The region around the port city of Trabzon has many tourist attractions: from the Sümela Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the lush Firtina Valley.
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00:00I'm taking you on a journey through the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey.
00:04But no, this is not a beach trip.
00:06We are going inland, where the real attractions of this region are.
00:11We're exploring a few places in the far northeast of Turkey,
00:15about a two-hour flight from Istanbul.
00:18Most international tourists have never been to this region,
00:22so I hope to show you some new things.
00:24Haydi, let's go!
00:30We take this beautiful road towards one of the region's highlights.
00:34It's highlands up in the mountains.
00:37These are green, verdant pasture lands that are full of snow?
00:44We definitely needed that four-wheel drive.
00:49Wow, this is amazing!
00:52I really didn't expect to find Elevit.
00:55This traditional highland area we're in, covered with snow.
01:00It's actually a little bit early for the snow here,
01:02but I'm really glad we did because it's absolutely stunning.
01:06We're in the Kaçgar Mountains.
01:09It's gorgeous.
01:10The region is part of the Pontic Alps,
01:12which stretch 1,000 kilometers along the Black Sea coast.
01:16For the best weather, come between May and early October.
01:19But now it's time for us to head down.
01:21We have a lot to see.
01:24About a 45-minute drive inland from the coastal city of Trabzon
01:28is one of the most spectacular sights of the region.
01:32Sumela Monastery.
01:36This Greek Orthodox monastery was built at an elevation of 1,200 meters into the rock face.
01:43Its construction started as early as 385 AD.
01:48It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
01:50and although we didn't get permission to film inside,
01:53I still wanted to come here and show you because it's really spectacular
01:57and one of the most important sites in the region.
02:03Now off to the Fırtına River Valley,
02:06known for its unspoiled nature and impressive Ottoman-era bridges.
02:13I head to Kafe Kalife in the town of Çamlıhemşin.
02:18For me, Turkey is one of the most amazing countries when it comes to food.
02:22There's so much diversity.
02:24You can always find something unique.
02:26And of course, every region has its specialties.
02:29Like muklama, made of local string cheese, fresh milk, butter, and herbs.
02:37This is the most famous dish of our region,
02:39a dish that can be made for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at any time.
02:44Today, I'm trying fried pickled beans,
02:48sarma, black cabbage stuffed with meat and rice,
02:51and I'm most excited to try the muklama.
03:02It's really good.
03:04You can tell that everything is very fresh and locally produced,
03:09and I could eat this all day.
03:15After a delicious meal, it's time for tea.
03:18The Rize district, where we are, is famous for it.
03:22The majority of tea in the country is grown in this region.
03:25The often rainy climate, which is humid as well, is perfect for growing black tea.
03:31Did you know that people in Turkey drink more tea per capita
03:35than in any other country in the world?
03:42With a typical Turkish tea kettle, the bottom kettle is used to boil the water,
03:46while the smaller upper one is used to brew a strong tea concentrate.
03:54Perfect.
03:57Sadly, parts of the Fırtına river valley have recently lost some of their protected status
04:03and might soon be further developed.
04:05Many in the region are protesting.
04:08Let's hope the natural beauty of this place won't be destroyed.
04:13I'm really excited for this last stop.
04:15We are back here at the Kalip Cafe,
04:17where Tulay has arranged an evening of dance and music from the Black Sea region.
04:22Let's go.
04:27Many women in rural Turkey cover their hair, not only for religious reasons.
04:32The women wanted to show me the traditional style of the Hemsin area.
04:36Does that look good?
04:38The dances of the Black Sea region, known as Horon, are legendary around Turkey.
04:43They're also famously complicated.
04:45I tried my best to follow the lead dancer who calls out all the moves.
04:58That concludes the end of our trip.
05:00I can't think of a better ending.
05:03I've had such a good time.
05:04I can't think of a better ending.
05:06I've had such a good time in this part of the Black Sea.
05:09Eating amazing food, meeting incredible people, learning so much.
05:13Which part of my trip did you enjoy the most?