Cappadocia

Hi All,

We survived Turkish rail.  The train was a Hilton compared to Vietnam rail last year (and our current hotel)

We are happy to go back and stay on the train any time as it is no smoking (this hotel room isnt), the toilet door opened without hitting into the toilet (unlike this hotel), it had air conditioning (unlike this hotel), the bed didnt fold around gordo swalling her like a hotdog bun (unlike this hotel) and it had complimentary slippers (unlike this hotel). The one thing this hotel has going for it, is a cold fridge, that is all.

Good thing we have a fairly busy few days while we are here so we will only be here to be swallowed like a hotdog and breath in some used tobacco air!!

After an early arrival (7am) into Ankara (Turkey's capital believe it or not, if u sneezed u might have missed it in this tour), we only saw one archaeological  museum and the breakfast room of a random hotel.  From there it was onto a roadhouse for lunch where we ate pida (flat thin pizza, see picture below)

After lunch we got back into the bus and off to the salt lake (Turkeys second largest lake) where we went for a walk out on the salt field and it look as though we were walking on water.

From there it was onto Goreme (the where we are staying) where we are surrounded by towers of hardened volcanic lava form an erruption obviously many years ago.  On one of our photo stops close to the hotel we tried some ice cream made of goats milk served to us by a Turk who has obviously been to clown school and suffering the effects of LSD! He was very amusing!!

Once settled at the hotel and we had done some washing it was then off to dinner in a cave made of the hardened lava.  The food was delicious and I would be happy to eat there again.

So far our thoughts on our group are mixed. There is a couple from Manchester, Pete and Pat, the husband doesnt do socialising and looks like Elton John after a night out. He is a research scientist and hasnt spoken two words to us and even his own wife admits he lives in his own world, although she is very pleasant and keen for a chat.

Then there is a couple from Auckland New Zealand, Kent and Liz, took a while to warm up to them but they are fairly harmless, he has a very dry sense of humour and Carrie wants his camera. They are travelling with a high school friend of Liz, Rose, who seems fairly nice but we havent spoken to much.

There are two friends from Sydney, Nellie and Rod, who are both lovely and teach to feed their travelling addictions.

There is a lawyer from New Zealand, Ruth, dont have much  to do with her.

Then there is Nicole who is Aussie by birth but lived overseas for the last seven years in various places and has almost an Anerican accent. She is a little annoying.

Then the best for last (apart from us), there is a lovely couple from country Victoria, Kevin and Veronica. These two are very entertaining and highly amusing. They have five kids all until recently four of whom lived overseas.  They have just been to their daughters wedding in Italy and traveling through Turkey on their way home. 

Mehmet is our tour guide.  We have mixed opinions about him.. Think we were spoilt for our tour guide in Vietnam and no one will ever live up to Tom!

We will let you know how it all pans out!

Thats it for now, we are going hiking today, followed by a Turkish bath, we will let u know how it all goes.

Love to all, bye for now

Toot and Gordo Xx.