Cappadocia--Part 2

Weather was sunny and warm in Cappadocia. Our days were also filled with trekking and visiting a couple of manufacturing stores.

Among our fellow travellers were quite a few South Koreans. Jeongsoo Park is a professor in theology in Korea. 

We hiked a couple of short treks—(1) through a treed valley along a meandering river, and
(2 ) through a more desert-like canyon and trail in which the mountains changed from white to pink to red. This hike ended in an old Christian village.  The people used to live in the caves on the cliff face; however, when the caves started collapsing, they were forced to move into free standing homes.

a lone goat

Relaxing with tea

Caves up high

Pigeons roosts--the people used to collect the pigeon droppings for fertilizer.

``Here we go around the mulberry bush``

Dried mulberry fruit for snacking

Cave walks

Bryan pretending to camp out all night

After a climb to the top, a cup of tea is restful.

We visited a pottery making shop and a carpet weaving shop. Both these occupations require steady hands and good eyesight, and a lot of patience as the designs are intricate and use a lot of different colors.  The carpet shops have set up a co-operative with the local women so that these women can weave the carpets in their own homes.  They weave the killms--a more utilitarian carpet which still has character.

This master was showing us how they make the circle part of a special wine decanter.

Bryan showing us how difficult it is to make pottery.

Adding color to the plate

Drawing the design on the vase

Silk worms--their cocoons are used to make the silk thread for silk carpets.

The room where the ladies weave the carpets.  As the work is very intricate, they have to take long breaks for their fingers, eyes, and mind.

When selling a carpet, they offer tea or coffee to the potential buyer as a welcome.   The sellers then throw lots of rugs on floor for the buyer to look at it.  The sellers are reluctant to give a price.

Because of the prevalence of gravel and clay, this area has a lot of brick manufacturers.  Therefore, most of the homes and commercial buildings are constructed of brick.

Everywhere, there are groups of men playing backgammon.  It is a favorite pastime for the people in Turkey.

Aladdin's lamp for sale

The camels we see in Turkey have two humps and have thicker hair.

Enjoying a grandfather fix.

We will move onto the next part of our journey to southeastern Turkey—statues on Mount Nemrut, mosaics, a Roman bridge, and whatever else our guide will show us.