After a leisurely breakfast and recovery from a stupid o’clock getting up, we embarked on a little outing to see Uchisar castle.
After a short bus ride, we were making our way through the unusual castle which is carved out of the hill. A steep climb to the top gave us wonderful panoramic views of Goreme and beyond. The views allowed us to identify a nice walk through canyon valley which would lead us home.
So off we set on our Sunday stroll and what a lovely stroll it was, well at least the first half. As we followed the signs along the 3km of pathways, taking in the breathtaking scenery, we passed a couple with a local man on a higher path who advised us that the path was impassable and we would have to turn back.
The scenery was so unusual we carried on regardless. After about 5 minutes we came to the impassable section and turned back. As we had seen the other couple and the local on the higher path that was the alternative route we took.
A short while later the local man who had been with the other couple popped out from behind a bush and in broken English started talking to us, introducing himself as Mehmet.
Now Mehmet, who seemed a nice chap, told us he lived in the cave and pointed to a cave-dwelling, 20yrs he had lived there, so he said. He beckoned us to follow him and he would show us the right path. So off all three of us trudged, climbing the rock formations.
We followed Mehmet for around 15mins, with him talking in his broken English, picking grape’s for us, and generally being a jolly good fellow. However, on our way back down into the canyon, going through pigeon valley, which lacked pigeon’s, out of nowhere appeared a cafe which Mehmet took us into.
Not to be rude and as we were a bit thirsty, we went in with him and had an apple tea and bought him a Turkish tea. We chatted with some locals and it was time to move on. Tania suggested giving Mehmet some money for his troubles but, as we had bought him tea and water we thought that would be enough.
As we got up Mehmet jumped up as well and started leading us down the path. Out of the earshot and sight of the cafe Mehmet stopped and pointed down the path and said that’s the way home, which we were more than aware of. Our suspicions of Mehmet were now realised as he started to talk about his children and that he had to go to Istanbul the next day to see one of them as they were ill and it was going to cost him 900 Lira.
We weren’t parting with any money and he just stood there nonchalantly, so Guy gave the change in his pocket, about 4 Lira and we wished him well, to which he replied he couldn’t buy his cigarette’s for that, as we strolled off down the path hand in hand.
We have been fortunate to avoid the Turkish carpet sellers, but we got suckered by Mehmet, which is a shame as all of the other Turk’s we have met have been so kind, helpful, and genuine.
This has left us with no alternative other than to now renamed Mehmet, our meerkat mascot, with another name. Suggestions would be welcomed.