Avanos, Nevşehir, Turkey
The day should have started with a balloon ride over the extraordinary landscape but although it had been booked months in advance due to the balloon company deciding to renege on the deal we didn’t. Unfortunately corruption and bribery is rampant in Turkey as it slides ever deeper into a totalitarian state.
However on a brighter note we drove off to pay a visit to an underground city. Built at the time of the Hittites as a refuge against invaders and consisting of 8 levels and 65 metres deep. 4000 people held out against Alexander the Great for 6 months before surrendering. We saw some of the defence mechanisms,the stabling,baptism pool,monastery and church. A couple of stops before lunch to take in some views of the pinnacles and cave dwellings. Then we visited the Goreme outside museum which was a vast complex of hillside cave dwellings and churches. Remains of frescoes could be seen inside the churches but not photographed.
Later on some of us attended a whirling dervish ceremony and had a question and answer session with their leader. We weren’t allowed to photograph the service but they did a twirl for us afterwards.
In the evening we enjoyed the local delicacy of beef baked in an enclosed clay pot where you had to break the seal of the lid by tapping on the side. Kate was first and tapped away for some time without success until the maitre’d took one tap...all part of the show.
There is a chance of a balloon ride tomorrow as our hotel owner has a contact. Naturally the price is much higher!
2025-05-22