My flights were long, but everything ran on time and I arrived in Antalya a little before midnight.
Lanell and Omar whisk me away to their lovely 5th floor apartment where I crashed.
The next three weeks were filled with them introducing me to people, sights, culture, food, sounds, and smells of their beautiful country, Turkey. I found the trips to the market were an epicurean adventure, each booth’s owner presenting the fruits of their labor in an attractive, professional display. Of course, Omar made sure I taste tested everything before we made a purchase. It was easy to overdose on olives, but grilled olives ranked #1 for me
The two different boats they rented gave us a chance to visit the coves along the rocky coastline, take a dip or lay in the sun on the top deck and relax……
….plus enjoy a freshly fixed delicious lunch. Snorkeling over the ruins of an ancient city destroyed in an earthquake provided a look at the past. Stairs, windows, and walls were clearly visible.
Our trip to magical Cappadocia included a hot air ballon ride at sunrise, a hotel with our rooms in a cave, and the magical Fairy Chimneys which will always be a highlight.
Cappadocia has a unique beauty that combines nature and history. Throughout history, people have used fairy chimneys has houses and places of worship, they bear the traces of thousands of years of ancient civilization.
While in this area we toured a Turkish rug showroom, where we got to see the whole process of producing hand tied Turkish rugs. Plus saw some beautiful rugs, works of art!
Another treat was watching a craftsman throw beautiful pottery on a wheel and touring their showroom.
The absolutely beautiful roses of Cappadocia were everywhere, varieties I have never seen before. The roads were lined on both sides with beautiful specimens and their sweet fragrance filled the air.
Turkey is filled with history, and since I was never a history buff I felt like a real dummy! We toured ancient churches, monasteries, and mosque. Turkey’s history included the Romans, Greeks, and the Ottoman Empire. Many beautiful structures have been maintained from their ancient past! Built in the 2nd century Hadrian’s Gate is a stunning historic ruin that sits in Antalya.
Duden Falls near their apartment is a striking waterfall that empties 130 feet below into the Mediterranean.
Lanell and Omar introduced me to the friends they have made in Antalya and we enjoyed several get togethers. The people of Turkey were interesting and seemed always wanting to know about the United States. Most get togethers involved Chai (hot tea) with maybe a Turkish delight. Unfortunately Turkey has no ice tea, plus ice cubes are hard to come by as they just aren’t used much there…..so I converted to drinking Chai.
The food in Turkey included fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, crusty homemade breads, and lots of kebabs! Breakfast was a feast every morning, with a huge variety of things to pick from. The best dish I had during my stay was a Anatolian specialty called Testi Kebab.
A delicious meat and vegetable dish cooked in a sealed clay pot that is broken to serve, of course with some crusty homemade bread. Having Tex Mex withdrawal Omar managed to whip up some yummy tacos plus other great meals. Omar put on a feast for breakfast everyday!
I think we crammed six weeks of touring into three weeks, on the go packing as much adventure as possible into every day. The sad part we only saw a tiny part of Turkey, so maybe I will return someday. Omar and Lanell treated me like a queen during my stay and I will be forever grateful for their hospitality.
But it was time to head back to my life in Texas, so we said our goodbyes and I was off!
