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| ESBELLİ EVİ IN THE PRESS & WEB |
This Season @ Dayton's - Summer 1999 Amanda Jones Enchanted Places In these days of giant resorts, en masse tours, and package vacations, it is a joyous event when we find a little corner of the earth that remains untrampled. These are not the locations that are fashionable or faddish. They are not the haunts of the glitterati. They are simply places that soothe the soul titillate the eye, and stimulate the mind. In order to qualify as one of the world's few enchanted places, however, these destinations must have accommodations that go beyond the ordinary. They must be exceptional in their service, style, and ambiance, and, above all, they must reflect their location. These days there are far too many global hotels that have obliterated local culture. You might wake up in some comfortable and very often elegant hotel room, with no way of distinguishing whether you're in New York, Florence, or Katmandu. The following four locations, which have earned the right to be called enchanted, seduce us with their charms, indulgences, and local flavor.  TURKEY Esbelli Evi : Urgup, Cappadocia is one of central Turkey's most spectacular geographic and historic destinations. Towering sandstone chimneys rise from the valley like giant stalagmites. Early civilizations carved homes into these fantastic structures, giving the area a fairy?tale mystique. The sides of the cliffs house ancient churches with breathtaking murals. Under the earth, miles of hand-excavated tunnels form an entire city where the early Christians, escaping persecution, lived as troglodytes. In addition to all this, Cappadocia is also the place to scout out Turkey's finest carpets at reasonable prices. In the heart of this area lies Esbelli House, a seven room restored cave dwelling, with rooms dating back to the sixth century. One of the guest rooms is the old kitchen, complete with an oven, and another room used to be the stables. The owner, Suha Ersoz, spent seven years lovingly restoring the house?and his taste is impeccable. Whitewashed walls are decorated elegantly with Turkish artifacts, and Ottoman divans are covered in richly colored rugs. Modern bathrooms are attached to all bedrooms. After you've seen the sights, return to the rooftop patio to drink the local wine, listen to jazz music, and watch the crimson sun melt into the limestone. For a truly memorable experience, you must go ballooning over Cappadocia's magnificent landscape at dawn. You'll land in a field of wildflowers and partake in a champagne breakfast (total cost $210 per person). Arrangements can be made through the hotel. |
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