Day 16: A_Arriving in Cappadocia
Goodness this spasmodic internet is frustrating. I managed to post Days 13 and 14 just before we boarded the bus yesterday, but ran out of time to post Day 15. Now I still can’t post it because the internet connection at this hotel is not working properly. How soon we forget what travel was like when we could only send postcards that might arrive home after we did.
Well we eventually had our overnight bus trip to Cappadocia. It was actually three buses: a mini bus to take us from Pammukale to Denali where the bus station is, the main coach which drove us the 800 km or so to this area and then yet another minibus to bring us here to Urgup. We wish we had kept a minibus count, we have been in and out of so many.
The overnight bus trip was as gruelling as we anticipated. The departure was delayed for fifteen minutes or so while they sorted out the not double but triple booking that the bus company had made for the seats Roger and I were in. We were happy to sit anywhere, but one lady insisted on the seat she was allocated and would not be flexible at all. She kept telling the “consierge” on the bus that it was the bus company’s stuff up and she would not move. They finally sorted it out and we were away at 11pm.
It stopped no fewer than three times during the night for toilets etc. After the second time, when Roger had had very little sleep, he took a tablet and slept like a baby for the rest of the trip. As I can sleep anywhere, I was able to sleep reasonably soundly between stops but never the less, I was very glad to finally reach our destination.
Once there, as has been the case all the way along on our Turkey trip, a man materialised at the door of the bus and asked if Mr Roger Edward was there. That was our indication that we were indeed expected and that some hotel in the town will have a booking for us. As we travelled, I had visions of the lovely cave hotel that I had stayed in on my 2000 trip to Cappadocia. It was built like a cave, but had every mod con. How eagerly I anticipated staying in a similar one this time.
Well those hopes faded as we wound our way through the narrow streets of Urgup. The minibus got as far as he could to the hotel, but a street or so away, the van stopped and the driver told us we would walk the rest of the way. Off we trundled, following our driver who was rattling our suitcase over the cobblestoned laneways. Finally, at the top of a hilly lane, there it was: our obviously very basic hotel!
We were met by the hotelier who confirmed our booking and showed us to our rooms – up a steep flight of stone steps. The doorway is very low and Roger, who was tired and still very dopey from his sleeping tablet, saw stars when he knocked his head on the lintel. I don’t think I need to describe his reaction do I ??? To say that our room has character is an understatement! It is built partially in a cave, but unlike my 2000 hotel, it has no mod cons at all! The “piece de resistance” is the radio on a shelf gouged out of the stone wall. It is right out of the 60’s. However, we happily had a nice warm shower which has nothing at all wrong with it – unless of course we wanted it to be attached to the wall!
We were particularly impressed with the ventilation in our room!
Having freshened up with a morning shower, we made our way to where breakfast was served. To do this, we had to climb three more extra steep flights of stone steps, right up to the top of the hotel. However it was worth the climb. The breakfast was lovely and I was even able to make what I now crave for – a decent cup of coffee. Breakfast was served in a very modern and tastefully furnished dining room with a panoramic view over the town of Urgup.
At 9.30 we were picked up – yet another person had Mr Roger Edward on his list – for our first day touring of the area. I will describe this in a separate blog as I really want to post some pictures of this hotel. If I do that, I won’t be able to do justice to the fantastic views we got during the day.
One final word about our quaint hotel: I am sitting up in bed writing this. The sheets are nice and clean, the mattress is soft and the bed is warm. I can forgive the “quaint character” of tonight’s surrounds. J
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