More balloons this morning..it was a better sunrise, but they seemed to be going a different direction. Guy went out with the tripod and camera. I had a look out of the window and decided on more sleep, that is, until one nearly landed on the roof!
We set off quite early to check out the two towns of Ürgüp (big with hotels) and Mustafapaşa (small, but with tour buses pouring in).
We had a quick walk around and then made our way towards the city of Kayseri which is huge!
Eventually managed to park up in the centre, quite close to the citadel which we thought might be interesting. Another very conservative place and despite getting changed into a long dress, we felt like we stood out like sore thumbs. Everyone wanted to know where we were from, they all had a friend in Nottingham and by the way, come and have a look at my carpets! One man even said he did business with John Lewis!
Shouldn’t have walked through the bazaar – it’s like running a gauntlet!
Not much to see after all – just very big, busy city.
Had lunch in the carpark, at which point, I saw a little lad of about five, sitting on the kerb, almost underneath a parked car, with a piece of bread in hand. He looked very dirty and quite thin. Everyone seemed to glance at him, then ignore him. Guy took him the last of our chocolate biscuits and a bottle of water, but he’d just left them in the street when we got back. I hate stuff like this, never know what to do for the best.
We were pleased to get out of Kayseri and join the long, straight road east towards Malatya. For the most part it was like driving through a dusty quarry with the odd hamlet like an oasis in the middle. We got up quite high at one point reaching 1920 metres. Such a strange landscape to us, but with its different coloured rocks and dark threatening sky, it was quite beautiful in places. We had to get around a huge pipe on a lorry with escort that had managed to get wedged in a petrol station entrance. Then we passed another two further up the road – love to know what they’re for.
Expecting a dusty carpark in the middle of nowhere tonight, we happened upon the lovely town of Darende. It’s a bit like Matlock, with paths alongside a gorge, picnic benches everywhere and even a little restaurant where you can sit at your table with your feet in the water! We had a lovely walk in the early evening.
Apparently, there are some nice swimming pools here too and even women are allowed in on Wednesdays! 🙄🙄🙄
