Day 8–Cappadocia—and the fairy houses

We’d arrived in Goreme at 9:30 last night, so had no opportunity to see all the area had to offer. Formerly a rather sleepy picturesque place, it’s become a prized tourist destination, especially with Asians. I mean...they’re everywhere. (And they take the weirdest “selfies” imaginable!). Anyway, I awoke to the whooshing of hot air balloons and was delighted with the antics of the hundreds we saw across the sky. We’d wanted to book a balloon ride, but none were available. Dang!

The breakfast at the hotel is over the top (freshly squeezed orange juice!!!) and we took off to see a “cave” house up close. Know our hotel rooms are inside conical shapes (caves within cones) formed by erosion. The place is magical, and it’s nearly impossible to believe this place really exists.

Rooms of our hotel run through many caves

The cave home we visited is on a UNESCO site. In 1980 the area became a preserved site and those living in the cave houses had to move. Our host did in fact move, but is renting the house back from the government to allow tourists to visit it. His family had owned the cave home for over 400 years and we found it charming and so very peaceful.

Our host’s family had lived in this cave house for 400 years

The courtyard.  Many rooms surround this — The courtyard. Many rooms surround this

Many of the “fairy houses” were used to house pigeons, who were kept primarily for their droppings the farmers used to fertilize the soil.

Enroute to an open-air museum, we stopped for coffee/tea at a lovely restaurant, We then bussed to an open-air area where we toured several cave churches. When the Roman invaded, they forbade Christianity, so followers moved into the caves and worshipped there. Frescoes and paintings from years ago are still visible.

The yellow you see on the bottom right is area rich in sulfur

Lunch was spectacular. We dined in a restaurant known for “traditional” food and we weren’t disappointed. Sitting on the top floor of an ancient building, we enjoyed a stew made in crockery, as well as 10 or so traditional dishes. Oh my.

One of the many delicious traditional foods at lunch

Then off to...where else? A winery! Turkish wine has improved in leaps and bounds and we loved some we tasted. Our winery had earlier stored its juice in vats carved out of the caves. In 1990 they were forced to change to stainless for sanitary reasons.

Cave “vats” on either side stored the grapes.  In 1990 they changed to stainless vats — Cave “vats” on either side stored the grapes. In 1990 they changed to stainless vats

We bussed back to the hotel, gathered in the garden for a few bottles of wine, Received word there were sudden cancellations on a balloon ride for tomorrow morning—so I’ll be up at 4. WOOHOO!