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Tired, tired and even more tired.
The views were just breathtaking. I'd chickened out on the balloon ride. Perhaps if I knew I could land about 8-12 hours of sleep, I may have taken a chance. But getting up around 4 A.M. was not part of my plan.
After taking photos and just admiring the view, Bunny and I were up and Adam and headed over to our buffet breakfast this morning. Bunny led the way, as I had no clue where I was going. We even had to cross the cobblestone road to get over to the dining room.
This resort is absolutely gorgeous. I said, "if I ever had the chance to come back to Turkey, I'd definitely stay in Cappadocia, at this resort."
Breakfast was really nice and I swear this guy (from an Asian Tour Group), looked just like Jet Li. He even had that same swagger. I think he noticed me looking at him and continued to walk back and forth, until I decided to get some poundcake, while waiting on my omelet, so as not to stare.
The young lady making the omlets, was very friendly and introduced herself. Took me at least 5 trys to pronounce her name correctly. Couldn't remember it now, if someone offered me a million dollars. The omelet was pretty good.
Berna came in to grab something to eat, sat down with us and then we were off.
On our way down, I noticed a wine shoppe, but never got the chance to walk down there.
Our first stop was not too far from the resort. Very close actually.
Cappadocia which is unique in the world and is a miraculous nature wonder is the common name of the field covered by the provinces of Aksaray, Nevsehir, Nigde, Kayseri and Kirsehir in the Central Anatolian region.
In the upper Myosen period in the Cappadocia region as a result of the vulcanic eruptions occurred in Erciyes, Hasandag and Gulludag, in the region was formed a large tableland from the vulcanic tufas and together with the erosion of the Kizilirmak river and wind over ten thausands of years there appeared the chimney rocks which are a wonder of the nature. In the old Bronze Age the Cappadocia which was the population zone of the Assyrian civilization later has hosted the Hittite, Frig, Pers, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman civilizations. The first Christians escaped from the persecution of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century B.C. came to the Cappadocia over the Antakya and Kayseri and they have settled here. The first Christians finding the underground cities from Cappadocia have been hidden in these underground cities which gates were made in such way in which they couldn't be easily observed and they have escaped from the persecution of the Roman soldiers. Due that they had live in the underground cities for long duration without being able to go out they have developed these underground cities by making provisions rooms, ventilation chimneys, wine production places, churches, abbeys, water wells, toilets and meeting rooms.
In the prehistoric periods the first human settlements have begun and the humans have constructed the underground cities in the volcanic rocks in form of tufa due to protect themselves from the wild animals and they lived for long times in these underground cities. There are so many underground cities on the Cappadocia area of Turkey but the biggest is Derinkuyu Underground City.
Urgup, Cappadocia TurkeyIn these cities made in form of rooms connected to each others some of the rooms were connected to each other only with the tunnels tight and permitting passing of just a person. At the access gates of these tunnels there were huge stone rollers used for closing the tunnels for security reasons.
The first populations of the region of Cappadocia were Hatties, Luvies and Hittites. In the 3000-2000 years B.C. the Assyrians have established trade colonies in this region. The Cappaddocian tables with cuneiform in Assyrian language founded at Kanes which are lighting the social and politic life of the period and were in the same time the trade and economical agreements are the firs written tablets of Anatolia. According to these documents in that period in Anatolia were founded small local kingdoms non-depending from a central authority. These had in generally in their hands a little area and were living in peace. The region creating the core of the Hittite Empire later has go under the domination of Phrigia and Pers. The Pers civilization has called this region Katpatuka and its center was Mazaka. When Datames the Satrab (Starab: little district administrator at Pers) of Cappadocia has bear arms against the biggest king of Pers, the other Anatolian Satrabs have been supported him but the revolt has been raided. In 33 b.c. the Big Alexander has captured a big part of Cappadocia. In 188 B.C. The Cappadocia which entered under the Roman domination has been captured in 100 B.C. by the Mithridatesd the king of Pontus but in 63 B.C. Pompeius has defeated Mithridates and took again the Cappadocia under the domination of Rome. In the period of Tiberius the Cappadocia gainded the status of Roman district.
Cappadocia was one of the most important places in the spreading periods of the Christian religion. The first christians trying to escape from the Roman soldiers who wanted to avoid the spreading of the Christian religion have settled in the region of Cappadocia which was so suitable for hiding and so they were able to continue their natures and to spread their religions. Saint Basileious from Kaisera and Saint Gregorios from Nyssa had settled in Cappadocia. In 647 A.C. together with occupation of Kayseri by Muaviye Cappadocia has met with the Arabian invasions. Cappadocia which went under the domination of the Seljuks in 1072 has been added to the lands of Ottoman Empire in 1399 by the Ottoman Sultan Yildirim Beyazit.
We took lots of pictures at the Open Air Museum.
First structure is monastery of nuns at the Goreme open air museum. In fact, the monastery of nuns known as six or seven floors but can be visited only three floors yet. The connection between the floors of the monastery is provided with tunnel and tunnel entrance are closed with sliding stones like underground cities of Cappadocia. There is a dining hall in the first floor, second floor has a chapel which decorated with frescoes and third floor also has a church with geometric decoration. There is Monastery of Priests near the Monastery of the nuns. Only a few rooms on the ground floor can be visited for into the rock layers are destroyed. A little later there is Hagios Basileos church which is known a tomb chapel walls decorated with frescoes. Near this church there is Aynali monastery with places around a courtyard. Aynali monastery has a big room which suppositional meeting room, a church and tomb rooms. Elmali monastery, for many years been used as a loft, all entries have been closed and thus without destroying frescoes hardly reached today. Understanding that the church is decorated in two differnet periods by means of red paint figurative decorations bottom of the poured frescoes. There is Barbara Church behind the Elmali monastery, Barbara Church walls are decorated with geometric figures and animal pictures. Just ahead Church of Hagia Katherina' frescoes largely damaged. Yilanli church has a church, refectory, and other places. It has been named as Yilanli Church (Church with snake) for on one of the frescoes St. Georgios fight with a dragon on a horse.
The heat and hunger set in and we were then wisked off to lunch.
The restaurant was quite huge. Dimly lit, however, in the small group seating rooms, the sun shone through and was quite quaint. Each room had a theme. My favorite had sewing machines on the walls. The dishes and place settings were really nice also. The restaurant was not fancy, but was very nice to me. About 5-6 people sat at a table with plenty of room to spare.
I think this restaurant had the best lentil soup of all the restaurants we'd visited.
After about an hour or so, we headed back to the resort. After a full stomach and a full day of touring, I just wanted a shower. I knew that I would not be going to the folklore show this evening.
Unfortunately, some of the clothing that I'd washed the night before, was still wet. Not dripping, but too wet to pack, so I stuffed those in a plastic bag.
Surfed a bit and decided no dinner for me tonight. Way too tired.
I wasn't looking forward to the 5 hour trip to Ankara tomorrow.
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