Cappadocia, located in central Turkey, is really unique and is unlike any other destination in the world. The landscape is stunning in its natural beauty, but it also has a rich history, and unique cultural heritage. There are many caves hotels you can stay in. The front face is built into the rock and the caves are used for rooms. Those are pretty pricey and many people are claustrophobic as there are no windows.
I did not start in a real cave hotel but it was cool nonetheless.
The area is known for its unique rock formations, which were formed over millions of years by volcanic eruptions and erosion by wind and rain. These formations, known as fairy chimneys, take on many different shapes and sizes, and are dotted throughout the region. They are one of the main attractions of Cappadocia.
The volcanoes here erupted millions of years ago. The longest river was also here. When the Red River withdrew some of the base was eroded then the volcano erupted again. Basalt formed at the top and stayed as a chimney top.
Hittites used obsidian to carve places to live. They cut holes in the fairy chimneys to let out smoke.
Early Christians were persecuted so they hid by living in caves.
It stays about 10 C year round in the cave no matter the outside temperature.
Today many people use the caves to store food as it preserves harvest much longer.
Dime fairy chimneys do collapse as wisdom is still going on in the most layers beneath the basalt.
It really is unusual and stunning.
In addition to its natural beauty, Cappadocia is also rich in history. The area has been inhabited for thousands of years, and has been home to numerous civilizations, including the Hittites, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. As a result, the region is home to a wealth of historical and cultural sites, including ancient cities, churches, and monasteries. Saint Simon had a canned check in the area. An early church can be found in the Rose Valley. The paintings in the church are done with natural dyes and date back to the 10th century.
The rocks are reddish here due to more iron oxide being present.
I can imagine a thriving community here a long time ago.
There are hiking trails through the region as well.
Some of the small holes are actually for pigeons as they are considered sacred and were a means for communication in the past.
Cappadocia is also known for its unique cuisine. The region is famous for its pottery, and many of the traditional dishes are cooked in clay pots. Some of the most popular dishes include pottery kebab, a meat dish cooked in a clay pot, and şırdan, a type of sausage made from lamb intestines.
We also toured a master potter family that is commissioned by the government to keep the tradition alive. I was not able to take pictures of the creations inside but they were so amazing.
You can see the round drink vessel. It is a work of art itself. The shape allows one to bow as it is poured.
His son, another master artisan would make any of the 40 forms he had mastered on demand. We chose the drink vessel. He cut through it to prove that it was hollow throughout. I did take video of parts of the process: https://youtube.com/watch?v=NNN25EFLWKQ&feature=share7
At the end of the day I had summer time before my transport to the airport. I walked around the town and had a glass of local wine.
