Next, we visited an ancient city. Due to its strategic location between the European and Asian continents, connecting the Aegean and the Black Sea trade routes, Troia had become an important commercial centre and a settlement. In ancient times, when the city was destroyed, it was rebuilt on the same place several times. Generally, rebuilding is done at a different place, but Troia was rebuilt at the same place nine times, which gave us a chance to see its nine different layers. The layers represented a rich variety of great civilisations dating between 3000BC to 1200AD. From the mythological Greek to Byzantine times, from Agamemnon and beautiful Helen to the Roman emperor and Hieros, the nine layers were proof of man’s determination and strength.

Asklepion was an important health treatment and healing centre equivalent to Epidaurus and Kos medical sanatoriums in ancient Greece and Rome. It was an extraordinary thing in those days and indeed, it was an amazing experience being there. Basically, patients walked through a dark, big healing tunnel where sick people were invited to hear the holy sound of the healing God “Asclepios”. The Roman Via Tecta, a colonnaded sacred way, led from the entrance to the sanctuary where you would see the base of a column carved with snakes, the symbol of Asclepios, the god of medicine. Just as a snake shed its skin and gained new life, the patients at Asklepion were supposed to shed their illness.

Cappadocia lies in central Anatolia, in the heartland of what is now Turkey. The relief consists of a high plateau over 1000m in altitude that is pierced by volcanic peaks. A massive underground city that plunged 113m deep was found in Cappadocia. The extensive networks of passages, tunnels, stepped pits and inclined corridors linked family rooms and communal spaces where people met, worked and worshipped. The cities were complete with wells, chimneys for air circulation, niches for oil lamps, stores, water tanks, stables and areas where the dead could be placed until conditions on the surface would allow a proper disposal. When danger loomed, Cappadocians retreated underground, blocked the access tunnels with round stone doors and sealed themselves in with livestock and supplies until the threat was gone. Like the Cappadocians, I learnt to remain calm when faced with difficulties, and I learnt to introspect. Sometimes we need to retreat and go to that space within to get the answers we need.

Another astonishing experience was the hot air balloon ride that took us across spectacular surrealistic landscapes combined with excellent flying conditions that allowed the balloons to gently drift between fairy chimneys, pigeon houses hewn into the unique rock formations, orchards and vineyards; and through impressive valleys, each with distinctive rock formations, colours and features. They then floated up over rippled ravines for breathtaking views of the region. The hot air balloon ride was a humbling experience and made me feel like a tiny speck of dust among the ancient wonders of the world.

We also visited Amasya, a tale of two shores. Its setting evoked high drama, but life here unfolded as slowly as the train that took apples out of town via a mountain tunnel. According to local folklore, the tunnels were dug by Ferhat, a tragic star-crossed young man who was in love with Sirin, the sister of a sultan. The statues depicted the moment Ferhat threw his stone axe in the air when he heard that Şirin was dead. The axe tragically dropped on his head and he died there. Şirin, who heard the bad news, went to his side and threw herself down the rocks because she wasn’t prepared to live with the pain. The lovers were buried there side by side. The Amasya Municipal had their statues and the “Museum of Lovers” built on the mountain where they died. This tale is a reminder to be calm and level-headed when dealing with losses.