Cycling through Cappadocia – one day of calm and magic, the next of wind, fear, and endurance. A journey that shows it all.
Learning to Rest and Turkish Kindness
Day 18: After hundreds of kilometers, I finally told myself: enough.
A rest day in Cappadocia. Sounds idyllic – and it is. Except for one small thing: I’m still learning how to rest. My head keeps whispering, “Get back on the bike,” while my legs scream, “Please don’t.”
At breakfast, I meet a lovely Polish couple, fellow travelers who share the best local tip: where to watch the sunrise and the hot-air balloons. Later that day, as I cycle through the valley, I hear them shout from afar, “Hey, there goes our Slovak guy!”
Cycling helps
In town, I run into a group of Turkish cyclists. When I mention Peter Sagan, their eyes light up, and they proudly show me a photo from Paris–Roubaix—wearing his cap. A few coffees later, they wave off my attempt to pay: “No way, you are our guest!”
As the sun dips behind the surreal rock spires, I pitch my tent overlooking Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys. The air smells of dust and stone, the wind softens, and in the distance I hear the faint hiss of balloon burners.
Pure silence. Pure peace.
A Morning Straight Out of a Dream
Day 19: Mornings in Cappadocia are kitsch in the best possible way. More than a hundred balloons floated above me, some so close I could hear laughter from the baskets. Others were landing just a few meters away. For a moment, everything felt timeless – a living postcard.
But reality caught up fast.
I left the highways for rough backroads, and the ride turned into a slow, grinding battle. The wind was merciless – blowing straight against me – and by the end of the day, my usual 180 kilometers shrank to barely 80. Every meter felt earned.
When the Road Bites Back: The Dog Encounter
And then came the moment that froze my blood.
Out of nowhere, two aggressive dogs charged at me from the fields. I jumped off the bike, holding it in front of me as a shield. One attacked from the front, the other circled behind. Every instinct screamed run, but I couldn’t.
I reached into my bag and grabbed my ultrasonic dog repeller – a small gadget that turned out to be worth its weight in gold. It worked instantly; the dogs hesitated and backed off, only to try again—twice. Each time, I stood my ground. When it was finally over, my hands were shaking. I had just learned what adrenaline really means on the road.
That little device might have saved more than just my day.
The End of the Day
No accommodation in sight, just wind, rain, and a tent for shelter. Cappadocia has given me everything – beauty, peace, and a test of endurance.
It’s exactly like the journey itself: sometimes a gift, sometimes a fight.
Cappadocia Rock Dwellings
Did You Know…
- The fairy chimneys of Cappadocia were shaped by wind and water eroding soft volcanic tuff over thousands of years.
- Beneath the surface lie entire underground cities like Derinkuyu and Kaymakli, once used by early Christians to hide from persecution.
- Thanks to its stable weather and breathtaking views, Cappadocia is one of the best places on Earth for hot-air ballooning, with flights nearly every morning.
- An ultramarathon is held here every year.
