Turkey: a country of two continents and a wealth of things to see and do.
Istanbul
We've all seen the postcard-perfect pictures of Istanbul's Sultanahmet with the Blue Mosque's grand minarets and the rounded domes of Hagia Sophia. Yet, Istanbul has so much more to offer.
Just across the road from Hagia Sophia, you'll find an interesting looking building. Or actually, it's not that interesting at all. However, it's not to be overlooked! The cisterns may not be anything much to look out from the outside but they sure are pretty spectacular once you get down the steps. You can easily lose a couple of hours down there as you marvel at this underground world.
A little tip - there are no bathrooms in the cisterns so if you're really busting to pee, you'll have to leave and head back above-ground to find a public bathroom. However, once you leave, you can't re-enter on the same ticket. Ticket prices are 20TL which is equivalent to approximately 5 English pounds.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia in Turkey is one of UNESCO's protected sites. With a landscape comparable to what most of us imagine Mars to look like, its a real spot of natural beauty that needs to be seen in real life to be appreciated.
Hot air balloons fly throughout the year giving the place an even more magical feel. Unfortuantely, during my visit, the weather was not good enough to permit flying. However, I take that as a good enough reason to arrange a return visit!