The Dibek resaraunt is conveniently located right in the center of Goreme, which of course is where you find the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cappadocia.  After a tiring slog up, down, around and through rock chapels galore, an evening at Dibek will [... Dibek…A Restaurant Review]]]>

The spices and homemade wine make this one of the best eats in Goreme.

The Dibek resaraunt is conveniently located right in the center of Goreme, which of course is where you find the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cappadocia.  After a tiring slog up, down, around and through rock chapels galore, an evening at Dibek will put you well on the road to recovery.

The family that owns the restaurant has lived there for five generations.  Mehmet, the son and manager, speaks a bunch of languages, and really helps the evening along with his jovial banter.  The house is over 500 years old, and tables are distributed among the rock rooms, with colorful cushions.

The family makes their own wine, and we cannot seem to pass it up.  We order at least two carafes each time we go.  I had asked Mehmet who does the cooking, because the restaurant boasts “home cooking”, and he said his mom did.  And boy, does she do it right.

Everything on the menu is beyond comparison.  Traditional dishes such as Kurufasulye (Beans with lamb), cacik (yogurt sauce), or sac kebab (lamb stew) are all fantastic.  If you can remember, though, their signature dish is testi kebab (a stew cooked for three hours in a clay flask, which is broken open at the table), and you must order it the day before.  Call Mehmet at 0384-271-2209.

Afiyet Olson!  Good Eating!

Fresco in Rock Chapel at Goreme Open Air Museum

A tourist’s dream, Cappadocia has much to offer you no matter what your interest is.  To hike, to photograph, to eat good food, what else is there to life?

Cappadocia evokes a romanticism of the Crusades.  In its unique rocks, eroded over millions of [... Fairy Chimneys and Ancient Churches]]]>

Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia

Fresco in Rock Chapel at Goreme Open Air Museum

A tourist’s dream, Cappadocia has much to offer you no matter what your interest is.  To hike, to photograph, to eat good food, what else is there to life?

Cappadocia evokes a romanticism of the Crusades.  In its unique rocks, eroded over millions of years in a region that is extremely volcanic, people have carved whole cities in which to live and hide for centuries.  Today, most hotels are built into the sides of these rocks to form cave rooms or shops for the millions of visitors that come here each year.

The main attraction is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Goreme Open Air Museum.  This particular area is host to a concentrated amount of churches in which much of the interior wall paintings have survived. You can come here and be completely satiated with cave paintings, but if you have more time, there are plenty more to explore.  To really get around, it would be best to take one of the tours offered at the guest houses, or even rent a car or bicycle for a day or two.  There are plenty of free maps of the area to show you where to go.

Some things you can do in Cappadocia:
•Ride a hot air balloon over the fairy chimneys
•Rent a four-by-four or go horse-back riding – although these are more for fun than seeing out of the way churches
•Hike in many of the valleys to see out-of-the-way churches and monasteries (two of the most popular are Rose or Pigeon Valleys)
•Stay in a cave hotel
•Shop, shop, shop – Cappadocia is one of the most prolific carpet areas in Turkey

Traveller's Rest Cave Pension Courtyard

Are you traveling to Cappadocia?  This pension is a fantastic place to drop your pack for a few days.  As in many Cappadocia accommodations, all the rooms are in caves.  This is part of the experience; just remember that “cave” by definition means damp [... Cappadocia Accommodation – A Review]]]> Traveller’s Cave Pension – Goreme, Turkey

Traveller's Rest Cave Pension Courtyard

Are you traveling to Cappadocia?  This pension is a fantastic place to drop your pack for a few days.  As in many Cappadocia accommodations, all the rooms are in caves.  This is part of the experience; just remember that “cave” by definition means damp and cool, so bring your warm nighties to snuggle up in.

Traveller’s Pension is surrounded by cave hotels, which are all a little snazzier and a lot pricier.  As you walk through the stone entryway, you are greeted with a yell from above, then Yasar or one of the other helpful folks will welcome you and start making you feel right at home, first with a cup of cay, then a sit-down to help you plan your time in the area.

What I like:
•Price: a good value, which includes breakfast and clean sheets that fit the bed (always a plus).
•Breakfast: I like the standard Turkish breakfast, but it does get monotonous.  Traveller’s has remedied this with offering your choice off their menu.  I recommend the French Toast – different than anything I’ve ever had, and good.
•You can make reservations online (here) and not have to go through a third party.
•They can set up anything for you, activities, tours, and transportation- one-stop shopping.
•They serve beer and are friendly hosts.

Note:  If you go to their website, you’ll notice they have two accommodations, the hotel and the pension.   If you are looking for more comfort, even a fireplace and sitting area in your personal cave, then you will want to reserve the hotel.  I’ve stayed there, too, and it is luxurious.

If you do book with them, please tell them you heard about it from me, then let me know what you think about it, too.