Konya - Ortahisar (day 9)

The second half of our holiday started, as always, with breakfast and preparing sandwiches for lunch. After that, it was time to pack our suitcases, load the car, and begin our journey to Ortahisar, in the Cappadocia region. Along the way, we made a few stops.

After driving for a while, our first stop was at a gas station for a cup of coffee. The second stop was at an old caravanserai, once used as a resting place for trade caravans. We could simply walk inside, where we were shown a demonstration of how Persian carpets are handwoven, and there was also an exhibition of Persian carpets from the 18th and 19th centuries. After seeing this, we sat outside the gate in the garden on a bench in the shade to have lunch (though it was still morning...). Following our early lunch, we continued driving to Ortahisar. Upon arrival, we relaxed for a while before deciding to drive to a nearby cave church and monastery. This rock-hewn site, dating back to the 8th or 9th century, was dark inside (we were handed flashlights) and had a network of very narrow, low passageways connecting the different rooms (so narrow that you had to squat while walking through them, which my legs didn’t particularly enjoy...). After exploring, we drove on to a restaurant in the village center, not far from the castle ruins. The food there was delicious, though it turned out to be the most expensive restaurant we’ve eaten at so far. Interestingly, we were the only customers, which meant we had the entire place to ourselves. The upside? No noisy children or bustling crowds. Just peace and quiet, with only some background music as we enjoyed our meal. After dinner, we walked over to the castle ruins before heading back to the apartment by car. Tomorrow (and the next couple of days) we’ll be spending our time here in Ortahisar, where all the main sights are only a short drive away! The exact plan for tomorrow is still open, but of course, you’ll read all about it then.

Day 8

Travel overview

Day 10