RP343 Walking on the Moon

 RP343 Walking on the Moon

Cappadocia has a landscape unlike anything you've seen before. Located in central Turkey, this region is famous for its natural rock formations. Some visitors say that visiting Cappadocia is like visiting the moon.
How did Cappadocia become so exceptional? Both nature and humanity had a hand in it. Take the "fairy chimneys" that the region is famous for. These are pillars of rock that have been eroded by thousands of years of wind and rain. They can stand as high as 40 meters tall. Some of them have a cone of harder rock at the top. It can look a bit like a hat sometimes. This cone takes longer to erode than the softer rock underneath.
Now, here's where humanity comes into the picture. The region of Cappadocia was located on the ancient Silk Road. For thousands of years, traders and soldiers from Europe and Asia passed through the area. Some decided to put down roots, and since Cappadocia's landscape is desert-like, without any trees, they faced a housing problem. To solve it, settlers picked up shovels and started digging. They dug into the larger fairy chimneys and built a complex system of caves to live in. Their work left the region's rock formations dotted with holes. The end result is a landscape that's truly jaw-dropping.
Fast-forward to the present, and some of these caves have been converted into hotel suites. Any visitor can try that "cave experience," and live like the settlers did thousands of years ago. But there's one important difference: now you can have a mattress, a pillow, and a blanket!
One of the best ways to discover these natural wonders is to take a hot air balloon ride. Balloon ride operators are common throughout Cappadocia. Tourists can take a 1-2 hour ride and soak in the sights from high in the sky.
Balloon ride operators are common throughout Cappadocia.
These tours can be very fancy. Some even offer buffets and champagne toasts. If you want something more private, there are tours focusing on special occasions like honeymoons or marriage proposals. Wouldn't it be romantic to have such a great surprise up in the air!