Goreme Day 2

Goreme Turkey Part 2

PS. For some reason Goreme Part 1 is moved down below Istanbul Day 1 and I can't fiqure out how to reorder it so please read there first...
We had a very full day in the Valley as after we came back from the balloon ride we met our local guide for the day and explored the area on foot. As in most places we visited our guides are university educated with degrees in Tour Guiding. They are all knowledgeable about the history, culture and language of the areas where they work.

Just outside our hotel,the weather is getting cold so the women were getting the wood for the fire.

Our first outing was a walk to one of the nearby valleys; we drove up and then walked down with our guide. Before we began he gave us a great history and geography lesson on Turkey. On the walk down and through the valley we were walking through some of the landscape that we had seen from the balloon but with a new perspective. Again an amazing view!

Some of group wlaking through the valley

A view from the top of the hill, notice the number of houses built in the caves

When we got down to the valley floor we ran into some enterprising local women who were selling handmade jewellery which was a combination of crocheting and beading. Very nice work. While they fed the men roasted pumpkin seeds there was some time for shopping. Sorry too busy looking at the jewellery so no picture!

A cave house with fancy windows

After that we went to the Goreme Open Air Museum which was quite a fascinating look at some ancient cave structures. This is a monastic complex composed of churches, rectories and dwellings dating back to the 9th century. Here is the beginning of the Orthodox Church. The small cave churches with their frescoes are stunning. We weren’t allowed to take pictures inside so not much to show though I manage to sneak a partial one.

One of the larger stone churches

The remnants of an old frescoe on the outside of one of the churches

Picture of a frescoe inside one of the churches

Our final stop for the day was at the Underground City which was first dug by the Hittites seeking shelter from the weather but then used by the early Christians who were being persecuted. Communities would survive up to 6 months underground with the facilities and supplies they had below ground. There were many of these throughout the region with the one we visited being 12 stories underground and holding up to 2000 people.

Don in the underground city in one of the areas where they lived and kept supplies

Don's backside as he goes through the tunnels,there were many km running throughout the complex

One of the things that stuck with us from these visits was an understanding that in these lands there was the beginning of Christianity. Here is where the apostles came to preach the Gospel and establish the Church. They lived and worshipped in these caves and underground city many centuries ago and endured great persecution because of their beliefs.

Finally our dinner tonight was a traditional dish called Testi Kebab, a slow cooked casserole served in a terracotta pot which is cooked in a deep underground oven and broken open before serving. The restaurant was 475 years old, recently restored and quite a lovely building. A great two days in this awesome place!

Breaking open the Testi



The result, a very tasty chicken dish