I didn't lose Mao in Turkey

The biggest disappointment of this month was that nobody, NOBODY, know "The Dude" from The Big Lebowski. Seriously, what kids nowdays watch? And the other volunteers? May everyone who knows 6-7 brainrot but not the white russian storyline enter a valley of tears!

But how did it come for me to discover this? One of this month's activity was Costume Party, so everyone dressed like a character from a movie/TV series/book while we were playing games. I actually hate to disguise myself, so the choice was pretty easy for me since I just needed a bathrobe and a milk package. but hey, people appreciated. Laziness always win! On the opposite side of laziness we have an hike with the kids in Tblisi, till Mtsatsminda Park. For me it was super easy, but kids were struggling; it felt weird to think to be on the other side in the end: wasn't just yesterday when I was complaining about the lenght of the path and the adults that organize the walk minimizing my problems, which I have always found cruel? Now I'm the adult who struggles to understand their problems, apparently, without learning much. The wheels turns.

The highligh of the month was definitely the Eastern trip to Turkey with my partner in crimes Mao. Of course it was total spontaneus, in the morning (sometime even in the afternoon) we were deciding where to sleep the evening. We rented the star of the trip, an amazing Dacia Duster, on the Georgian bordner and then! hours and hours of driving. The first part of the trip was the coast of the Black Sea. Rize, Trabzon, Ordu, Ünye... Middle East cities always feel so alive by the amount of people and shops in the streets. Historically speaking there wasn't much to see, but the amazing weather (after the Ballad in the Rain - April Georgian edition took place second month in a row) and being back in the overwhealming Middle East was enough for me to feel full of happiness. Also, everything was super cheap: we managed to stay in super nice hotels and eat amazing (and in Europe, unknown) north-turkey food. Food tastes better when you don't have to cook and clean dishes. After a night in Çorum to split the long trip, we finally arrived to the area I was aiming since years: Cappadocia. My feeling about the area are in contrast. I totally loved the semi-deseric area, the incredible fairy chimneys and rock formations, the cave cities build inside some of this chimneys and at halfway up unreachable vertical walls of the mountains, the underground cities... the Hittite were here!!! I love Hittite for mysterius reasons. But the region is also affected by overtourism, in the specific what I call "Instagram tourists". I didn't mention the other 2 attractions of the area: colored hot air balloon and amazing sunsets, a deadly combination that attract thousands of matcha latte enjoyers to take instragrammable picture between a post against the horrors of the war in Palestine and an order on a fast-fashion brand. It remindend me the feeling of emptiness I had visiting Satorini. This has brought two consequences: first, the main town, Göreme, would be famous for its magical hollowed out rock pillars, but between them they have built an endless row of hotels, hot air balloon rentals, car rentals, quad rentals, guided tours, "typical" restaurants. Basically destroyed. Second, outside the city, the area is practically semi-deserted, with nothing but nature and, in some areas, fantastic rock formations. Well, the local authorities had the brilliant idea of surrounding them with a fence, charging an entrance fee (obviously expensive), and closing the museum to the open area at 4:45 PM. This must be recent, because on Maps they are still marked as nature reserves open 24 hours and free of charge. Well done, Turkish autorities! On our 5th day sadly, it's time to head back. What a journey through amazing Anatalia it was!! Mountains, valleys, snow and snowing! Till the last stop on our way back, Sümela Monastery, an incredible construction up in the mountains perched on a rock face.

If I had known, I would have prayed for the souls of who thinks 6-7 is a funny meme in the monastery

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