Turning our radar to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Prague, Berlin and Amsterdam
Fly, fly...
It was 2012 and we decided to visit Turkey. Our destination was Istanbul and Cappadocia. But we also decided to stop in Prague and return to Amsterdam.
We first flew to Rome. Our stay was only for one day. It would have been great to revisit the city while we waited for our flight to Istanbul that evening. Our wish was dashed by heavy rain, which prevented us from leaving the airport. As a result, the waiting time for the next flight was quite tiring.
That night we left for Istanbul. We arrived at 2 am and found ourselves at a huge and still very busy airport. The hotel had a shuttle service and the driver was very friendly. We stayed in Sultanahmet, where the main points of interest were. Before arriving at the hotel, we came across an incredible sight that we will never forget. The Blue Mosque was all lit up and the birds were making a real ballet and noise. We asked the driver to stop the car and we stood there admiring this marvel.
The next day, we began our tour of Istanbul. And, of course, the Blue Mosque was the first one we visited. Built in the 17th century, it has spectacular architecture, both inside and out.
The Basilica Cistern is another wonderful place. In fact, it is quite enigmatic. The marble columns, the carvings in the shape of Medusa, the lighting, the water feature, everything was impressive. Hagia Sophia was another highlight. Considered a World Heritage Site, this building that was both a mosque and a basilica is fantastic.
And the days that followed were equally full. We spent almost the whole day at Topkapi Palace. It is huge! The rooms, the harem, the library and the treasures are indescribable.
The Grand Bazaar is a mix of culture, aromas, smells and a bit of magic. From a distance, the vendors can already guess the nationality of the tourists. With us, they came to speak something in Portuguese. How did they know? We don't know, but the strategy sometimes works. We stopped at one of the stalls that sold those colorful lamps. The vendor, very clingy, grabbed Vera's shoulder so she could climb onto a small lamp and show them that they were authentic and sturdy. Besides, they are very clever.
Crossing the Bosphorus to the other side was also very interesting. The Bosphorus separates Turkey into two continents, Asia and Europe. In the end, they are two halves, with the same customs. But the feeling of a boundary is interesting. An imaginary line that says a lot about history. Kadikoy, the neighborhood on the Asian side, is very relaxed, and also has markets, crafts, and gastronomic options. Nearby, there is Moda, which, as the name suggests, is where the studios and nightclubs are.
Istanbul is not just an old historical city. It has another part that combines modernity, famous designer shops, cafes and restaurants. On Istiklal Street, where a tram also passes, and on Taksin Square, you can find all of this. In addition, the Roman Hippodrome and Obelisk, the Spice Bazaar, Yasi Mosque, Galata Bridge and Galata Tower, the Whirling Dervish Ceremony, the Turkish Baths, and Sirkeci Train Station, from the famous film “Murder on the Orient Express”, are all worth exploring.
Turkey won us over and surprised us. We also went to Göreme, in Cappadocia. The little town was very charming, colorful and with stone houses. There are several cave hotels. The main attractions are the rock formations in the shape of chimneys, the “fairy chimneys” as they are known, and the balloon flights. In fact, the region is a true open-air museum.
We couldn't miss seeing all this wonder from above. That's why it was still dark when a van picked us up at the hotel. While they were preparing the balloon for the flight, they served us breakfast. At around 6am, our balloon took off so gently that it looked like a feather in the sky. Suddenly, the sky became all colorful with the other balloons. The flight lasted about an hour. Sometimes, we flew so low, between the valleys, that it seemed like we wouldn't go any higher. And then, suddenly, we were very high again. The landscape was incredible and the flight indescribable.
The pilot was a Portuguese man, João Rodrigues, who was very funny. At the end, the balloon landed on a small trailer, as gently as it took off. We got off and celebrated with champagne, a traditional welcome. We received a certificate with a photo to keep as a souvenir. But the real memories were what we experienced that day.
We took advantage of the other days to visit the region. We went to Derinkuyu, which has one of the largest underground cities found in Turkey. It is an underground city large enough to house twenty thousand people, livestock and food. It was a bit claustrophobic, but it was worth it. We also went to Nevşehir, Ürgüp, Uçhisar and its castle in the largest “fairy chimney” in Cappadocia. In this mountain of rocks, the castle built by the Romans in the 12th and 13th centuries houses several chambers, houses, storage rooms, cisterns, cellars and tombs. After that, we returned to Istanbul. It was a very dramatic return. We thought it would be the last minutes of our lives.
