“I might have led us astray.” My friend Jeff said this several times a day during our hikes in Cappadocia, a region in central Turkey. I was all to happy to follow his lead, accurate or not, as I was taking a break from full-time navigating after three weeks of solo travel.
And the scenery in Cappadocia was so stunning it didn’t matter where we wandered. Every direction led to new and unexpected sites as if we were in some Dr. Seuss landscape. We skipped the hot air balloon rides and underground cities and spent three days hiking and eating. We “discovered” churches dug into the rocks a thousand or more years ago, some with paintings still visible. We wandered through a valley of “fairy chimneys” (impossible to not think of what they actually look like), and felt like we mostly had the whole region to ourselves.
And Jeff’s navigation, both in our car and on the trails, was actually spot on. I trust him to lead me anywhere, especially to great food. One day he found a random “pide” (Turkish flatbread with toppings) restaurant in a university town on the drive home from another hike. It was cheap, the mother and two sons working there were very friendly, and it turned out to be the best meal I had in Turkey. We were even showered with extra food and given a demonstration in just how to eat it, all without a word of English. It will be a long time before I am satisfied with any other kind of freshly baked bread.
Jeff and I did notice a pattern of being led astray in more subtle ways, ways that always ended up in us paying more while still unsure if we were being had or just being paranoid. Some suspicions were confirmed when we dropped off our rental car at 2:00 am before our early flight back to Istanbul, only to encounter another customer arguing in Turkish with our agent, clearly dealing with a similar “credit card denied” scenario.
These kinds of uneasy situations can easily taint one’s view of a place, and often they become the stories most shared from travelers. I hesitate to even bring this up knowing that some will leave with the impression that Turkey should be avoided. We all know that dishonesty is not a cultural trait, however, and it exists everywhere.
In most places, especially outside of the tourist zones, we were met with nothing but kindness, honesty, cheap prices, and sometimes a gift of tea or extra warm, delicious bread. That’s the Turkey I’ll remember and hopefully return to someday.
March 28, 2026 @ 14:59
The pictures are stunning. You are looking healthy and none the worse for traveling… Keep the stories coming, they are wonderful. Still missing you! Peace be with you my friend.
April 1, 2026 @ 13:49
Thanks, Madeline. Peace!
March 28, 2026 @ 17:04
Thanks for the introduction to this wondrous place! Doubtful that I’ll get there myself, so it’s great to have had this from you!
Take care ~
Pam
April 1, 2026 @ 13:50
Never knew about it before I planned this trip. Glad I got to see it.
March 28, 2026 @ 17:04
OMG Tim, it is otherworldly. Love the blog and the pictures.
April 1, 2026 @ 13:50
Thanks, Diane!
March 28, 2026 @ 19:15
More fabulous pictures, Tim. What amazing terrain!!
April 1, 2026 @ 13:51
It was amazing at every turn.
March 28, 2026 @ 20:55
So glad you were there with Jeff- another perfect traveler! Photos are stunning and I’m sure you enjoyed your long hikes!
April 1, 2026 @ 13:51
Right – there aren’t many perfect travelers out there!
March 29, 2026 @ 11:29
Hi Tim,
I finally had a chance to read all your posts. Life sometimes gets a little busy and then I find a quiet Sunday morning to catch up on all your travels. Thank you for sharing your adventures! I look forward to more!
April 1, 2026 @ 13:52
Glad to hear from you, Karen! Thanks for following along.
March 29, 2026 @ 20:07
Pictures are amazing! I love your travels! Be safe, my friend!
April 1, 2026 @ 13:53
Thanks, Marika! Happy to know you are following along.
March 29, 2026 @ 20:16
Oh Tim, these pictures are the most unusual inspirational and an invitational how I wish I could visit Turkey. It really looked beautiful. Your pictures are remarkable. I’m so lucky that I have a friend that I can travel vicariously with. I can’t wait till the next batch where to next.
April 1, 2026 @ 13:54
Always a pleasure to hear from you, Christine! I’ll let you be surprised at my next destinations – not even half way through this trip.