Introduction
When I found out I was going to Istanbul and Cappadocia with Kirker Holidays, I was very excited. I have always known Kirker to be an amazing company but now that I have firsthand experience, I can hand on heart tell you they exceeded my expectations. Wow what a fantastic trip it was! Full of exceptional hospitality, incredible food, wonderful architecture and full of history.
Day 1
I had an early start, I drove to my colleague Simeon’s house, and we set off on a very cold and dark November morning. We used the MBW meet and greet parking at Heathrow Terminal 2. I was very impressed with how easy it was. All you need to do is give them a call when you’re about 30 minutes away, and one of the staff will meet you, take your keys, and off you go. It’s always lovely travelling near Christmas as the airport is decorated and has fabulous Christmas trees.
We met the lovely Kirker reps Tim and Amanda and the rest of the group before a very easy check in. They have self-service machines where you scan your passport, select your seat and then print off your boarding pass and luggage label. Don’t worry they do have staff on hand if you need them.
It was my first time flying with Turkish Airlines and I was very impressed. The economy seats are a good size, and you also get a pillow and earphones. The seat had a screen so you can watch a movie on the short flight to Istanbul. The aeroplane food was also really nice with a choice of chicken or vegetarian pasta.
Once we arrived, we were greeted by a Kirker escort and had a comfortable private transfer to the magnificent 5* Four Seasons Istanbul at the Bosphorus. We had a quick check in and then we got taken to our rooms. Oh, my goodness, I couldn’t believe it when I walked into my room. It was like an apartment. I had a one-bedroom Bosphorus suite with a view of the pool and of the Bosphorus. It had a large lounge area with two sofas, a table and chairs, a huge television, a walk-in wardrobe, the biggest and comfiest bed I have ever slept in, a lovely bay window seat to look at the fabulous view and finally another huge television. Plus, a fantastic bathroom with double sinks, a walk-in shower, and a nice big bath. Complete with all the toiletries you could need. It also had slippers and robes, coffee and tea making facilities and a fully stocked mini bar. I was also given a lot of complimentary snacks and gifts; I was in heaven.
That evening, we had a specially created menu served to us in the Aqua restaurant which is an outside restaurant overlooking the Bosphorus. We were joined by Emre the associate director of sales for the Four Seasons and Berna the Manager of North America and Europe at Intra Tourism group. It was a beautiful setting with the twinkling lights in the distance. The food was delicious and included Turkish pizza and Baklava. After dinner, my new friend Gayle and I explored the hotels grounds, and we were very impressed with the stunning Christmas tree and the beautiful ornaments that were displayed in the hotel.
Day 2
This morning, we had a huge variety for breakfast. You could choose something from the menu like eggs benedict or pancakes. Or you could help yourself to cereals, fruit, cakes, yogurts, hot plates and cold meats and cheeses. I also had freshly squeezed apple juice. After breakfast we had a tour of the hotel by Emre. He kindly showed us a variety of rooms and suites. Wow! it is an incredibly beautiful hotel. I felt very lucky to be a part of the trip.
We were then met by our guide Oscar; he took us on the short trip to visit the Blue Mosque. It is simply stunning, with fantastic architecture. On the inside, it is decorated with thousands of Iznik tiles and painted floral motifs in predominantly blue colours, which give the mosque its popular name.
They hang Ostrich eggs from chandeliers inside the mosque; this is believed to keep the spiders away and to prevent cobwebs.
We then visited the Hagia Sophia Museum, which offers an interactive glimpse into the history and architecture of the mosque.
Lunch today was at the Four Seasons Istanbul at Sultanahmet. Formerly the first jailhouse in the capital of the Ottoman Empire, it’s far from that today. Within a stone’s throw of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace, it’s in a perfect location. We were welcomed again by Emre, Berna and the very hospitable staff; they couldn’t do enough for us. The hotel had a stunning garden full of beautiful colours. We had a specially created menu at The Alvu restaurant which is set within the beautiful gardens. Wow, the food was incredible! I particularly liked the semolina pudding, which had chocolate poured from a teapot. This was also my first taste of Turkish tea, which is very refreshing. Apparently, the Turkish drink many cups a day.
After lunch, we had a tour of the hotel where we got to look at different room types including some suites that had balconies overlooking the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.
This afternoon, we visited Hagia Sophia, also known as “Holy Wisdom.” Visiting the museum in the morning had already given us a deeper understanding of the history of this magnificent building.
We then walked the short distance to the Grand Bazaar; this is a very bustling and vibrant market. Definitely a must do if you like shopping. I always thought I didn't like Turkish Delight but after a few samples at the Bazaar, I was in love with it.
This evening, we got to visit the Pera Palace hotel, where Agatha Christie stayed. We got a tour of her room complete with the all-important typewriter. You can stay in this room which has a great view of the city. We even got a ride in the 1st electric elevator in Turkey, a historic art nouveau cage, considered a landmark that has hosted notable guests.
We had dinner in the Agatha restaurant again with a specially created menu. It is very elegant with a black and white theme. The food was amazing. We were certainly treated very well; the food is some of the best I have ever had.
