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On the (old Silk) road to Cappadocia.
45 Seats - 8 tourists, 1 driver, 1 guide. Sounds good to me.
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There is a Lake back there. |
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Cappadocia is not a town or city, It is a loosely defined area that continues the name of an ancient Roman province.
The 'fairy chimneys' are the result of ancient volcanic activity.
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Caves and cave churches in Cappadocia area. At least 3500 years of habitation until 1900s |
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There are 14 popular Cave Churches in Goreme. These were used between the 4th and 13th centuries by Christian Monks seeking a simple, aesthetic life.
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UNDERGROUND CITIES
Who begun the digging of these caverns and tunnels is a mystery, but there are those who think the first levels were built as storage areas by the Hittites as long ago as 1400 BCE. They were periodically used for security from invaders, perhaps by Christians eluding Romans and, later, Arabs. Local villagers hid in them from an invading Egyptian army in 1839.
The largest of these cities was 18 stories and housed 20,000 people.
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Ziya, our guide.
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The Underground Cities: There are actually 40 or so subterranean settlements in the area although only a few are open to the public.
The one we were in was on seven levels.
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Vent to Fresh Air. People climbed out this way as well
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NOT shopping outside the underground city.
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Beautiful View, Restfull Stop |
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Police Station
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Interesting patio and view.
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Colleen on the camel.
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Cave Condo
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Mount Erciyes, an extinct volcano. Highest mountain in Turkey.
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Cave Dweller??
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The Camel
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