The Random Rambler

Cappadocia, Turkey

// April 24th, 2009 // Travel

I’ll admit it, I have a love affair with Turkey. There were three short moments, one summer and two winters, each more exotic than the next… but in the end we both knew we had to go our separate ways. Maybe it was the history, maybe it was the culture or maybe it’s because Turkey was my very first… whatever the reason though I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of each other.

Cappadocia Landscape

For most travelers, Turkey starts and ends at Istanbul, which is a shame. As beautiful as Istanbul is, there’s an entire mainland, untouched by commercial tourism, just waiting to be explored. Cappadocia, located in the province of Nevsehir, is just one of these places.

Cappadocia’s otherworldly landscape was formed centuries ago after volcanic dust, ash and lava settled in surrounding lakes. Eventually these lakes dried up and over time the sediment left behind slowly eroded away. It’s defining peaks, valleys and mushroom like ‘fairy chimneys’ were formed later after a series of earthquakes ripped through the region. The result is a landscape unlike anything you’ve ever seen around the world.

Goreme

Fairy Chimneys

Settlers, around the 7th century, carved out their homes, churches, monasteries and even underground cities out of these rock formations which, to date, have been preserved in their entirety thanks in part to the Turkish government.

In the next few posts, we stroll through Goreme National Park, trek the Ihlara Valley, climb Uchisar Fortress and visit the Derinkuyu Underground City!