreme is the most popular but just one of scores of towns and villages in this area. We need to talk with the owner/manager at Mevlana Cave considering our plan is for a return to Istanbul on Sunday. We confirm an extra night’s stay keeping our room for the third night to leave two more days here. But it’s now critical to plan something more ambitious. Money to some extent is no longer an issue. So, what are the options? The clear favourite here is the early morning balloon flight but Katoon doesn’t fancy it. She’s also ruled out a group sunset trip using ATVs and also the horse-riding. Well that now narrows it down a lot. There are two tours of the region known as the red and the green tours. Another tour, the blue tour is not popular and covers just a small area. The choice between the red and green tours is next determined by the fact that the green is a lot longer. I do fancy the Underground City but I’m told the bending down inside would not be suitable for me. I didn’t mention I’ve been in the Cu Chi Tunnels outside Saigon! Well, red it is even though the tour could include places we’ve already visited. Well, that seems to be that. We will depart around 9:45am in the morning. Next Page.