Cappidocia
Since we enjoyed our trip to Turkey the previous year and it's close by and easy to get to, we decided to go again for a 7 day tour. We use the same company, Middle Earth Travel who organizes the tour for us. This time, we stay in the same hotel in Goereme - the Flintstones Cave Hotel - for the duration and do day trips around the area for hiking and site-seeing.
Sedimentary rocks formed in lakes and streams and ignimbrite deposits that erupted from ancient volcanoes approximately 9 to 3 million years ago, during the late Miocene to Pliocene epochs, underlie the Cappadocia region. The rocks of Cappadocia near Göreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and minaret-like forms. People of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out houses, churches and monasteries from the soft rocks of volcanic deposits. Göreme became a monastic centre in 300–1200 AD. The first period of settlement in Göreme goes back to the Roman period. The Yusuf Koç, Ortahane, Durmus Kadir and Bezirhane churches in Göreme, and houses and churches carved into rocks in the Uzundere, Bağıldere and Zemi Valleys all illustrate history and can be seen today.
There are many 'cave hotels' which capitalize on the idea and it's a tourist draw. Our room in the cave hotel is quite lovely with front windows and door opening out and then the rest built into a cave. Goreme is a quaint little town with many restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops. We try different restaurants and are not disappointed with any of them as the food is fresh and tasty.
We saw the Zelve Open Air Museum that is the site of an ancient monastic community and one of the most famous sites in Turkey. The complex contains more than 30 carved-from-rock churches and chapels, some having superb frescoes inside, dating from the 9th century to the 11th century.We walked through White Valley, Pigeon Valley and Love Valley marveling at the unique terrain and rock formations. As walked past a rock church we heard the most beautiful voices singing - the acoustics were perfect. We got totally lost one day and after wandering way off course, get a bumby ride in the back of an old pickup truck and do finally find our way back. One day we got a transfer to Ilhara and walked along the river viewing many rock-cut churches, including amazing paintings inside, along the way. It seems strange to see so much of early Christianity in this area. We visited a carpet outlet where they sell handmade carpets woven by local people in their homes. We purchase our first carpet and have it shipped to the USA - with its 800 year guarantee we figure it should last for awhile! Our trip is capped off with a cold early morning balloon ride surrounded by vibrant colors of the other balloons.
Sedimentary rocks formed in lakes and streams and ignimbrite deposits that erupted from ancient volcanoes approximately 9 to 3 million years ago, during the late Miocene to Pliocene epochs, underlie the Cappadocia region. The rocks of Cappadocia near Göreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and minaret-like forms. People of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out houses, churches and monasteries from the soft rocks of volcanic deposits. Göreme became a monastic centre in 300–1200 AD. The first period of settlement in Göreme goes back to the Roman period. The Yusuf Koç, Ortahane, Durmus Kadir and Bezirhane churches in Göreme, and houses and churches carved into rocks in the Uzundere, Bağıldere and Zemi Valleys all illustrate history and can be seen today.
There are many 'cave hotels' which capitalize on the idea and it's a tourist draw. Our room in the cave hotel is quite lovely with front windows and door opening out and then the rest built into a cave. Goreme is a quaint little town with many restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops. We try different restaurants and are not disappointed with any of them as the food is fresh and tasty.
We saw the Zelve Open Air Museum that is the site of an ancient monastic community and one of the most famous sites in Turkey. The complex contains more than 30 carved-from-rock churches and chapels, some having superb frescoes inside, dating from the 9th century to the 11th century.We walked through White Valley, Pigeon Valley and Love Valley marveling at the unique terrain and rock formations. As walked past a rock church we heard the most beautiful voices singing - the acoustics were perfect. We got totally lost one day and after wandering way off course, get a bumby ride in the back of an old pickup truck and do finally find our way back. One day we got a transfer to Ilhara and walked along the river viewing many rock-cut churches, including amazing paintings inside, along the way. It seems strange to see so much of early Christianity in this area. We visited a carpet outlet where they sell handmade carpets woven by local people in their homes. We purchase our first carpet and have it shipped to the USA - with its 800 year guarantee we figure it should last for awhile! Our trip is capped off with a cold early morning balloon ride surrounded by vibrant colors of the other balloons.
