July 25 - August 8, 2019

I struggled leaving Kraków, missing my 5:30am flight on Ukraine International Airlines ($184.24, $64.24 refunded), so I booked the next flight out on LOT Polish Airlines ($438.52) to Istanbul, Turkey. The mistake cost me, but after a video chat with Nick, and knowing I’d see my friend, Marcus, when I arrived, I resolved to move forward.

I did need to apply beforehand for an e-visa ($20.55), which was immediately approved and very flexible within the 90 days. It costs 110₺ to taxi from the Istanbul airport, or 24₺ by bus.

Here are a few of my favorite things to do in Istanbul:

• I love to stay in the Beyoğlu district, so I can have breakfast each morning at Doğacıyız Gourmet or Van Kahvalti Evi. It’s easy to get around by walking, Metrosu (assisted by the Google Maps app), or the BiTaksi app to call a taxi.
• Watch the movie, Kedi, to learn more about the many cats in the area.
• There’s so much amazing food. If you’re nervous about going to a random restaurant, find one online that is recommended. Then, go there and ask them what to order. 
• It’s a huge metropolis with lots of history, so we started with a free walking tour with Tolga, which walks through so many places, like Grand Bazaar, Sultanahmet Square, etc., and then additionally saw Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia and Sultanahmet Camii (“the blue mosque”) separately.

Marcus and I both booked last minute flights to Kayseri ($117.89), roundtrip on Turkish Airlines to check out Cappadocia (Göreme). We stayed at Panoramic Cave Hotel ($82.45/night). It’s 50₺ a person, one-way to or from the airport, set up by the hotel. 

Cappadocia, a semi-arid region in central Turkey, is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Göreme. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes (cave dwellers) and later used as refuges by early Christians. The 100m-deep Ihlara Canyon houses numerous rock-face churches.

We booked everything through Shah Mat Travel, including:

• A one-hour balloon ride for $160, which would be a shame to not do in this area. It was my first hot air balloon ride, since bad weather canceled my last one in Bagan, Myanmar. Even on days when we didn’t have a ride scheduled, we woke up at 5:30am to watch the balloons float in the sky, it was so magical.
• I enjoyed a few hours at the Turkish bath, Elis Kapadokya Hamami (€20/157.50₺). You can pay extra for the massage (€14), swim in the pool (women) or steam in the jacuzzi (men), and linger with an apple tea.
• The North (”Red”) tour (157.50₺), which was a bit too long for me, as it included taking you to shops where I didn’t want to buy anything and the sales tactic was cringey. But, it’s cheap and easy to see many things in one day.
• Goreme Panorama is a panoramic point over Goreme town with its cave houses.
• Goreme Open Air Museum is the first and biggest monastary where religious education was started. Churches, chapels, and monasteries carved into the fairy chimneys with frescoes painted on the walls from the 10th to the 13th centuries.
• Devrent Valley and Pasabaglari (Monks Valley) have several types of fairy chimneys.
• We watched a belly dancing show with dinner (280₺), which I don’t necessary recommend, but it’s unlimited drinks so you can make your own fun.
• Go out to the Ihlara Valley. It’s beautiful and only about 1-½ hours by car. Be sure to give yourself some time to walk through the valley.