Cappadocia is a region in central Turkey (Anatolia) where the landscape is totally out of this world.
It's situated on a prehistoric, volcanic plateau where erosion slowly created unique caves, clefts, "fairy chimneys" and sensuous folds in the volcanic rock. People have lived here since the early Bronze Age. Cappadocia became a popular spot for the early Christians and for thousands of years men have dug into the soft but firm tuff to create dwellings, monasteries, churches and underground cities. The last inhabitants in the wild valleys were relocated for safety reasons as late as in 1952. In the newer villages, that are milling with tourists, you can still find people living in “cones” or houses half built in to the mountain side.
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| This a hotel built into (or out of) the rock. Many of these will have 'cave rooms' as part of their appeal. |
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| Hot air balloon tours are very popular (and VERY expensive), there are some 18 companies. We didn't go. |
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| Camel rock! |
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| This is 'pigeon valley', a very quiet and beautiful place for a hike |
UNDERGROUND CITIES
I have read that there are actually 40 or so subterranean settlements in Cappadocia, although only a few are fully excavated and open to the public. They were largely made and used by early Christians as hiding places before they became an accepted religion. The biggest underground city in this area could house 20.000 people and is 8 floors deep, but only 4 of them are open to visitors. It’s a very strange feeling crouching down to get through these tunnels and being slightly claustrophobic while imagining people living here in hiding for months at the time. We got caught between some tour bus groups, and that was very annoying, but they were small groups for a short time compared to thousands of scared people stuck together and not knowing for how long.
We could still see huge mill-stone shaped doors that could only be opened from the inside, to prevent invaders from entering. There are deep wells to provide water, tall chimneys to provide ventilation, and they were fortunate the rock itself is so porous that it absorbed the smoke from cooking and heating. They had wine presses, food and oil storage, livestock pens, kitchens and even elaborate churches carved out of the rock so that the inhabitants could live for weeks or months underground
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| Does it mean something when you find a camel with your name on it? |
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The local police station (and this is not a joke!)
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| This is in Zelve Open Air Museum. These cave and dwellings have seen a good deal of erosion. Enormous slabs of rock will crack off leaving ahem faces of rock exposed that now display the inside of someone's old living room |
Cappadocia is also known for quality rugs, beautiful pottery and traditional cuisine.
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M made his own small pot which now sits on his desk in his room
M is breaking open a clay pot filled with his lamb stew dinner
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Mette, look at you GO! I am SO excited to follow this, it truly gives our family a sense of where and what. We miss you, but this helps us feel closer! Now, tell me more about the stew in a clay pot custom, please? And did M. think it tasted good?!
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