Kayseri Wasn't on My Radar, But Here I Am
i’m writing this from a city that i didn’t even know existed six months ago. kayseri. yeah, it sounds like a sneeze, and honestly, that’s kind of what my entire trip has felt like. unplanned. slightly congested. but surprisingly… compelling?
i just checked and it's 8.84°C right now - feels like 5.39°C, which means i should probably stop pretending i don’t need a jacket. there’s something about this elevation, around 1,043 meters, that makes everything just a little more… effortful. walking fast up a slight hill? wheezing. drinking water? suddenly very necessary. and don’t get me started on the nights. it gets cold. like, 'why is the sun even out' cold.
but man, the views. it’s right up against mount erciyes - this massive extinct volcano that looks like it was photoshopped into the landscape by someone with too much time and not enough filters. amazing for winter sports, apparently. someone told me that you can ski there, which sounds wild to me because i still associate skiing with rich people in jackets that cost more than my laptop. either way, they said it’s worth it if you're into that kind of thing. i’m more into sweating on a bus and pretending it’s culture.
the city itself has serious history. like, caesarea of cappadocia kind. been around since 4000 bc. 4000. i tried to wrap my head around that while eating a weirdly good piece of lamb flatbread (okay, nobody told me it was that good). the seljuks left some solid architecture behind - like the gevher nesibe şifahanesi, which is apparently one of the world’s first medical schools. wild thought: students were studying medicine here while my ancestors were probably just yelling at each other in caves.
the vibe here is… restrained. not flashy, not chaotic like istanbul. just chill. people are genuinely decent. i swear the last place i asked for directions gave me so much extra information i almost missed my bus. they're proud of their heritage here, and rightly so. the blend of roman, ottoman, and seljuk influence feels real, not museum-fake.
but honestly, if you get bored, göreme’s just a short drive away. capadocia’s bizarre rock formations are something else. walking through fairy chimneys at sunset? yeah, it's touristy, but also kind of magical. if you’re in kayseri, you have to make the trip. don’t be like me and almost miss the bus.
i’ve met a few people who’ve lived here their whole lives, and they all seem… fine with that. i asked one guy if he ever thought about moving and he just kind of shrugged and said, 'why would i?' fair point. it’s quiet, it’s got jobs, and in the summer it’s dry as hell but comfortable once the sun sets.
i didn’t come here for luxury or nightclubs, but i left kind of impressed. this place is a practical, unpretentious gateway to some of turkey’s most bizarre natural wonders. if you like your travel with just a hint of altitude sickness and a heavy dose of ancient medical schools, kayseri’s got your back.
just bring layers. and snacks. lots of snacks.
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