Turkey Explored review by Imaginative Traveller Mariana Junquer
What were the highlights of your tour?
The highlights of my tour…. It's so hard to choose because everything was really special. Gallipoli was a surprise, especially because of the very good and in depth explanation given by our tour guide – it was a moving moment. For me Pamukkale and Cappadocia had a magic atmosphere, they are surreal places. It's hard to believe that they are real! Amazing!
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour guide was great, and seeing Turkey through his eyes made the trip even more exciting and unforgettable. He was also always available to help, listened to the group and was very focused. He is an important part of the memories of this great experience.
What was it like travelling in a group?
For me, travelling in a group means the chance of meeting new friends and to learn a lot with them, especially in a group where people from different countries were travelling together. In my opinion, people are important piece that makes the travel unique and special. The people of my group were quite different from each other, but our interaction was great. Six months after the trip most of us are still in contact, which in my opinion means that we are friends and everybody made the trip even more especial.
What was your accommodation like?
The accommodations, in general, was fine. In 3 weeks we stayed in maybe 10 different places? Some of them were fine, some of them were great. None of them was under my expectations.
What was the food and places you ate like?
During the 3 weeks travelling around Turkey, in each little town we went too we could try its local food: cheap, plentiful and delicious food. The restaurants were very clean and those places also made us feel like we were Turkish culture – especially when we had a beautiful dinner with a Turkish family, in their house, in Cappadocia.
Do you feel your holiday benefited the local people and was it responsible run?
Yes, sure! It was responsible run and benefited the local people especially in small villages and towns. It is not only about buying their goods (beautiful, by the way) but also about their pride and happiness in seeing their food/goods/place appreciated by people from so far away. They were lovely people interested in learn about those foreign as well.
What did you think of Turkey?
Before the tour I was a little bit apprehensive, me, a young woman, travelling alone to an unknown country. It was such a good surprise to find out that the Turkish people are so friendly and warm, every Turkish we met wanted to make us feel comfortable in their place and they are so proud of their country!
The landscapes were beautiful, I was very impressed! The food was another wonderful surprise, delicious! In my opinion, travel in Turkey is very sensorial, it incites all your five senses: views, buildings and awesome landscapes (including from the sky, ballooning above the clouds in Cappadocia); delicious food (and tea, and nargile!); the music, really catchy music...when you realize, you are moving your body following its rhythm!
Walking thought the streets you can feel the smell of nuts, foods, herbs, spices… it's so good!; and walking barefooted on the really white floor in Pamukkale seemingly to be so soft but actually its so hard and then dipping your foot in that really warm water going down the hill, wow. To dive in the cold water in Aegean Sea and also to feel the heat that comes from eternal flames in Chimaera. All senses were so stimulated during the trip that at the end of this experience I was feeling completely renewed.
What advice would you give to other potential travellers?
- Turkey is an amazing country. You can learn about history and culture and also have fun and relax.
- When you are shopping, you need to bargain. It's part of their culture and it's also good for your money.
- Ballooning in Cappadocia is not included in the price of the tour, but it's an amazing experience that you can not miss. You won't be regretted after to see Cappadocia from the sky!
- Go with open mind and experience everything you can. You'll go back home in love with Turkey.
