Oh I’ve found a little slice of heaven right here in Turkey.  And it’s called Goreme. After extending my visit, I left the village.  Only to return a day and half later. Then extended my visit again.  It was THAT fabulous.

So what was it that made this place so special?

The hiking

I was lucky to do quite a few hikes.  My top hikes/walks:

Ilhara Valley, the amazing valley is home to some amazing rock formations, caves and churches.

The Love Valley and continue to the White Valley and find a spot for a picnic and enjoy the view.

And my absolute favourite, the Pigeon Valley.  The gorgeous rock formations and the absolute silence. A special hike!

The sights

While I’m not typically a fan of guided tours, the Green Tour, offered all around town by several agents and hotel concierges, is an exception.  This full-day tour took us through an underground city where Christians living in the area hid for several months from the enemies, on a walk through the valley, before saving the best for last, a monastery.

The people

One of the best things about travelling is the people you meet along the way.  Fellow travellers, locals and expats. But this time I met some amazing people who shared their touching stories with me, allowing me to peek in to another world that I had only read about in newspapers and novels.  And fascinated I was. We shared stories over several cups of tea, and lattes.

The silence

After living in Marrakech, where life is non-stop, staying in a quiet village was a pleasant change. It gave me a chance to relax.  And enjoy the scenery.

Needless to say, it was a tearful good-bye.

xo