Christine in Cappadocia, Turkey

In addition to visiting Istanbul, I also traveled to Cappadocia, Turkey.  Cappadocia means beautiful horse.  This area, located in the middle of the country, is known for it's caves and history.  There are over 600 churches around here.

I stayed at a cave hotel room:

Outside the hotel

The guide took me to see fairy chimneys.  Apparently centuries of wind and water sculpted the landscape and fairy chimney is what the locals call them.  We actually visited a couple locations with them.  Some are quite high up.  (They are neat to see in person; but maybe don't photograph so well?)

Landscape

Cappadocia has the Goreme Open air museum in the world.  It is on the World Heritage List of UNESCO with its soft stone cliffs and churches.  At one time, there were 400 churches.  Now you can visit 15.  The caves were sculpted by the winds and water as well.  And the people carved out the "buildings/rooms" from the soft volcanic stone.

The churches are know for their Frescos inside.  Some go back to the 8th century, though the Byzantine ones are from the 10th and 13th centuries.  You are not suppose to take pictures- they should tell you before you go in that pics are not allowed.  Notice the faces being scratched out.  Muslims did this because their religion does not allow faces of humans or animals to be displayed in religious settings.








Turkey is known for it's carpets.  This go round, I was strong and did not purchase any.  Who knows next time.  I visited a place that shows demonstrations of weaving and sell carpets.  The salesman will give you whatever drink you like (I had apple chi) and then show tons of carpets.  They just continue to roll them out.  And the salesman insisted that customers take off their shoes and walk on the carpets.  From experience, you can feel the difference between wool, cotton, and silk.  And boy is the silk carpet expensive.  He showed one that cost $153,000.

Turkey is also home to the Underground City, built in the late Hittite era and used as a monastery in Christian times.  The city went 8 stories down.  I only went 2 or 3 stories.  The passage ways were quite small.  Most times I had to bend over to walk through and I felt the sides brush off me, it was so close.  They built a vent system to allow fresh air in.  When I put my head in there, you could feel it.  Some rooms were kitchens, others wineries, and churches.

I attended a pottery demonstration and showcase.  Once again, I was strong and resisted the urge to purchase a piece.  I took a pottery class in college.  It was hard with an electric wheel.  This man moved the wheel with his feet.

They asked for a volunteer to try.  So I stepped up.  I still can't center clay.  Or, as it turns out, move the wheel with my feet.  I can, however, accept help.

One of my favorite meals included chicken and spinach.  I also liked the kabobs.

Christine

I also visited a jeweler.  I learned that turquoise actually means Turk's quartz, or so I was informed.  My weakness.  And my beautiful necklace:

Rubies, and sapphires, and emeralds oh my.  (And yes, I really need to get a haircut.  It's on my list...)