back from Cappadocia

I got back from Cappadocia last night. It was a jam packed but amazing weekend. I hope to go back at some point.

It took us about 5 hours to get to our hotel. We stopped along the way at a salt flats place. This is where I found my friend the ostrich. We had fun running around on the salt lake and pretending we were in a desert.

Once we finally arrived at our hotel, we went out to dinner as a group. Our hotel was really cool because it was built into the rocks. So I spent the weekend sleeping in a cave.



The next day we started our day long tour around 930. We drove to a "photo stop" and took some pictures. Then we drove to the underground city. The city was used by Hitites, Romans and Byzantines. I went exploring and found some dark scary tunnels that led to blocked off entrances.


After the underground city, we went to one of the many valleys in Cappadocia. We took a hike through the valley and climbed some rocks/looked in abandoned caves.

After the hike, we went to lunch. We had a special kind of meal that is cooked in pottery. It was lamb with veggies and rice. We all ate way too much. I feel like I ate all weekend. I have never eaten so much bread in my life.

Speaking of eating, a friend wanted to know what kind of breakfast the Turks eat. So a normal Turkish breakfast consists of tomatoes, cucumbers, yogurt, olives, bread, jam, hardboiled egg (sometimes) and fruit (sometimes). Nothing too exciting, but it can make for a very interesting taste combo.


So after lunch we checked out a pottery shop. We watched a couple guys make some pots. It was pretty amazing to watch. Then we went through the shop and gawked at the plates that were priced at 850 YTL. (100 YTL = about $75) If I was older and had the money, I totally would have bought something.


So then we made one final at a place where travelers along the silk road would have stopped. It was neat to take a step back in time, but at this point in the day, I was so exhausted that I just wanted to go back to the hotel ----------->
and sleep.

We finally did arrive back at the hotel around 6 or so. I took a nap and then went to dinner with a couple people. I FINALLY found hummus and it was amazing. I didn't eat hummus before coming here because I thought I would be eating a ton of it, but I have yet to find it in Ankara.


On Sunday, we went to the Goreme Open Air Museum. It has a lot of old churches that were built into the rocks. All if the churches have frescoes in them, some better preserved than others.

After the Open Air Museum, I got some lunch then headed back to the hotel to pack. Along the way back to Ankara, we stopped at the Haci Becktas shrine.

I wish I could tell you more about it, but I will have to get back to you on that. Basically, Haci Becktas is a philosopher who apparently thought up a lot of good educational, religious, etc. systems. It has kind of turned into a religious sect since his death.


After the shrine visit, we returned to Ankara. We were all sad to leave Cappadocia, but very glad to get off the bus.


So today I am going to pick up my residency permit. Hopefully I will now be able to get an actual plan for my phone instead of just buying kontur (minutes). Kontur get pretty expensive and it would be great to only have to pay 100YTL a month for unlimited service.



After I get my permit, I have nothing until 530 when Turkish class starts. Tomorrow, I have Turkish class at 530, but thats it. Same thing for Wednesday. Thursday I have class at METU and then my Turkish final exam. Friday = nothing.

Our group has two birthdays this weekend so we will be celebrating on Friday night. A few of us are going to make a Turkish flag cake (hopefully).

On Sunday, we are taking a day trip to some organic farm. I think it is supposed to give us a look into village life here in Turkey.


So nothing exciting is happening for the next couple of days. Don't get mad if I don't post. Miss you guys