Turkey: Cappadocia


Goreme


Goreme


Goreme

Uchisar


Uchisar


Goreme


Goreme


Goreme

Uchisar


Uchisar


Uchisar

I spent three days visiting the fascinating region of Cappadocia in central Turkey. After numerous volcanic eruptions and subsequent erosion, a crazy landscape was left. The stone is actually soft until exposed to air. Consequently, for hundreds of years, people have been carving into the stone, utilizing it for a number of purposes. Homes were a very common application, although most of the people staying in these cave hotels are tourists such as myself. Additionally, there were many churches and chapels carved as well, with numerous well preserved frescoes. And, as in Cairo, people found great uses for pigeons, both to send messages as well as to use their guano for fertilizer. These were some of the most interesting carvings, as people made all these niches for pigeons to roost and then catch their droppings. I still can’t figure out how people got to these cliffs in the first place. Spectacular place, though really touristy.

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