Sorry that I have not posted for a couple of days – between long and tiring days and poor internet connections I just couldn’t blog. So now I have a lot of catching up to do. The bus is leaving soon so this will be quick.
We are all well – and feeling the healthy tension between excitement about so much to see and do and sensory and memory overload. Our tour guide is pumping our heads full of information about the religious and cultural history of Turkey. What an amazing country it is. As the bridge between Asia and Europe it has been, and remains an important thoroughfare for trade – both of goods and ideologies.
For me the highlight of Ankara, the capital city, was our visit to the tomb of Ataturk. He was a leader who brought Turkey into the 20th Century with reforms that brought sweeping language and cultural change to the country. He is very highly regarded by most in the country although, according to our guide, the fanatical Muslims who are now in power are doing what they can to undo his important work.
We spent two days in Cappadoci. If you have never heard, or seen picture of it, you must google it. It is an amazing place – like no where else on earth. Highlights there were (not the poor internet!!) a tour of the ancient towns and cities now open-air museums showing how the people lived in caves. This was a very important Christian area and there were many churches carved into caves with ancient frescoes painted in natural colours. As well we toured the underground city – a complete community carved into the soft rock of the area – they could house up to 3000 people and they could survive underground for up to three months with food, water (and wine of course) stored underground. For many of us the most memorable highlight was an early morning hot air balloon ride over the fairy chimneys and valleys of Cappadicoa. Have we got pictures to show you of that.
We have a couple of farmers in our group and they have enjoyed the bus ride through the “bread basket of Turkey”. They don’t farm here like they do at home!
Yesterday we arrived in Konya and toured the mausoleum of the Sufi mystic Rumi. I have enjoyed his poetry in recent years so it was interesting to learn more about him. This morning we head further south and by nightfall we will be at the resort town of Antayla the Mediterranean. On route we will stop at several of the ancient sites for early Christian cities. Another great day ahead of us.
