Note from Wikipedia: Cappadocia, a semi-arid region in central Turkey, is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Göreme and elsewhere. The “chimneys” are a result of a geologic process that began millions of years ago, when volcanic eruptions rained ash across what would eventually become Turkey. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes (cave dwellers) and later used as refuges by early Christians.
This is a trip we took while we were still living in Germany. Nancy wanted to see Cappadocia … I, not so much. However, being as persistent as she is, Nancy soon convinced me to go. We booked a flight on Turkish Air from Frankfurt to Ankara with a change of flights in Istanbul. I will tell you right now, it turned out to one of our favorite trips and yes, I too enjoyed it.
Having A Refreshment in Istanbul 
Our Flight to Ankara
When we got to Ankara we rented a car and drove South to Cappadocia. We arrived late in the day so it was dark when we got to our destination, Gorme, a little town in Cappadocia. Our “Hotel” was a collection of rooms the had been hewn out of rock so we were staying inside of a big boulder. Here are some pictures of the trip down and our room.
Dinner 
Walls, Floor, and Ceiling .. All Stone 
The View 
When we checked in, our host told us he had a few openings for tomorrow’s Hot Air Balloon Excursion so we signed up for it. They picked us up at O’Dark:30 the next morning and our adventure started. Here are some pictures of our Hot Air Balloon ride (first ever for either of us … anywhere!)
O’Dark:30 
Lite’em Up 
It’s Warm Here! 
The Engine 
Up We Go 
Fairy Castles 
A Resort 
Way Up High 
Way Down Low 
The Fleet 
Our Pilot 
A Cemetery 
Our Shadow 
Landing Site 
Deflating 
I Got it Boss 
A Toast to Our Flight 
Nancy Found Some Friends
The Balloon flight lasted for about two hours and was absolutely incredible. From watching and listening to the hot air engines filling the balloons in the early dawn light to landing right onto a truck bed for the basket, everything was thrilling. Everyone was busy when we first arrived for the flight but they provided tea, coffee, and biscuits while we watched them prepare everything We chose to be in a smaller basket … about 6 people so we would not be crowded. Some baskets held up to 20 people. The pilot was very talented as he took us up. He not only had to make sure we were going where we were supposed to go but make sure we didn’t bump into any other balloons … and there were many of them! He took us way up above all the other balloons so you could see them all below. Then we went down, actually into canyons where you could look up to the rim. Over villages, cities, fields, cemeteries, roads … you name it. And of course, over the Fairy Chimneys. (More on them later). Anyhow, it was a fantastic flight and when we were all safely on the ground, our captain brought out a wooden chest containing champagne glasses and a bottle of champagne … so we all tasted the Captain and our memorable flight.
Now for the Fairy Chimneys. As explained earlier, they were formed by geological action over millions years. Some are very tall, other quite small … some big around, some skinny … all very interesting. They reminded us of the Pinnacles in Australia (See our Trip through the Kimberleys) but they are formed in a different manner. We had lunch and then drove out to where the thickest part of the Chimneys were. We parked and walked out through them. Quite amazing. Here are some pictures we took of them.
We explored the area where the chimneys were and came across a family living way out in the country. A man, his wife, and two children were farming a small area and they offered us refreshment and food and to rest a spell. We had a very interesting conversation with them and moved on. Here’s a couple pictures of their home.
Cave dwellers. There are two kinds of caves in the Cappadocia region. Caves that are carved into the sides of hills and large rocks and those that go down below the surrounding surface. Here is a website if you want to check out some of the history.
https://www.goturkey.com/en/blog/would-you-like-to-live-in-a-cave-the-life-of-medieval-cappadocia
We explored both. First; the above ground caves … reminded us of the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde but were much more advanced. People lived in these dwellings for centuries and as late as the 1960’s and their use was eventually outlawed by the Turkish government. The Dwellings:
The other caves were the underground type. We did not tour them extensively as you were required to be on a tour to get into them. Officials feared people would get lost if not escorted. We did however tag onto one tour and followed them through. There are miles and miles of these underground caves. Entire cities would use them to hide from the invading Huns, Romans, Hittites, or whomever was trying to kill them at the time. They had water, food, fodder, everything required to live underground for months. They were normally not occupied like the cliff ones were but rather used as a hide out. Every living thing in the village would go in. I didn’t get many pictures of these caves … it was dark and I couldn’t alert the guide we were tagging along. Nancy did manage to find some shopping however once we got back to the surface.
Also on Nancy’s agenda was a couple of old churches that had very old fresco’s in them … so we took a look.
No trip is complete without some evening entertainment. We booked dinner with a Whirling Dervish show. For those of you who don’t know what a Whirling Dervish is … Whirling dervishes perform a dance called the sema. It is a religious dance performed to express emotion and achieve the wisdom and love of God. It originated in Turkey, in the Islamic sect of Sufism, which was founded by Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi. (Wikipedi) … so now that you know that … here’s what they look like:
It was a full evening of entertainment with dinner, Whirling Dervishes, dancing girls, and some musicians. A fun time. Interesting note: An experienced Whirling Dervish dancer can spin for up to two hours at 30 to 40 revolutions per minute … without getting dizzy!
Our trip ended with a drive back to Ankara. We took a scenic route that included mountains, a red lake, an old mosque, some shops, and a Turkish Stop sign.
It was a great trip and we had a great time. We have been to Turkey several times and always have an enjoyable time. The people are friendly and welcoming, the culture and history are both rich, and the country is beautiful to see. We have never encountered problems in Turkey and would recommend it to anyone interested in enjoying our planet.
