Turkey > Rain in Kahta

Turkey - Around Uchisar Castle many cave dwellings are carved out of the mountains

During breakfast on the rooftop terrace, I see numerous hot air balloons again floating above Göreme. Today it is cloudy, and I even feel chilly in my T-shirt. What a difference from yesterday. I was very lucky with the balloon ride. At eight o’clock, I leave Göreme heading east. I am leaving Cappadocia. Soon, the ruggedness of the rocks in the landscape begins to diminish. The road rolls gently through the hilly terrain. Today is going to be a long travel day—500 kilometers to Kahta. Near Kahta lies Mount Nemrut Dagi, a mountain peak made of loose stones on the orders of King Antiochus, son of Mithridates. Beneath the enormous pile of stones lie their tombs. On the mountain stand nine-meter-tall statues of Antiochus and various gods. It is uncertain whether we will have enough time to visit Nemrut Dagi today. If not, we will visit the mountain tomorrow. From Kayseri, we turn south. The landscape changes rapidly. We pass a mountain pass at 1,890 meters. Snow remnants still lie along the road. The hills are mostly bare, with occasional shrubs giving a greenish tint to the mountains. Murat steers the bus along the winding roads. Roadwork is ongoing everywhere. In many places, the road is being widened and new viaducts are being built.

Turkey - Trout being prepared in a small roadside kitchen

Entire sections of the mountain must be excavated to make the road wider. At a small roadside restaurant, we stop for lunch. The restaurant specializes in trout. My trout is taken from the tank and prepared in the tiny kitchen. Finally, the fish is grilled over a wood fire. It begins to drizzle slightly. The restaurant has no covered section. Fortunately, the rain only becomes heavier after I have finished my fish, and I quickly take refuge in the bus. It becomes clear that we will not make it to Nemrut Dagi today. We arrive too late. This is not a problem, as tomorrow, on the way to Sanliurfa, we will have plenty of time. Weather-wise, that might even be better. Clouds continue to gather, the wind picks up, and occasional heavy showers pass by. I will see what the weather does tomorrow. Finally, around half past five, we enter the quiet town of Kahta. In one of the few restaurants, I order alinazik, a local dish with kebab and yogurt. It is raining when I want to return to the hotel. I dash across the street to get there.