Touring Kapadokya

A visit to remains of an ancient cave civilization

From Istanbul we departed on an overnight bus to Ugrup, Kapadokya where we rested for one hour, put our bags in our hotel and started the first leg of the Kapadokya tour. Day one we toured Devrent-the imagination valley, Avanos, Zelve, Causin, Goreme, Canak Somlekci in Avanos-a pottery factory, and Uchisar. The tour provided historical as well as geological information about the caves & rock formations. The layers of rock on top of the soft hardened mud are puzzling. The formations are explained by volcanic ash below harden volcanic rock and the erosion of the ash which supports the rock below. Each year the rock formations grow up or rather the volcanic ash below the rocks erodes down into the stream, hence the ground is sinking.

For lunch we feasted on a Turkish buffet. This was my time to sample of all sorts of Turkish dishes besides Kofte. Turkish food is amazingly tasty and includes an assortment of yoghurts; cucumber, tomato, & onion salads; spicy chicken, beef & lamb dishes; delicious buttery rice & pita breads; and of coarse, Turkish delight.

Day two we roamed through Yeralti Sehri at Derinkuyu- the underground city, Guzelyurt, Belisirma, Yaprakhisar, and Selime- the location where Star Wars was filmed. We also hiked through Ihlara Valley in Aksaray nearby a stream where we had our lunch.

In Kapadokya we reran into a group of Americans studying in Malta, some Aussie Londoners, & Canadians. Our tour included one night in a hotel in Ugrup and two days of touring Kapadokya accompanied with belly dancing finger clapping to Turkish music in the car. A cool experience.

Pictures of Devrent, Selime, Ilhara Valley, Aksaray and Yeralti Sehri in Kapadokya