Cappadocia

11-hour overnight bus trip to Urgup in the Cappadocia area

Urgup

Want to move to Turkey?

Restaurant named after the owners' dog

Great atmosphere and good food

Great view from top of this mountain

Visited two underground cave cities—Derinkuyu and Kaymakli—used for temporary protection from enemies, volcanoes, severe weather.  They moved their animals to the first floor to protect them, as well.  The people would stay in these caves for only two or three months.  These underground cities were connected by tunnels so that if one city got overtaken by an enemy, they could travel to some other cave.  Some of the tunneling was narrow and shorter so that the enemy with their armor could not follow the people.

must often bend over to move through the tunnels

Door can only be moved from the inside. The hole enabled them to use arrows or spears 

to defend the rest of the cave from the enemy. 

Basalt door unlike surrounding material  larger than tunnels. They do not know how it got in the caves.

The rest of the pictures of me lifting the door into place were erased by mistake 

Toured the famous fairy chimneys of Cappadocia--Tufa (volcanic ash) topped stone formations formed from wind and rain erosion.  Early peoples—Hittites, Christians—being persecuted in their homelands found these tall stone formations, and carved homes, churches, monasteries, etc. in them. 

Rock Castle

They had to fence the camel because so many people tried to ride it.

Table and benches in the dining area. Sweeping underneath is not required.

All frescoes were vandalized

We were blessed with great weather while in Cappadocia.  Our adventure continues with more warm weather and lots more to see.