[Mella]

The Telegraph online always has really interesting articles about Turkey. Here is one on Cappadocia...

Historian Norman Stone loves the Cappadocia region of Turkey for its stunning and unique landscapes.

Cappadocia is just about unique in the world as far as I'm aware. It boasts an incredible landscape, combining hard volcanic rock and very soft rock which you can tunnel into, the result being that it has endless cave dwellings.





There are whole villages which were simply tunneled into the rock. Some of these dwellings are now being modernized and selling for up to £50,000 - a lot of money in this part of the world. It also has dozens of well-preserved rock churches, some of which go back to the eighth century - it's one of the oldest sites in Christendom.

Another peculiarity about the area is that about half the population up to the 1920s were Greek but they were Greeks with a difference: they spoke Turkish. Unfortunately they left in the population exchange of 1923-4.

It's a marvelous landscape to explore, even without the history. If you go, stay in one of the hotels or houses carved into the caves, the most famous being the Esbelli House (www.esbelli.com). The Turkish tried to turn Cappadocia into a mass tourist destination but it only really attracts educated people…although perhaps that's not such a bad thing.

Source: The Telegraph

[Mavi]

I am desperate to go visit there, we will at some point, hopefully soon..

it looks so magical and mystical...

[kay]

Having a quiet day at work so heres pictures I took from the balloon. Expensive trip - but well worth it.

[Mella]

Oh WOW Kay! Amazing, wonderful pictures!

I really love this one..



Umit and I are planning a trip there next year, so I might have to pick your brains before we go.

[Hephaestion]

Carmella you should pick Linda´s (LKA) brain. She lived in Göreme.
What she told me made we want to go even more - although not in winter brrrrr. Ice in the shower!

The nearest airport is Kayseri I think.