Turkiye 2023: On The Way to Cappadocia
Finally, the most awaited day of the tour (for me personally) came on Day 11. We were leaving surprising Anatalya to other-wordly Cappadocia. My excitement was palpable. While I knew that getting to point B would take a long bus ride, I wasn't prepared for how long it really was.
We left the hotel promptly at 8 am and drove through beautiful countryside. Two hours in, we stopped at a pit stop - one of those roadside cafe/souvenir area setting. Nothing to report about this stop.
Another two hours of bus ride had passed and we arrived in Konya for our lunch stop. This spot appears to be the popular choice for group tours because there was a number of tour buses already parked in the front.
We were told by that the specialty dish of this restaurant is pide, which is a savory flatbread with variety of toppings, like a Turkish pizza except the flatbread is elongated, sometimes boat-shaped.
The husband boldly went into the kitchen and asked permission to take video clips of the making of pide.
The freshly-baked pide.
None of us was really hungry. The very heavy breakfast from the hotel in Antalya (that hotel had the best breakfast and dinner and the selection of dishes was huge) was still sitting in our stomachs, but we decided to taste the pide.
One of the restaurant kitties also having its lunch.
Next to the restaurant is a store that carried souvenirs both perishable and nonperishable. We all spent some of our lunch time allotment shopping for souvenirs.
Roughly 2 hours after getting on the bus in Konya, we were pulling up into our first stop of the day.
The Sultanhani Seljuk Caravanserai is the largest and most beautiful Seljuk caravanserai. It was built in 1229 CE. The Seljuks or Seljuk Empire (1050-1300 AD) was a Medieval Turkish Empire based in Central Anatolia (Turkiye). Caravanserais are roadside inns providing food, shelter and water for pilgrims, caravans and other travellers. This is their Motel 6.
Main Gate
Closer look.
On each side of the door is a little cranny (can't think of another word), where the guards stand, as demonstrated by our lovely tour manager.
As you enter the gate, you are in a large quadrangle with a mosque in the middle of it. Both sides are for animals and accommodations.
Behind the mosque at the end of the quadrangle is the main building of the Caravanserai.
Inside there is a display of Turkish carpets, many looked vintage, but all the carpets were fascinating. Incredible designs and craftsmanship.
Leaving the main building, we explored the courtyard area. The side with all the arches is now a cafe.
Across the street is a cafe, souvenir shop and a potty stop.
The tour manager passed this out at the beginning of the ride today so we can learn common Turkish phrases on this long bus ride day.
Not too far from the Sultanhani Caravanserai, we passed another caravanserai on the way to Cappadocia.
Another two hours of bus ride had passed and we arrived in Konya for our lunch stop. This spot appears to be the popular choice for group tours because there was a number of tour buses already parked in the front.
We were told by that the specialty dish of this restaurant is pide, which is a savory flatbread with variety of toppings, like a Turkish pizza except the flatbread is elongated, sometimes boat-shaped.
The husband boldly went into the kitchen and asked permission to take video clips of the making of pide.
The freshly-baked pide.
None of us was really hungry. The very heavy breakfast from the hotel in Antalya (that hotel had the best breakfast and dinner and the selection of dishes was huge) was still sitting in our stomachs, but we decided to taste the pide.
Accoutrements to go with the pide.
One of the restaurant kitties also having its lunch.
Next to the restaurant is a store that carried souvenirs both perishable and nonperishable. We all spent some of our lunch time allotment shopping for souvenirs.
Roughly 2 hours after getting on the bus in Konya, we were pulling up into our first stop of the day.
The Sultanhani Seljuk Caravanserai is the largest and most beautiful Seljuk caravanserai. It was built in 1229 CE. The Seljuks or Seljuk Empire (1050-1300 AD) was a Medieval Turkish Empire based in Central Anatolia (Turkiye). Caravanserais are roadside inns providing food, shelter and water for pilgrims, caravans and other travellers. This is their Motel 6.
Main Gate
Closer look.
On each side of the door is a little cranny (can't think of another word), where the guards stand, as demonstrated by our lovely tour manager.
As you enter the gate, you are in a large quadrangle with a mosque in the middle of it. Both sides are for animals and accommodations.
Behind the mosque at the end of the quadrangle is the main building of the Caravanserai.
Inside there is a display of Turkish carpets, many looked vintage, but all the carpets were fascinating. Incredible designs and craftsmanship.
Leaving the main building, we explored the courtyard area. The side with all the arches is now a cafe.
Across the street is a cafe, souvenir shop and a potty stop.
The tour manager passed this out at the beginning of the ride today so we can learn common Turkish phrases on this long bus ride day.
Not too far from the Sultanhani Caravanserai, we passed another caravanserai on the way to Cappadocia.
The beauty of the architecture and pide captured beautifully. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous way to display those carpets. Magic!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. Great way to display the carpets in that grand building.
ReplyDeleteBlue skies #Skywatch
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing place!
ReplyDelete