Marnie,
May is probably a great month to visit Turkey. We were there in the fall, but I can only imagine spring and all the flowers...have a great trip!

Thank you so much. We were supposed to go in September, but I broke my foot...so this is take 2....we are sooooo eager to be there.

xyz99,

GREAT report and photos. Thank you. Just one question - what hotel did you stay in Istanbul? Maybe I'm blind, but I didn't see the name of the hotel. Again, thanks for posting such valuable information!!

kwood, we stayed at Nena Hotel. Great location with a wonderful view. We could not get one of the larger rooms, they were all booked, but I would stay there again even in a smaller, regular room.

Thank you for the report and the photos. I especially found looking at what you were wearing in Cappadocia to be informative. While we will be there in April and not in the fall, I'm guessing it's possible it will be similarly cool. We are still going to go for the hot air balloon ride, weather permitting. Our travel agent has assured us we are with the most reputable company.

To xyz99 and others, is kas worth the Visit? Any other places demand a look? I am on a tight leash 11 day trip to Istanbul. Cappodovia and Ephesus-- but willing to add more towns if it enhances my Turkish experience.

jseneca - with 11 days, stay with the 3 you have, it's plenty. You lose almost the entire day when moving from one place to the next. Ephesus is 1 1/2 hrs away drive (if I remember correctly) from the airport. Same with Goreme in Cappadocia.

peg - it was unusually/unexpectedly cold in Cappadocia when we were there. It was supposed to be in the 60s, we got temperatures in the 30s. We had to buy gloves and hats. If planning the ballon ride, book it for the 1st morning there. This way, if they get canceled due to high winds, you might get a chance the next day. When we were there, they got canceled 4 days in a row.

Turkey is amazing, you will love it. Have a great trip!

Thank you, xyz!!! Yes, we do have it planned for our first day for exactly the reason you mentioned. Fingers crossed! Just wishing the political scene would calm down a bit in the surrounding areas. Almost finished reading Orhan Pamuk's book Istanbul which I hope is giving me a much better sense of the transition from Ottoman Empire to westernization. Still have much reading left to do.I am embarrassed by how little I knew about Turkey before planning this trip.

You mentioned eating at Zimbabwe in Istanbul. We had a terrible meal and service there. First, there were photos of the food on the menu, brightly lit dining room and wine that was so awful we couldn't drink it, two different varieties. Food looked attractive, didn't taste very good. Totally touristy place. In Sirecki or Sultanamhet. Eat across the Golden Horn!