Cappadocia

Bob and I were awake before our 3:15 AM alarm so we were able to call Rob and check in on things at the home front. I also got some work done and Bob fired our landscaper.

We met Bill and Patty in the lobby at 4:20 AM.

Our driver, who was to take us to the airport, was late. We walked to the corner and waited for a bit. Patty was in contact with the tour company and we were finally able to connect with the driver but we were almost 30 minutes past our original time to depart the hotel.

We drove to the airport and made it to the gate as they were boarding our flight. This was the closest I have ever been to missing a flight. Anyone who knows me, knows that this stressed me a bit.

We had a pleasant flight. I am glad that I was able to upgrade us to seats with more legroom as even these seats were cramped. Turkish people are small! Bob and I are NOT!

We were met at the airport and whisked off by a pleasant driver with a spacious 14 passenger van...and there was only the 4 of us.

We had an hour long ride through the countryside to our tour starting point just outside of the city of Goreme.

Our first stop was at a viewpoint where we had coffee and discussed the plans for the day with our guide. While having coffee we also enjoyed watching puppies chase a cat. I haven't mentioned that there are more cats living on the streets than dogs but theu are both very numerous. These animals are all very well taken care of by the population. There are food and water bowls everywhere for the stray cats and dogs.

The landscape in this area was influenced by centuries of volcanic activity. As a result, there are layers of pumic and ash that have been sculpted by the wind and weather into fantastic rock formations. There  have been dwellings, churches and storage niches all carved into the volcanic hillsides.

A great example of the is the Goreme Open Air Museum. This site was used by Christian monks and nuns from the 10th to 12th centuries. They built chapels and dwellings along the sides of a valley, carving out the sites and then decorated with frescoes depicting Biblical scenes.

We also walked through canyons full of tall slender rock towers. This place was called the Pasabag Fairy Chimineys which are mushroom shaped rock formations.

We even stayed in a "cave hotel” where the room was carved into the hillside.

The geology and the history of this area is amazing. Everywhere you turn there are carvings in the stone. People have been living here for millennia. This is the true crossroad between Asia and Europe. If you want to go from one continent to the other by land you must come this way. Its hard to believe we are here!

Other areas which we toured were: Devrent Valley which is well known as imagination valley with animal and human shaped rock formations, a pottery workshop, and the Love Valley which has pillar shaped rock formations.

Tomorrow is ballon ride day, and more sights to see. Czytaj więcej