BajaBlanca
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Goreme, Turkey
Hello all! We are now in Goreme but it was an adventure to get here! We left Konya after spending $36 dollars at the Hilton Konya which was really
not at all like one would have imagined - sub par dinner and breakfast.
Disappointed that we did not see the whirling dervishes, we set off for Cappadocia and the hot air balloons. Les and I have different strategies for
next town visits: he likes to see the town first and then find a hotel. I have found that we are so tired from the stress of getting there, that I
prefer to find a hotel and book before we go. Then we have a destination.
Yesterday Les won and we took off after he punched in Cappadocia on GPS. 4 plus hours, for us that is perfect driving allowance.
Four hours later and I look at the GPS final spot and it shows the middle of a road! Something is wrong I say. Have you ever said something is wrong
to your spouse???? It does not bode well.
He is not interested in my opinion and we push on. We end up at some hole in the wall hotel, clean but very ugly in a town that is clean but very
ugly. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. Les pulls into the hotel - the only one in town and checks us in. I am shocked but we go into hotel and decide to take
a nap.
When we wake up 2 hours later, he says: Are you in a better mood HAHAHAHA and I say, Yes. Well, I am going to make it worse he tells me.
Silence for a minute.
Cappadocia is the area (mind you, I had figured this out but never having been here before did not know what to do with that enlightenment) and it is
not here that we want to be. I found the balloons online and they are in Goreme. Not only that, he adds, we have to get up at 4 am to fly in a
balloon , so we have to go now.
WE pack up. The hotel owner, who speaks no English is shocked and we say BALLOONS BALLOONS.
We continue and the last hour to get here was magical. Goreme is indeed where the balloons are! We went this dawn and it was beyond any experience
I have ever had.
I dod not know that the ancient folks lived in caves in the 5th century. There are caves everywhere! The surrounding mountains look like Mars and
are absolutely incredible.
We have not been to one yet, but there are churches here too.
I will send David some photos.
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David K
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Photos:
BALLOONING:
OUR HOTEL IN GOREME:
UNDERGD 3:
KONYA MUSEUM:
This museum shows mosques around the world.
INSIDE KONYA MUSEUM:
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David K
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Blanca, can you tell us about the three photos you call "Undergd 3"?
The ancient-style maps were cool!
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TMW
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Great pictures Blanca.
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BajaBlanca
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I am sending David some photos with a camel and myself, Here is the background story to it.
We were on our way adventuring (Blanca is all about discovering the little places) to find an ancient Greek village 10 minutes away from Goreme. On
our way, I noticed a horse and camel on the side of the road - Ohhhh let's go for a ride, I suggested. Les was not interested.
A couple minutes later we set him down at a coffee shop and I go wandering to find the village. I found it, it was nothing to write home about, I
meandered back to the main road and lo and behold, the camel is right there. I negotiate with the owner that I want to get on the camel, take a
photo, no ride . We agree on 20 turkish lira (about $3). I call Les, tell him my plan and he drives to meet me.
I look at the camel and the guys put a small ladder and tell me to climb. I start but take a good look at the huge paws on the camel.
I look at his mouth - he is chewing on something and swings his neck back. He moves away, we move the ladder towards him. This happens twice and i
tell the guys NOPE. I am not getting up. HAHAHAHA
We pay the guy, who keeps telling me He is friendly but I my heart is pumping, I am hyperventilatind and the pics show my despair.
We paid him but no more camels for this lady.
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David K
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BajaBlanca
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I am sending David many photos of THE UNDERGROUND CITY. Here is what the internet says. The most astounding thing is that we stumbled upon it! But
there was to be drama too.
The Derinkuyu underground city ( Cappadocian Greek: Μαλακοπή Malakopi) is an ancient multi-level underground city in the Derinkuyu district in
Nevşehir Province, Turkey, extending to a depth of approximately 60 metres (200 ft). It is large enough to have sheltered as many as 20,000 people
together with their livestock and food stores.
***********************************************
Heading into THE UNDERGROUND CITY there are tons of very unique items being sold. Les ended up buying two hats - one for his son and one for his
brother. David will get some pics soon. I am having a hard time sending them.
Then after wandering the stalls, we go in, get our tickets. As we are going into the cave city, my Les says "Maybe i shouldn't go." Of course you
should I say. Wish I had just let it go.
We go inside and within minutes there are tons of people inside in front and already behind us. This is a world heritage site, really off the beaten
path, really popular.
Walk for 5 minutes and the crawl path gets smaller and narrower. Les is in front and I am in back. He gets stuck. The path is too low for him to
get a foot in front except for half an inch at a time. He begins to stress and have a hard time breathing, I begin to cry. We cannot return and
have to wait until he can slowly and I mean slowly, move an inch at a time.
We immediately found the blue arrows that indicate the way OUT. Once in the front of the cave, I ask for one photo but I am in tears.
I sure wish they had said something about weight and height. The people in the 5th century who were living there were not the size of Les!!!!
The cave system is enormous. Four stories, miles and miles with kitchens and all. But I only have 3 pics of the inside. One is the grinder, one is
of me in the first room as you enter and the last is a stairway.
Now, if I had to do it again, I wd lose some weight first hahaha and I would use the guide whom we turned down BUT there are cave homes all the way
from this town to Goreme. You can go inside any of them for free! Literally, there must be thousands. Difference being that this was so huge. They
had cows and horses in it! Maybe they were tiny or maybe there is another entrance?
Enjoy the photos!
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David K
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Underground City photos
Craft stalls at Underground City
Pic of Les BEFORE the fiasco.
Pic of hotplates.
This pic shows the intricacy of the cave city. Daunting endeavor!
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TMW
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Come on Blanca. What's an adventure without some danger. Les looks right at home, Les of Arabia.
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SFandH
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Les's "bazaar" headgear looks great. He needs to wear that around La Bocana. 
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BajaBlanca
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Now that would be a sight to see! He bought two to give away, nothing for himself.
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AKgringo
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Blanca, I am curious what it smells like down in those caves? Plumbing has to be a problem!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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BajaBlanca
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They were fine, it has been a long time since anyone inhabited them, there are "windows" to the outside and zero privacy.
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