Cappadocia

A day of travel; train, plane and 4:30 sun-down, dark mini-bus ride took us to Goreme in the middle of Cappadocia.  This region has a fairy chimney landscape as the soft volcanic tuff is eroded.  For more than 2000 years local folks have carved out their stables, pigeon coops, homes and churches into the hillsides.  Early Christians buried entire multi-level cities, the better to be obscure during 400's CE.

A day of travel meant a day without good nourishment.  One of the nicest restaurants in town just further up the hill from our cave hotel.  Two appetizers; dry mix of five types of nuts with olive oil for the bread while the chili/walnut/garlic 'pesto' was a bite on the wild side.  Move on to fabulous lamb and chicken to make the journey fall away.  Perhaps the Emir Cappadocian white assisted. 

One kilometer walk to the 'Open Air Museum',  a complex of 11th century small churches and religious community living quarters, connected by paved paths and stairs - lots of stairs.  The first two pics are of a weirdly decorated tree seen on the way.   A multitude of blue eye charms making a virtual Tree of Protection.

Alas no photos allowed in the most decorated / most interesting cave churches.  A recent restoration of the 'Dark Church', enhanced by the audio guide, walked us through the Christian legends of Jesus's life, accompanied by a host of Byzantine Saints and rulers.

 A Goreme pancake - double sided flat bread with spinach and cheese filling prepared on a large round grill, took the chill out of the misty day.

Another local specialty for supper, 'testi kebap', meat and vegetables baked in an individual clay pot which you break with a small hammer at the table.  Theatre of Food or what!

Next morning ready for a 5:30 am knock at the door for the Balloon Ride.  (Don't wait on the street as another balloon company may scoop you!).  The weather was as the weather is.  Fall eh - with a low ceiling and a bit of haze.  Fourteen folks in our woven basket as we joined ~ 45 balloons across the take-off area slowly inflating.  First time for us both to try a hot-air balloon.  It is really fun - serious fun.

Blasts of flame, warm on your neck as you look out and a roaring in your ears - then silence and a gentle sensation of elevation.  Squirts of fuel enable quite precise vertical distance among the balloon herd.  Occasional close encounters - although our pilot avoided the 'kiss' of balloon shrouds that we saw around us.  Maximum height ~ 500 meters which put us into the cloudy haze.  No other balloon visible but we could hear the burping roar of near-by engines.  Then the voice on the two-way radio, "Do not ascend - I'm right above you!"

Landing after an hour was a bit of a scramble for our chase crew.  Gently down on a farmer's plowed field - missing the field of grape vines.  Lift-off again to get to the field edge with six men at the end of a rope.  Splash of champagne and back to the hotel by 8:30.  Fab.

Shots of this amazing landscape created by a long-ago volcano. 

Tomorrow a bus ride around the area.