Eastern-Western Friendship & Silk Road Rally kicks off in Cappadocia

Eastern-Western Friendship and Silk Road Rally, which began two days ago in Istanbul, continued its journey after a one-night stop in the Goreme district of Nevsehir.

Supported by the Directorate for E.U. Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and marking its 18th edition this year, rally participants arrived in Cappadocia.

At dawn, hot air balloons took off from Goreme, offering participants breathtaking views of the fairy chimneys. Rally drivers explored the valleys, capturing the region’s natural beauty in photos, while tourists posed in front of the rally vehicles.

Nadir Serin, President of the Eastern-Western Friendship and Peace Rally Association, stated that participants, who set off individually from various countries, met in Istanbul, and the final destination of the rally will be Orkhon City in Mongolia.

Serin explained, “This year, participants from 5 countries will cover approximately 15,000 kilometers. We are currently in a more sightseeing phase; after Iran, we will face longer stages. Cappadocia is a tourist destination, but we will also visit less frequented areas like Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia. We aim to promote Türkiye and counteract negative perceptions in Europe. Although Eastern and Western civilizations have never been at peace, neither is lacking. We serve as a bridge, with Türkiye being one of the foundational stones of this bridge. We believe our friends will become ambassadors for Türkiye and Turkish republics.”

David de Matteo, who participated from Italy, shared his enjoyment of the Turkish leg of the rally.

Matteo said, “Waking up in Cappadocia was a fantastic experience. We don’t get much sleep during the rally, but it’s definitely worth it. The scenery around us is beautiful. We have about 15 more days of enjoyable travel ahead. Everyone should participate in this rally.”

Gulay Karakimseliler from Antalya expressed her excitement, stating that the sight of balloons in Cappadocia heightened her enthusiasm.

Retired teacher Karakimseliler remarked, “I had promised myself I would do this after retiring, and now I have achieved it. I’m very curious about Iran and the Turkish republics. The journey ahead is long, but it’s definitely worth it.”

The rally, which includes 28 athletes from Türkiye, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Moldova with 12 vehicles, will next head to Adiyaman.