Cappadocia, Anatolia, Turkey, July 2015
A magical land like from a fairy tale. Underground cities. The rocks are subject to erosion have lots of bizarre shapes. Mysterious and beautiful at any time of the year. Cappadocia is located almost in the heart of Turkey. It's very easy to get there. It is a tourist place. However, it's worth it, even once there to go.
Some history
Cappadocia was shaped about 60 million years ago by the activity of the three volcanoes surrounding it: Erciyes, Hasan and Göllü. The ash ejected by the volcanoes covered the region of present Cappadocia and, in combination with the sands, created a tuff - a characteristic type of sedimentary rock. Tuff is a soft rock and easily eroded by winds and waters. For millions of years, the forces of nature have carved what we can now admire as the lunar landscape of this fairy-tale land.
The earliest mentions of Cappadocia come from the second half of the sixth century BC, and the name of these areas is also mentioned in the Bible in the book of Acts.
In the soft tuff rocks tunnels, churches and even entire cities have been hollowed out.
Near the village of Göreme there is a National Park inscribed on the UNESCO list with over 30 such indoor rock churches.
Underground cities and houses carved out of the rocks
The underground city walls excavated in the rocks make a great impression. It could accommodate even several thousand people. The rocks were first soaked and, as they softened, tunnels were drilled in them. Underground, the first Christians found shelter.
Each family had its own space. There were shared kitchens and of course a well with almost no bottom. Everything perfectly organized.
Houses or churches also carved in rocks are just as interesting. The walls of sacred places are covered with paintings. It's amazing how everything is well-preserved.
To this day, many people live in rock houses. If it is a place belonging to the family, there is no way to leave it. In many such houses, restaurants and hotels are created. Tourists pay dearly for an overnight stay with a view of Cappadocia. Wedding sessions are also very popular. I must admit that they are beautiful.
Balloon flight
For me, the most spectacular was watching Cappadocia from above. Ballooning at sunrise is an unforgettable experience. A dozen colourful balloons are rising up, and everyone wants to fly towards the sun to welcome a new day.
The rocks are wonderfully wrapped in rays. We rise once high up, once we fly just above the rocks. Sometimes I have the impression that we will be stuck on the top in a moment. There are a few more people in the basket with me, but it's quiet. You can hear only sounds from the walkie-talkies, the sound of gas being released and snapshots of the cameras. Peace, „silence", sunrise. I'm really delighted.
For these views, it is worth getting up in the middle of the night, it is worth paying dearly.
