Cappadocia

Here in Cappadocia it is hot hot hot but not as humid as it was in Istanbul. Still, the heat saps my energy. We are staying in a hostel room cut into the side of a pretty nifty formation. It could be a natural cave with a little chiseling out. There are a lot of those around. In fact, That's what Goreme is all about. I don't care how natural it is as long as its cool...and it is. Unfortunately, it is also dark so I have to write outside  under this relentless sun. 

This part of Turkey is desert and there are few large cities. From the bus I see that it's an agricultural area and groups of people are working in the fields. I watch the trucks coming into town loaded with watermelons, another bright orange and green melon the same size and shape, and potatoes. I don't see how anything can grow here because it seems so dry but am enjoying the fruit from the apricot trees that appear to wild or left over from a long gone homestead. We also found olives, grapes, and a white mulberry that is really sweet.  

There are a lot of rural dwellings that look like they were built on the walls of very old buildings, possibly ancient ruins, then the wall goes up with the use of yet another era of stone or brickwork and is sometimes capped off with yet another material, finishing off with a red tile roof. Those to me are the most picturesque. These are located in the older, quaint parts of town. They also have downtown districts that look like any comparable town worldwide. I'm not all that attracted to those so don't take note of them unless something makes them stand out. Let us not forget the homes of the well to do. There are lots of those. There is also the little tourist shops, very make-do, that pop up all around any tourist site. Very colorful.

Breakfast consists of slices of cucumber and tomato, feta cheese, olives, bread and jams, sometimes rose petal jam or cherry with bits of fruit in it. Today we also had the option of honey and a hazelnut spread that I didn't want to try first thing in the morning. For lunch I got a blackberry smoothie and a watermelon-feta salad. Dane had something like our quesadillas but filled with potato seasoned with mint. Our heavy meal is often the usual Middle Eastern dinner, never with pork.

Goreme, Turkey

Vendors outside the Underground City Museum.

Showing off a find of apricots...yum!!

Potters tree.