The airport is far away. We took a bus and the sky was full of clouds that announced a big storm. The closer we got to the airport, the darker the sky got. The only plane of the day was late. It arrived amid lightning and thunder. We even thought the flight would be canceled. But the opposite happened. Boarding was sped up so we could leave before the worst happened. We boarded and, at that moment, we swore we would not leave that place. Looking at the end of the runway, all we saw was a hole in the thick, dark clouds. The plane prepared for takeoff and the passenger in front started filming the lightning that was coming down. We didn't even think about filming what we thought were our last minutes. The plane took off, passed through that single hole in the clouds and didn't even shake. It seemed like we were entering another world. The blue sky made us think, "was it a miracle or did we die?" Fortunately, we were alive and well to tell this story.
The airport is far away. We took a bus and the sky was full of clouds that announced a big storm. The closer we got to the airport, the darker the sky got. The only plane of the day was late. It arrived amid lightning and thunder. We even thought the flight would be canceled. But the opposite happened. Boarding was sped up so we could leave before the worst happened. We boarded and, at that moment, we swore we would not leave that place. Looking at the end of the runway, all we saw was a hole in the thick, dark clouds. The plane prepared for takeoff and the passenger in front started filming the lightning that was coming down. We didn't even think about filming what we thought were our last minutes. The plane took off, passed through that single hole in the clouds and didn't even shake. It seemed like we were entering another world. The blue sky made us think, "was it a miracle or did we die?" Fortunately, we were alive and well to tell this story.
We stayed a few more days in Istanbul. Then, without any plane traumas, we landed in Prague.
Lost and found... in Prague and Berlin... and celebration in Amsterdam
In Prague, we got lost and found ourselves many times. But the first place we found in the city was the Namesti Republika market. We were staying very close by, so it was easy. We tried Budweiser beer, but not the American one we are familiar with. We tried Budweiser Czechvár, produced and consumed since the 16th century in the king's court. That's why it was nicknamed the “beer of kings”.
We walked all over the city to see the most famous places. We visited the Jan Hus Monument, the Church of St. Nicholas, the Church of Our Lady before Týn and the Stone Bell House, one of the oldest houses in Prague and which has a bell hanging on the outside wall.
We visited Obecní dům, which is the Town Hall and houses the Smetana Hall, where important musical concerts are held. The Orloj is an astronomical clock that is a delight for the city’s many tourists. The spectacle is known as the “walk of the apostles”. This is because the twelve apostles of Jesus, who are on the façade of the Clock Tower, appear every hour on both sides of the tower. It looks like they are walking, hence the name. The Old Town Hall can be visited, as well as the Powder Tower.
On one of our wanderings around the city, we crossed the Charles Bridge, one of Prague’s landmarks. The bridge is a magnificent structure that attracts many tourists. It connects the old city to the neighborhood on the other side of the Moldava River, Malá Strana. We went up to Petrin Park and saw its tower, a sort of smaller Eiffel Tower. Also on this pilgrimage, we visited the Church of the Infant Jesus, which here became known as the “Baby Jesus of Prague”. We were moved when we saw an image of Our Lady of Aparecida, donated by a Brazilian bishop.
Prague is a city for walking and discovering its charms in every corner. We passed through Embassy Street and entered the Castle, which according to the Guinness Book was the largest in the world. Its interior houses many attractions such as churches, gardens, restaurants, a library and a beautiful view of the city.
Museums, synagogues, cathedrals, churches, the Strahov Monastery, the Dancing House, an interesting building that combines the ancient and the modern, the Monument to Franz Kafka's Head, the Museum in Wenceslas Square, the most elegant street in Prague, Nerudova. In short, to get to know the city we had to walk a lot, finding incredible places and getting lost, as happened a few times in the old town. The medieval city with its narrow streets, alleys and tall buildings leaves us with no way to find our way around. That's why it's easy to get lost.
After visiting Prague, we took a train to Berlin. We have visited other cities in Germany before, but not Berlin. So, “legs, what do I need you for?” To walk and explore the city.
Berlin is a city to be enjoyed during the day and night, but since we are day people, we didn't waste any time. We arrived and checked into a very nice B&B, in a great residential area, very close to Kurfürstendamm, one of the most famous streets in the city with many restaurants and designer shops. It was an important commercial center on the western side when the city was still divided by the wall. That's where we started our visit.