Spoonful of Stories

Have your ever imagined staying underground? And I don’t mean basement of the house but having an entire city underground. When I heard about it, I couldn’t believe. How can anyone stay below the floor level, and that too, not just for a day but forever. These were my thoughts while we were planning Cappadocia itinerary, during our Turkey trip.

Cappadocia is a semi-arid region in central Turkey. I had seen pictures of Cappadocia before we arrived in Turkey but was not prepared for such magnificent beauty. It was something I had never seen before and never imagined exist. The landscape is mysteriously magical and takes you to an old era. Cappadocia is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Göreme and elsewhere. These strange formations exist because of volcanic eruptions and were carved beautifully by the wind. They look straight out of some sci-fi movie and their beauty is spell binding.

A visit to an underground city was overwhelming. These underground cities were created many centuries ago and some of them are more than ten levels deep, where people lived permanently. I was stunned to see remains of chapels, stables, dining area and storage cellars that were many levels beneath the ground. I still can’t believe I witnessed something so unique. It was a mesmerizing experience.

What fascinated me the most were the caves. Cappadocia has caves everywhere, even inside the rock formations. The famous being an ancient district of Gerome, where all the cave homes and churches had been used by Byzantine monks. There are many such caves where people lived for centuries. You can visit them to experience that era, and the best part; you can stay and dine in some of them as well (which has been converted into restaurants). I was super excited to stay in a cave hotel and it sure was a great experience. The view around was out of this world.

After our day’s tour, we decided to have dinner at a cave restaurant. We had already done our homework on what are the must try delicacies in Cappadocia and testi kebab was the dish on top. Testi kebab is known not just for the dish, but also for the vessel it is cooked in. Cappadocia’s history is also shaped by its famous pottery. It is being produced in the region as far back as 2000 BC, and watching the craftsmen create their masterpiece is a visual treat. They also use these pots for cooking. Meaning “jug” in Turkish, testi or pottery kebab is an Anatolian specialty prepared in a clay pot or jug. It is usually made with lamb, beef, or chicken with vegetables like carrots, celery, onions, garlic, and potatoes; and served with rice. Traditionally cooked in a tandoor or clay oven, the pot is sealed with bread dough and left to simmer in its own juices for hours.

When ready, the blazing hot jug is brought out and cracked in front of you, releasing the aroma of its still gurgling contents, creating a little theatrical experience. Savouring this dish in a cave restaurant was a different experience altogether which can’t be expressed in words.

We also tried other delicacies; such as lentil soup, chicken crisps and the famous Turkish tea. Lentil soup was a hearty dish. Seasoned with mild flavors, it was a bowl of comfort after a tiring day. The crisps were served with yogurt dip and made an amazing crackling sound with its first bite. They were perfectly spiced and mingled well with the coolness of yogurt. Turkish tea is a must have across the entire country and I fell in love with it from day one, and had it with almost all meals, this meal was definitely not an exception.

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We went back to our cave hotel after this delectable dinner with our tummy full and taste buds satisfied. On the way back we were discussing our next day’s itinerary, wondering, what more magics this fairy land holds, waiting for us to explore.