Heading for Sumela Monastery

It was an early morning again. And cold. Woke up at 6:30. Tents packed at 7, breakfast, ready to go at 8. Brings back memories from Africa.

Mountain tops still covered in snow, so it must have been around freezing outside tonight. Inside the sleeping bags it was ok, though.

Managed to make it almost up a gravel road on a mountain before we met the local park rangers. They didn't give us any chances of making it to the top in our truck because of the snowy conditions so we had to turn around. Mountain pass 1 - Truck 0.

Detour of some two hours through some beautiful mountain scenery getting so close to the snow ever so often. Sky cleared in the afternoon and we had lovely sun when we arrived at our camp site - a real one this time. Quick lunch and off to Sumela monastery.

Had a 20 minute hike uphill to the monastery and the sight which greeted us was worth every step. What an amazing setting in the cliffs. We had good time to walk around to see the different buildings and frescoes here before heading back to camp for relaxing and cooking dinner. Perfect day.

Still trying to convince Malene that the spring will arrive - eventually....

Sumela monastery

On the road again

Left Göreme this morning for a drive to no-where. That's right, first day of wild-camping. A long drive north east with the aim of taking us a bit closer to the Sulema Monastery which is the planned sight for tomorrow.

On the truck for some 10 hours sucking in the sights of Turkish provincial cities and the landscape around them, including snowcapped mountains and  rain rain rain. People were starting to get second thoughts about wild camping.

Arrived at a very wet gravel pit at 18:30 and had our first try at putting up the A-frame tents. It was raining a bit and getting dark. Not optimal situation but we managed and once you're in it the camping life in cold weather isn't all that bad. Cook group got the dinner ready at 21. Meanwhile we had collected enough wood to make a small fire.

Went to bed with a lot of clothes on. Cold night ahead. Bush toilet, anyone ???

Overland evening cooking - outdoors

First camp

Amazing morning with balloons

DST isn't always in favour of you. Especially not when the pick up is at 5 in the morning. Something special gotta drive you out of bed then. But something special can even cure man-flu instantly.

Yes, we were going ballooning this morning and what a beautiful morning to choose. Being picked up in complete darkness and driven to the balloon site it was hard to get a feeling about what and where - but as the daylight was coming we could see the balloons being filled with air and hear the fans. So we left the balloon office - and there was our balloon. 28 pax + skipper basket ! Huge. And there were balloons everywhere.

Just before the sun came up we lifted off and thanks to almost no wind we just drifted ever so gently over the terrain. At first 10-15 meters above ground sucking up the landscape and scenery and the suddenly lifting off to maybe 150-200 meters above ground - and then back again almost skimming the ground before coming to a perfect landing. 50-60 minutes airborne - every minute so fantastic. The fact the around 150 other balloons were participating just made it more impressive.

Got home to the hostel for breakfast and decided to catch up with our missing sleep this morning. Slept until 12, walked to the Open Air cave museum in the afternoon and enjoyed the cave churches before heading back home.

Practical things had to be taken care of today. We are leaving for 2 days of camping so we did all the shopping for food in the afternoon (meals for 17 pax). And when the truck was loaded there was some backpacks that needed a little attention making sure that the right things are at the top of the backpack and not somewhere else when they are needed tomorrow.

What a perfect day. Ready for early departure tomorrow - breakfast at 7.

Getting the balloon ready for takeoff

Wonderful balloon ride, early morning lights

Cappadocia Balloon

Balloon sunrise

Göreme open air museum church

Göreme - sightseeing

Mikkel decided to get the man-flu (or vice-versa) so he stayed in bed most of the day. Malene however joined the group for at full day trip around Göreme seeing one of the underground cities built thousands of years ago, some of the rock formation sights which is special for this area and a pottery. Weather not really that great but good for indoor underground things. Impressive cave systems and some interesting stories about what might have happened to those living there in the past - used i.e. when other people were coming to invade the area - and some amazing landscapes.

Malene ended the day with her favorite activity - tourist buffet with bad wine, locals dancing and dubious food.

Istanbul - Göreme

First day on the truck. Leaving Istanbul at 6 in the morning. Technically leaving the European continent and entering Asia.

Originally the itinerary said something about short drive (6 hours), camping and then going to Göreme the day after. But the weather is still early spring so quick decision and we were on for a 12 hour driving day. Feels good to be overlanding again.The long drive meant plenty of time to talk with the others in the group. It's a bunch of very experienced travellers both the young and the older ones. Some of them being in their 60's and 70's they have heaps of great stories about travelling in Africa, Asia and the Arabic countries when the world was slightly different.

Good truck even though it looks a bit "used". And good drivers as well, Bob and Eion.
Arrived in Göreme at our hostel when it was getting dark. Getting ready for tomorrow and the day trip to the underground city.

Hello Dragoman truck

Still very early spring in Turkey

Day one - meeting the group and our guides

After a couple of days on our own it was time to meet up with the group we're going to travel with the next 120 days. Some are going to follow us all the way to Mongolia some are getting off in 2 or 3 months time and new ones are joining instead. We have people from Canada, US, Ireland, UK, Australia and Argentina in the group right now. Short introduction meeting in the morning and then we were on our own in the afternoon having time to visit the Topkapi palace. Very beautiful, impressive and difficult to fully grasp.

Since our morning departure would be at 6 the next morning there was time for a group dinner and then back to the room trying to cram all our stuff into the back packs. Who decided it was a good idea to bring all this stuff?

Anyway, tomorrow were heading east, in a truck. The trip has begun. How amazing

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace

Fresh air and great views at the harbour