(Regarding Travel, Specifically Turkey Part VII)

We leave Istanbul for a place called Kapadokya or Cappadocia. We arrive at a very small airport. A man holding a sheet of paper with our name on it sort of greets us. We are directed to an area of the parking lot where we are to get into a van with a bunch of other people. We are in literally in the middle of the country.

Natalia, thankfully, planned the shit out of this. We drive for miles and miles before finally arriving near some castle and because I don’t pay attention, I am all uncertain. Things I do know: the sun is just going down, it’s beautiful, and I feel amazing. The view from the hotel is pretty great and Neptune is happy about her little loft area. She immediately starts to unpack her entire suitcase, putting everything away neatly in the cabinets and on the shelves. We are to stay there for two days.

The altitude of the place seems to knock me out easily. Or I’m just exhausted. But this exhausted? Of course, I am concerned about Natalia and the tiny human growing inside her. I google “pregnancy and altitude.” Of course. Fear and worry grip me briefly before they let me go. Fuck it; I let go. I am here. This place is old.

Over the two days I fumble with my beat-up, light leaking Yash “SLR” and the now dusty MX. A man in a little shop is selling some nice 200 speed Kodak and some 100 speed Fuji — color. Not a condition, but we agree (in french for some reason) that we prefer film before I lay some Lira down on him for a couple of rolls.

As a family we go on many touristic adventures. A couple of times, however, I go out on solo missions. I roam the main strip of Urgup (now I know the name of where we are) and try not to be that asshole taking snaps — while taking snaps. In the morning I wake up at 6am to check on the hot air balloons. I snap all that shit.

Above: Asleep, head on his desk barely a minute prior. I try to take the shot but he wakes up the second I set foot in the store. So I calmly look around and grab a bungie cord off the wall and pay the man. Then I ask if I could take his picture. Some poor man’s National Geographic right there.

Yash “SLR,” Takumar 28/3.5, Kodak 200, Tetenal Color Kit