00:02Some destinations are all about what you see, this one is about what you feel.
00:14Today I'm exploring Afion Caraissar using my senses and I'm starting with one of the most spectacular perspectives you can
00:22imagine.
00:23In a few moments I'll be taking off above the Phrygian Valley. Let's go!
00:30We are in Central Anatolia in the region of Afion Caraissar, also known as Afion. Just a few kilometers from
00:37the city this is the Phrygian Valley.
00:39It looks like we are on another planet.
00:42It's one of Turkey's most remarkable landscapes shaped by nature than the Phrygians who carved monuments into these rocks over
00:513000 years ago.
00:54And from up here you can see why.
01:24And that comparison comes up a lot.
01:26But unlike Cappadocia, the valley remains blissfully uncrowded.
01:31The alarm went off very early this morning but it was absolutely worth it.
01:42I've seen the region from above. Now it's time to feel it.
01:47For centuries people have traveled here for something else entirely, thermal waters.
01:54People have come to these springs to heal since the Phrygian era around 1200 BC.
02:01It's earned Afion Caraissar its nickname, The Healing City.
02:04The warmth of the water, the steaming and the water...
02:06The warmth of the water, the stormy...
02:09...and the water...
02:32The warmth of the water, the steam in the air, the scent of the minerals, every sense gets its turn
02:38here.
02:40Here the baths aren't a seasonal escape, they are part of everyday life all year round.
02:50The lands around the Afyon Karahisar are famous for something else too.
02:55Every spring poppies bloom across these fields, a symbol of the region and a staple in its cuisine.
03:02After sight, touch and smell, it's time for the most delicious sense of all, taste.
03:08Afyon is recognized by UNESCO as a creative city of gastronomy
03:11and I'm going to learn how poppy seeds find their way into traditional local recipes.
03:18To taste the region's cuisine at its most traditional, I've come to Ayasimi,
03:23a tiny village of stone houses where recipes are passed down through generations.
03:28Maryam has invited me into her kitchen to make a catmer, one of Afyon Karahisar's most loved pastries.
03:35But before the cooking starts, there's one skill I need to learn.
03:39You want to try it?
03:41Yes, please.
03:49With the poppy seed paste ready, it's over to the expert.
04:17Katmer is just one of many local dishes made with poppy seeds, an ingredient addition to the
04:23heart of Afyon Karahisar's cooking.
04:30There's one final challenge before I go, the climb to Afyon Karahisar castle, around 550 steps, straight up.
04:43From up here, the whole city is at my feet, and all I can hear is the wind and the
04:47birds.
04:48What a way to end my journey in Afyon Karahisar.
04:52Go guys.
04:52Go to the next, guy.
04:57Go to the next challenge.
04:57Go to the next scene.
04:57helfen Karahisar.
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