Title: Çal Cave – The Long Story of a Short Road
We set off through the Akçaabat district of Trabzon, with one goal in mind: to visit the stunning Çal Cave.
The nature along the way was already beautiful, but what really shaped our journey was a single signpost.
One road said 6 kilometers, the other only 3.
We thought, “Why not take the shorter one?”
But in that moment, the road wasn’t the real challenge — the decision was.
Because that 3-kilometer route was barely suitable even for a car.
It was steep, full of sharp turns, and almost disappearing at certain points due to roadwork.
Just as we were about to turn back, we met a kind old woman.
She said, “Dear, the cave is beautiful — don’t leave without seeing it.”
Her sincere advice gave us the motivation to keep going.
She gave us new directions, and we continued driving.
That’s when we realized — sometimes the right path isn’t found on a sign, but in someone’s words.
We got tired. Really tired. But we didn’t give up.
And eventually, we arrived.
Çal Cave welcomed us with a silence and coolness that made us forget all the exhaustion.
The flowing water inside, the natural stone sculptures, the breath of the cave… it was all real.
And it was all worth it.
That day, we learned something simple: The shortest road isn’t always the easiest.
And sometimes, the most beautiful views come after the hardest roads.
What about you?
Have you ever taken a road you thought would be easy, only to find it full of surprises?
Share your own “short but long” story in the comments.
Because sometimes, the best thing is hearing what someone else has been through.