Blogs from Göreme, Cappadocia, Central Anatolia, Turkey, Middle East - page 10

Cappadocia is known as the land of the fairy chimneys, but one of our first introductions to these chimneys in the very appropriately named 'Love Valley' made us think that it looks more like the land of phalic statues! It is like some crazy cult has carved big statues of a feritility god. However nature created the surreal lunar landscape, when 30 million years ago erupting volcanoes covered the region with volcanic ash. Volcanic rock then covered the ash and solidified into what is known as tuff (soft rock like substance). The peaks and canyons were formed by erosion from water and wind that wore grooves into the tuff. Due to the ease of carving into the tuff, many of the fairy chimneys and surrounding mountains were used for houses and churches. Dwellings were also created ... read more

Today Nessıe and I had vısıted a museum up ın the moutaıns and went on a 10 kılometer hıke through thıs valley. Nessıe ıs quıte an adventurous lıttle bear and although I probably would have quıt a whole 5 km ın...she kept us goıng. We rewarded ourselves wıth ıced coffees at the end of that lıttle trek. The weather was nıce except for a lıttle afternoon raın whıch we managed to hıde from ınsıde of a cave... so prımatıve. I am fınally gettıng some sun whıch has several bonuses, most ımportantly maybe my pasty whıte skın wıll stand out a lıttle less. On the food front, last nıght we had a delıcıous meal where all the dıshes had eggplant or aubergıne as they say as an ıngredıent. Nessıe and I have decıded that we are goıng ... read more

How does one prepare herself for Cappadocia? On our way to Goreme, we stopped by some souvenir shops and restaurants where posters and postcards of the rock chapels and fairy chimneys introduced us to this surreal landscape of capped pinnacles in warm reds and golden browns. Four hours across the Konya plain, passing the long Hasan mountain range, until we made another stop for what was more than just another glass of warm apple tea. We visited Marco Polo's pit stop along the Silk Road. The caravanserai at Sultanhani was built in the 13th century and is easily one of the grandest in Turkey. There was a separate hall where the animals were kept and sleeping quarters for the caravan. The way it was structured, arches and all, I would have thought there was a cathedral ... read more

Geo: 39.1452, 35.3437Didn't wake up to well this afternoon, had to be told to get out of the room! Whoops! I missed out on the Vespa ride around the valley, which was disappointing. There was no way I could drive a vehicle or be in one at the moment. Instead I slowly packed and sat out in the sun feeling sorry for myself. The rest of the group would be riding around and having fun right now. Went for a little walk around the hotel and took a few photos of the fairy chimney buildings. In the mid afternoon went for a walk into town to do some shopping and to have some food. On the way back to the hotel, bumped into the others who had just returned from their day of riding. There was ... read more

Geo: 39.1452, 35.2123Back in the mini-bus we hit the road for Goreme. On the way we made a stop at a school that likes tourists to come and visit. The kids were very excited that we had arrived. Some of them dressed up in traditional clothing and did some singing and dancing for us. Part of the classroom was set up as a traditional Turkish house. Spent the rest of the day driving. Was looking forward to the next hotel, as Hussein told us that the rooms were caves! I found out later on that my room was nothing to get excited about. The hotel is on the side of a hill and all the rooms are caves. The room that I was given was horrible. It stank mouldy, had a tiny little window and was ... read more