Day 3
This morning, Oscar took us on a walking tour through Istikal Street; the most famous street in Istanbul. We got to see some local churches where I lit a candle for my gran which is something I always do when I visit churches abroad. They have some wonderful stained-glass windows and beautiful architecture. Today we had lunch at the Orient Occidental Hotel, which is part of the Autograph collection. We were hosted on the Roof Mezzepotamia restaurant; it has a stunning view of Istanbul. We had another fabulous meal, which included cold mezzes and a delicious crispy pumpkin dessert. We got to look at some of the boutique style rooms before a visit to their sister hotel the Orientbank Hotel. They have a speakeasy jazz bar in the basement. You can even hire the private dining room for free during your stay, making it perfect for any special occasion.
We were then in for a real treat as we walked to the port to board our private yacht. We had a lovely cruise along the Bosporus where we got to see some of the palaces, fantastic hotels and the private Galatasaray Island for the football team. We were dropped off right outside our hotel as they have their own private pier. This evening, we were whisked off to the Peninsula hotel. Wow it was fabulous. It was decorated for Christmas with the most magnificent Christmas tree in the hotel lobby. There, we got a tour of the luxurious rooms, all designed by Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu. Her attention to detail was incredible, with high-end finishes like mother-of-pearl detailing and modern technology. We also visited the spa and the luxury indoor pool, and finally, we had a quick stop at the rooftop bar, which offers stunning views of the city.
Another fabulous meal awaited us at their rooftop restaurant, featuring produce fresh from their own herb garden. They kindly invited us to the Christmas lights switch-on, but by then we’d be off exploring the wonders of Cappadocia.
Day 4
Sadly, it was time to say goodbye to the fabulous Four Seasons and the wonderful staff. We were treated like royalty. We had an early morning transfer to the airport and a short flight to Kayseri Airport. We were met in Cappadocia, “The Land of the Beautiful Horses,” by our guide Ben. He was a fountain of knowledge. He told us all about the Volcano, how pigeon poo is used for fertiliser to grow grapes for wine and how the famous hot air ballooning started in 1991.
We stopped off at the Devrent Valley to take in the magnificent view. It was nothing like I had seen before. It was truly breathtaking. We then had lunch at the Sultan Cave Suite restaurant, overlooking the whimsical rock formations. We had traditional Cappadocia cuisine.
After lunch, we visited the Goreme open air museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which features over 2000 cave churches. You can get a camel ride to the top if you don’t want to walk. They say it’s the Ferrari of transport in Cappadocia. We then checked into our cave hotel the Avantgarde Refined. We had a speedy check-in process before being shown to our very own cave; what a fabulous experience to stay in one! It was very modern and stylish. The hotel has various outside seating areas where you can sit and enjoy the beautiful view. This evening, we got to visit the Argos Hotel, a refined cave hotel with breathtaking views of fairy chimneys, Pigeon Valley and Mount Erciyes. We were shown some of the stunning cave suites, one of them even had its own swimming pool. We then had a hosted dinner in their beautiful restaurant.
Day 5
In the morning, Berna joined us along with our guide Ben for a full day of exploration. We started the morning with a descent into Kaymakli underground city, which was used to hide over 500 people during invasions. It is an underground maze of narrow passageways and ancient homes, stables, and churches. It was certainly a fun experience, luckily being short has its advantages sometimes. Followed by a visit to a local Turkish rug maker. We were shown the history of the silkworm and given a demonstration of how they extract the silk. Silk is one of the strongest materials and is used in bulletproof vests (every day is a school day). We also got to see a silk and wool rug being hand weaved by two local ladies, wow they are certainly very talented! It can take between one and one-and-a-half-years to make one of these rugs. We also got to see lots of the various rugs that had been made. My favourite one was a silk rug which felt like a cloud under my feet. Unfortunately, I didn’t have room in my case for it. Lunch was at The Milocal restaurant which offers a magnificent view in Uchisar at the highest point of Cappadocia. After lunch, we stopped off at Pigeon Valley, a scenic canyon with many pigeon houses carved into the rock. We also visited the rose-tinted valley of Kizilckur. Ben told us all about how the rocks are formed, it certainly is a magnificent sight.
Then came the highlight of my day, a visit to Chez Galip Pottery. He is a ceramic master with over 60 years of experience. We were shown a demonstration by one of his students who has over 35 years of experience. He made a wine carafe on the potting wheel; it was very impressive. Then it was my turn. I was lucky enough to have a go at creating a masterpiece. I must say I’m very proud of myself! I was shown how to hold my hands, and I couldn’t believe my eyes; I had made my very own pot. He was very impressed and so were the group. I even got to bring my pot home. I loved it, who knew I was so talented.
We ended our day with dinner at our hotel restaurant, another fabulous feast. The Turkish people certainly know how to cook; the food we had throughout the trip was absolutely incredible.
Day 6
Sadly, I didn’t get my trip in a hot air balloon, the weather conditions were not good enough. But just as we were about to leave the hotel for the airport, some balloons had taken to the skies. It was fabulous! I climbed to the very top of the hotel for a better view, and seeing the balloons truly made my day. We then made our way to the airport; we were checked through to London Heathrow Via Istanbul. I had the most incredible time with Kirker holidays. I have also made some lovely new friends and lots of wonderful memories. If you would like to hear more about my adventures in Turkey, please feel free to come and see me in Wells!
