(Daniel) Overnight, the wind had got up and blown the trailer tent around. It had been raining, so we had to pack away the tent wet. Some clothes had been left out to so that will probably stay wet for a week! After packing the camp we drove to the Kellebeck cave pension, and checked in for the day. The cave pension is a chance to stay in the amazing chimney like caves that cover Goreme, the place is pretty well done out, with courtyards, heating and nice fitted bathrooms. Just as we arrived the rain started coming down again, so we retired to our rooms for a shower and then met up afterwards for some breakfast in the restaurant. Rowan and Gabby went back to their room for a sleep and I got on the laptop to update the diary.
Also staying at the hotel were a couple from California, Dave and Kalyanee, who came over and said hi. We got chatting, Dave said he worked in Music in Hollywood, and Kalyanee was originally from Cambodia, her family dislodged by the troubles there. It turned out that they had been talking just that morning about the idea of buying a 4×4 and driving through from Turkey to South East Asia. They had seen the Wolf outside, and that had got them talking about the idea again. I told them how my project had come about, the different places that we had visited and where we were going. After a while Rowan and Gabby returned and I introduced everyone. David mentioned that the Goreme restaurant was worth a visit and that the owner was a cool guy who had traveled in Indonesia. We arranged to meet for dinner later on, and then walked down to the town to look for some lunch. The town at lunchtime was almost dead, and we struggling to find anything, we headed back to the hotel, and had Kebabs there.
Later on we met at the lobby, where over drinks, I mentioned the situation Id experienced in Istanbul with the two boys who took me to a bar. David immediately told us that this was a common scam, where you are made to feel obligated to buy drinks. Once you have ordered, girls appear, and sit with you, but when you leave, the bill is astronomical, like “1,000s of USD”. At this time, you either pay, or get badly beaten and robbed. Having wondered about this for a few days now, I could finally put my mind to rest at what had happened that night in Taksim Square.
Afterwards we went back to the rooms and got ready to go out. The Goreme Restaurant was lovely, an old house that the owner Hassan had lived in all his life, which he had converted into the restaurant. The menu was excellent, and the atmosphere very chilled out, with Hookah Pipes and cushions layed out on the floor to sit on. Dave and Kalyanee arrived and introduced us properly to Hassan. He was a really cool guy and sat with us while his relatives made a wonderful Meze dinner. Over dinner it emerged that Kalyanee is a lawyer and is currently working in Iraq, hence their presence here in the middle of winter! While eating we drank beer and chatted as Hassans nephew or brother (not entirely sure!) played music on a string instrument. I found a drum and played along, while Hassan played the spoons. We sat up talking and playing late into the night, and went home just a little tipsy afterwards! As we were leaving, we made arrangements for Hassan to take us to his friends house the next day, where we could play some more music and meet some like minded locals. Back at the Pension, the cave room was very welcoming, and I slept like a log!
