Turkey's Cappadocia: Fairyland!
Kapadokya as the Turks call it has the remains of one of the most ancient human civilizations found so far - Aşıklı höyük - around 9000 BC.
These underground cities (I went to Derinkuyu), served as refuge for Christians especially during the early period it had to be practiced in secret.
The town of Goreme itself can be reached from Kayseri airport. You are surrounded by centuries old caves, some of which have been turned into high-end resorts! A hot air balloon ride is one thing that I debated about, but did not go on. It is far better seeing the caves and scenery close up from the ground.
Turkey has this astonishing anise-flavored alcoholic drink called Raki, with about 50% alcohol. It starts sweating on the glass as soon as it is poured out (Raki - Turkish for sweat), and adding a little water immediately turns it milky white. A delicious drink, that I would immediately recommend!
My second day was spent on a guided tour of the underground cities (a little far off) and assorted valleys, including "Pigeon" valley.
Cappadocia was called Fairyland by people who thought the ancient cave dwellers were fairies, and therefore called the stone formations, fairy chimneys.
Not much is known of the period between 9th millenia and 1st millenia BC when it was called Hatti and ruled by the Hittites. The Persians took over after that, with their fire temples and Zoroastrianism. Alexander the Great had one of his generals rule the area, but he took over as the emperor and ruled the region of Anatolia, Then followed the Roman and Byzantine empire from 93 BC.
Kapadokya contains several underground cities, some of them capable of housing 30,000 inhabitants, with around 8 levels, where inhabitants used to hide for weeks, while wars were being waged on top!
These underground cities (I went to Derinkuyu), served as refuge for Christians especially during the early period it had to be practiced in secret.
Around the 1st millennium AD, Kappadokya came under Seljuk Turks and gradually was forced to convert to Islam, while the rest of the Greek population stuck to Christianity.
After dumping my backpack at my hostel, my first day spent was on a motorbike, that I rented at 60 Turkish Lira, visiting what is normally covered under the "Red Tour" in and around Rose valley, Love valley, Goreme open air museum, Zelve open air museum, Deferent valley, Avanos and Urugup.
The town of Goreme itself can be reached from Kayseri airport. You are surrounded by centuries old caves, some of which have been turned into high-end resorts! A hot air balloon ride is one thing that I debated about, but did not go on. It is far better seeing the caves and scenery close up from the ground.
Turkey has this astonishing anise-flavored alcoholic drink called Raki, with about 50% alcohol. It starts sweating on the glass as soon as it is poured out (Raki - Turkish for sweat), and adding a little water immediately turns it milky white. A delicious drink, that I would immediately recommend!
My second day was spent on a guided tour of the underground cities (a little far off) and assorted valleys, including "Pigeon" valley.
The undulating landscape, amazing rock formations, sweeping expanses dotted suddenly with villages, and most of all, the presence of humanity in Anatolia since 9,000 BC, make Cappadocia a must-see place.
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