From Kapadokya to Şanlıurfa (south eastern Turkey)

By bus

There is a direct bus from Nevsehir to Şanlıurfa, it takes around 10 hours and i paid 15 euros, i was in Urgup when i bought it, all the Kapadokya villages are connected to Nevsehir by mini buses, in turkish called "dolmus". So you can buy the tickets from all the bus station.

The bus wasn't comfy like the others i took, i guess because is not a touristic direction so the major bus companies don't travel here. The bus stopped just once. But finally i was happy to be the only tourist.

Şanlıurfa (Urfa)

From the bus station

The bus station is far from the center, when you will go out you'll see just taxi, but up on the car parking there is a bus stop and in 20 minuts you will be in the center.

Accommodation

At the first impression  looks at bit difficult to find a place, overall if you like me refuse the idea to sleep in an impersonal hotel and spending more money. We found a pension called LISBON, and to get there we took a taxi. Unfortunately this pension won't be there anymore, the government destroyed that area to build something more, but this is another story. Anyway the owner said that he'll open it again with the same name, just in another area of the city. The rooms were basic or better to say spartans, but the way they make you feel home is a perfect reason to trust even the future pension of Azzim (the owner), and the delicious breakfast of his wife, still dreaming her homemade marmalade.

Looking for something different? Give a chance to Kurdistan, Şanlıurfa (Urfa).

Most of the population here is kurdish. Kurdish people are millions, in spite they have their language, their culture still to don't have the independence, actually in Turkey they are considered an ethnic minority. I don't want to enter in a political discussion, but my personal idea is that millions people can't be considered a minority. They still fight in the mountains, but visit the kurdistan is not a problem anymore for tourist, is an opportunity to meet people that never give up and keep smiling, they only fight for most important right: freedom.

The city of prophets, Şanlıurfa.

Urfa is famous for to be the city of the prophet Abraham. There is a big contrast between the old and the new city, useless to say which is better. The area of the mosque is simply amazing, and visiting during the Ramadan you can "breath" a deep spirituality. During the night all the people came in the garden around the mosque to eat all together and listen religious music, giving if is possible even more beauty.

In the hillside, always in the mosque zone, there are some restaurants where you can eat or smoke a narghile' with a beautiful view,  i suggest here to come to watch the sunset and enjoy this peace.

There is also a small bazar, with a nice courtyard with some bars, a meeting place for have a drink, chat and play backgammon. A really eastern atmosphere.

Do you see these people?

That's how the government is treating them, destroying a whole area to build a commercial center or a five stars hotel.

And that's how they treat us, bringing in their farm for a special kurdish dinner a nice chat with tea that i'll always remember as one of the best experience i had.