Cappadocia - Sultans Ceramic and Kaymakli Underground City

 

We visited Sultans Ceramic Store in Avenos. The store is underground with a passage leading to showroom filled with beautiful and expensive ceramics.  We watched a potter make a Hittite Wine Jug. Joanne bargained restlessly with a salesman for one driving down the price but still making him very happy.   

                                                                    Sultans Ceramic 

                                    Click to Watch the Potter Make the Hittite Wine Jug

                                                                          Kaymakli Yeralti Sehri

About two hundred underground cities have been found in Cappadocia that date back to the seventh century BC.  Completely abandoned in 1923's population exchange, they were rediscovered in 1963.  Richard elected, despite a sore hip, to go underground with our group four levels down through narrow passageways, crawling on hands and knees through one. 

   

Cappadocia - Love Valley

No trip to Cappadocia is complete without a stop at Love Valley. 

Love Valley

Why Its Called Love Valley

Lunch at this restaurant in Avanos was a cultural treat.  Joanne ordered the Testi kabab. The kabab is sealed in a clay jug called a testi with bread dough and simmered for hours. Watch the server crack open the testi in the video above.

More Cappadocia - Velve Valley and Pigeon Valley

 

Zelve Valley

Zelve Valley

Zelve Valley

Pigeon Valley

Goreme Open Air Museum

 

We toured many local sites and UNESCO World Heritage Cappadocia.  The rock formations and ancient civilization history was fascinating.  There are natural rock fairy castles and interesting places carved into the ancient volcanic material called TUFF.  We visited 11 century Christian chapels - St Basel, St Catherine, St Barbara and more.  There are frescos to view inside the caves.  We visited the unique Goreme Open Air Museum. We could go inside and see how the people used to live. Fabulous!

On the Way to Goreme

Fresco Cave Suites Cappadocia

 We were so pleased to stay at  Fresco Cave Suites, Cappadocia.   Everything about the hotel is stunning - beautiful views, suites, flowers, multiple course breakfast and a resident golden retriever who will greet guests coming and going.

                     All About Cappadocia     Cappadocia for Tourists  

Ihlara Valley

 

As we entered the Cappadocia region, Ihlara Valley came into view. We planned to walk through the narrow valley but with Richard's sore hip, Richard, Joanne and Maureen decided to wait for the rest of the group near the end of valley where we wandered around caves carved into the side of a cliff, one of which was Direkli Church. 

Ihlara Valley

Waiting for the Group to Complete Hiking Through the Valley

Direkli Church

Back on the Bus at Sunset

Lake Tuz

On the long drive to Cappadocia, we stopped at the largest salt lake in the world, Tuz Golu.  We could not resist walking on it.  Once upon a time it really was a lake. The water level was down to zero at the time of our visit!