Cappadocia became synonymous for its incredible hot air balloon adventures, it was known for its striking rock foundations, “fairy chimneys,” cave dwellings and natural wonders. In 1984, the first hot air balloon was brought to Turkey for a marketing project—and today, more than 150 balloons ascend every morning with baskets packed with visitors from all over the world.
Gabriel and I were not expecting the breathtakingly beautiful scenery we saw on our three-hour drive from Tarsus to Cappadocia. The mountain pass reminded us of our time in the Pacific Northwest in Washington State, only on a much larger scale. By the time we reached Göreme, the familiar faded away as it felt like we had stepped into a whole different world.
Cappadocia never ceased to amaze us. We could have easily spent weeks here exploring all this region has to offer. Our first morning, we arranged for a hot air balloon flight, waking up at 4:30am to catch the shuttle at our hotel. It was worth every bit of the loss of sleep! Safety is a top priority—from lift off to touch down, the entire flight felt like we were gliding effortlessly through an IMAX movie, carried by a gentle breeze. Even if you have a fear of flying or of heights,
this is one experience you won't want to miss. It's spectacular!
In the afternoon, we attempted to adventure out to explore the cave churches that are numerous throughout the area, only to discover trouble with our car's engine. While our hotel arranged for a mechanic, Gabriel and I had time to wander through the village. I'm so glad we did! We found Yemeni the Shoemaker (shop located here) who was skilled in making leather sandals that reminded us of those Jesus and His disciples might have worn. I bought a pair, and wore them every day from then on. They're perfect!
With our car fixed, we drove off and found an ancient cave church (located here), choosing to visit this place instead of the more crowded spot for tourists. As we stood in the darkness of the cave, I opened my Bible to read from Peter's letter to the believers in Cappadocia.
Peter emphasized the Lord had called them “out of darkness into His marvelous light.” He spoke to the “sojourner” in this land of sojourners, encouraging them to “love one another fervently from a pure heart.” And Peter called them “living stones” in a place replete with stones of awe-inspiring shapes and sizes. The context of scripture now took on new meaning for us, as we saw how the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to use vivid imagery from their lives to impart spiritual truth. Amazing.
Cappadocia is one of those “hidden gems” for most American travelers, but a well-known destination getaway for people all over Europe and into the Middle East. Before Cappadocia became synonymous for its incredible hot air balloon adventures, it was known for its striking rock foundations, “fairy chimneys,” cave dwellings and natural wonders. In 1984, the first hot air balloon was brought to Turkey for a marketing project—and today, more than 150 balloons ascend every morning
with baskets packed with visitors from all over the world.
Gabriel and I were not expecting the breathtakingly beautiful scenery
we saw on our three-hour drive from Tarsus to Cappadocia. The mountain pass reminded us of our time in the Pacific Northwest in Washington State, only on a much larger scale. By the time we reached Göreme, the familiar faded away as it felt like we had stepped into a whole different world.
Cappadocia never ceased to amaze us.
We could have easily spent weeks here exploring all this region has to offer. Our first morning, we arranged for a hot air balloon flight, waking up at 4:30am to catch the shuttle at our hotel. It was worth every bit of the loss of sleep! Safety is a top priority—from lift off to touch down, the entire flight felt like we were gliding effortlessly through an IMAX movie, carried by a gentle breeze. Even if you have a fear of flying or of heights, this is one experience you won't want to miss.
It's spectacular!
In the afternoon, we attempted to adventure out to
explore the cave churches
that are numerous throughout the area, only to discover trouble with our car's engine. While our hotel arranged for a mechanic, Gabriel and I had time to wander through the village. I'm so glad we did! We found Yemeni the Shoemaker (shop located here) who was skilled in making
leather sandals
that reminded us of those Jesus and His disciples might have worn. I bought a pair, and wore them every day from then on. They're perfect!
With our car fixed, we drove off and found an
ancient cave church (located here), choosing to visit this place instead of the more crowded spot for tourists. As we stood in the darkness of the cave, I opened my Bible to
read from Peter's letter
to the believers in Cappadocia. Peter emphasized the Lord had called them
“out of darkness into His marvelous light.” And Peter called them
“living stones”
in a place replete with stones of awe-inspiring shapes and sizes. The context of scripture now took on new meaning for us, as we saw how the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to use
vivid imagery from their lives to impart spiritual truth.
Amazing.
