CAPPADOCIA . . . TURKEY.

AFTER A 14 HOUR TIRING AND ALMOST SLEEPLESS BUMPY BUS RIDE WE ARRIVED IN CAPPADOCIA. AS WE DESCENDED DOWN INTO THE VALLEY AND STARTED TO SEE THE UNIQUE SANDSTONE FORMATIONS OUR BODIES RACED WITH EXCITEMENT LIKE WE HAD JUST DRANK 39 ESPRESSO SHOTS. WE FOUND A NICE LITTLE CAVE ROOM FOR AROUND $12 FOR BOTH OF US INCLUDING BREAKFAST. WHILE WAITING FOR OUR ROOM THE OWNERS HORNY 6 TOED DOG STARTED PUTTING ON A CAPPADOCIAN LOVE SHOW.
WE CAUGHT A RIDE WITH THE HOTEL OWNER TO THE 'PRESERVED' PART OF CAPPADOCIA. U CAN EXPLORE MANY DIFFERENT CHURCHES WHICH WERE CARVED INSIDE THESE UNIQUELY SHAPED SANDSTONE FORMATIONS UPTO 1600 YEARS AGO. THE ROCK FORMATIONS IN THE CANYON ARE THE RESULT OF ERODING RAINS AND WINDS OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS. THE SANDSTONE LIKE MATERIAL WAS FORMED FROM HUGE VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS FROM SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS ERCIYES, MELENDIZ AND HASAN.
IN THE AFTERNOON WE WENT FOR A LONG HIKE THROUGH THE VALLEY. IT WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE TO EXPLORE THE THOUSANDS OF OLD CHURCHES STILL REMAINING. SOME OF THE ENTRIES TO THE CHURCHES WERE SOME 30 METERS HIGH AND NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS UNLESS U ARE AN A GRADE ROCK CLIMBER . . . HOW THE HELL DID THEY GET THE TOOLS UP THERE ALL THAT TIME AGO, AND THEN PROCEED TO CARVE OUT AND ENTIRE CHURCH ? ? ? U REALLY FEEL LIKE U ARE IN AN INDIANA JONES MOVIE WHILST INSIDE THE CAVES. ALWAYS KEEPING YOUR EYES PEALED FOR BOOBIE TRAPS, SNAKES AND UN-DISCOVERED TREASURES.
AS THE SUN WAS SETTING, THE SLUSHY RAIN STARTED TO FALL AND TEMPERATURES DROPPED BELLOW ZERO WE DECIDED TO HITCH-HIKE THE 6KMS BACK TO TOWN. THE FIRST RIDE WE SCORED WAS WITH A YOUNG BOY WHO COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE THEN 15. HE TOLD US THAT HE DIDNT HAVE A LICENSE AS HE ATTACKED THE DIRT ROADS LIKE A VETERAN RALLY DRIVER ! ! ! ! AFTER THE YOUNG MAN WE SCORED A RIDE WITH 2 OLDER GUYS WHO HAD A CAR PACKED OF ALCOHOL AND FOOD. THEY INVITED US TO JOIN THEM FOR A PARTY LATER IN THE HOTEL THAT THEY RUN TOURS FOR. WE ATE THE MOST DELICIOUS TYPICAL TURKSIH BARBEQUED FOOD WHILE DRINKING RAKI (THE MOST POPULAR ALCOHOLIC DRINK IN TURKEY . . . LIKE VODKA TO THE RUSSIANS) . . . AFTER WE FINISHED AND THE DRUNKER WE GOT THE TURKISH MUSIC CREEPED UP AND THE MEN BEGAN TO SHOW US HOW TO DANCE TURKISH STYLE ! ! ! IT FELT LIKE A BIZARRE MOVIE SCENE. WHEN I GET MYSELF IN THESE SITUATIONS I ALWAYS WONDER WHAT MY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE DOING AND HOW MUCH THEY WOULD LAUGH IF THEY WERE PRESENT. I DIDNT GET ANY PHOTOS BUT MARY MANAGED TO FILM A LOT . . . GOING TO MAKE A LITTLE EDIT TO PUT ON AFTER ALL THE PHOTOS ! ! !