Earlier this year, the Cercle Moment: Cappadocia Legacy took place where guests walked the iconic paths and valleys of Turkey, living their own tale of a thousand and one nights, all punctuated by music, unforgettable encounters and authentic moments.
Missed it – but keen to know more? Read on and let your imagination take you on this incredible journey.
Header Image by Chloe Jeannot
DAY 1
The splendid Aza Cave Suite hotel was the rendezvous point for all guests, who each arrived thanks to a Cercle Moment personal driver. Once settled our wonderful guests were greeted with a personalised welcome pack before being whisked away to our first exclusive event. A stylish welcome cocktail party, with DJ performances by Lâl and Ezgi, provided the opportunity for guests to get to know one another and set the tone for the magical four days ahead. The city of Göreme was the perfect backdrop for the intimate musical performance which was enhanced by the light of the moon. But the night couldn’t last late as guests were about to wake up early for the most special sunrise……
DAY 2
On the second day, guests embarked on a journey that touched the dreamlike, immersing themselves fully in the wonders of Cappadocia. After waking up before dawn, guests were taken to our ‘launch’ site to enjoy breakfast and receive a special briefing for the hot-air balloon experience along with a cosy Cercle Moment poncho to prevent height cold.
Hopping into each of the three balloon baskets, the magic was about to begin. Among the first to reach miles altitude, our guests admired the balloons each illuminated one by one, in the soft darkness as night became day and the most precious views of the White Valley, the canyons and the Mont Hasan volcano were unveiled. When the sun started to appear between the low clouds, the local musician started to play their traditional sounds crystalizing the magic of sunrise in the best way possible: in music.
Each balloon followed their own unique flight path for 1hr30, before landing for the last surprise of the early morning. Each pilot explained the traditional celebration after a successful landing…. sharing some breakfast with…champagne. After glasses were raised and moments shared, each guest received their personalised flight certificate, as well as a “Cercle” stamped in ceramic medal, handmade by local artisans.
DAY 3
The third day began with a region-tour, where a local guide ventured with guests into some of the most fascinating places of the region including the Pasabag Valley, to discover the “Mushroom” rocks formed after millions of years of erosion. Stories and secrets of decades gone by were told and shared bringing to life the history of villages and local people. A visit to the underground city of Kaymakli, a true labyrinth of hidden secrets, continued to amaze guests as more of Turkey’s rich heritage was revealed.
For guests who wanted to discover even more of the Turkish savoir-faire, a visit to one of the oldest ceramic workshops was available offering a glimpse into ancient craftsmanship, with a hands-on experience in modeling their own ceramic pieces. Guests could then gain an understanding and hear tales of the hand-made tradition of carpet weaving and the work, skill and devotion, that goes into these pieces of art.
Each part of this exceptional journey wove an intimate and deep connection between the guests and this land steeped in history. An authentic experience, shared with the local people, and a total immersion into the soul of Cappadocia.
Before sunset, all the guests were transported in jeeps to explore a hidden canyon of Kings Valley, where the most charming dinner table was set in anticipation for our valued guests, with impeccable attention to detail: each guest was given a traditional Turkish “devil-eye” that takes good energies by rejecting bad ones. The perfect prelude to the start the evening, which introduced Dervish dancers: their spinning dance, known as the Sema, is a form of meditation and spiritual practice aimed at achieving closeness to God. The whirling symbolises the soul’s journey towards spiritual enlightenment. Another cultural immersion.
Once the dinner and dance ceremony were completed, guests were invited to take a secret path deeper in the canyon, lightened by candles and garlands. After about 2 min walk and curiosity was starting to peak guests discovered the incredible set up that awaited for the next part of this magical evening…..
A millenary-old cave, 10 meter high, opened to the back to unveil our first two artists, Derek (Cercle founder) and Phil (Cercle music director) – a rare moment of Cercle team reuniting to play for this special audience. The cave was illuminated with blue light, which then began to come alive with an array of colours, shapes, before moving back into the darkness to immerse even deeper in the music of our artists.
Then magic happened when Ben Böhmer appeared to begin his live music performance. Before starting to play, he thanked everyone for inviting him to return (Ben said he’d had one of the “best memories of his life” in Cappadocia, 4 years ago, with Cercle). The incredibly talented artist known for his Cercle Show in a hot air balloon at sunrise, is part of this “Cappadocia’s Legacy”, and he shared his energy with the guests who admired his rhythmic creation within this cave – a real once-in-a-lifetime moment.
After a 2-hour set – the crowd wanted more – which Ben kindly obliged before closing artists Murat Uncuoglu and Lâl performed B2B, under the shelter of the cave as the rain fell. Nature’s wonders made the show even more atmospheric.
By the end of the performance, everyone was already feeling nostalgic and reliving the magic of this night and of the past three days as they embarked upon their journey back to the hotel.
DAY 4
As the last day drew in, everyone said their goodbyes and made their way to the airport with their dedicated driver. And of course, the Cercle Moment team wished their cherished guests that one day, somewhere else in the world, they would share together another Cercle Moment.
Cercle Moment ‘O Ritmo Do Rio’, Thursday 5th – Monday 9th December 2024. Book Your Cercel Rio Moment: here.
