Imagine eighty people piling up into two coach buses at 9’o clock p.m. getting prepared for a ten hour ride.   Once everyone got settled we headed off to Cappadocia.  Cappadocia is a region in central Turkey known for unique rock formations cause by volcanoes and erosion.  Cappadocia contains several underground cities, largely used by early Christians as hiding places before they became an accepted religion. The Cappadocian Fathers of the 4th century were integral to much of early Christian philosophy. 

For the weekend we were staying at a 5-star resort called Dadak Thermal, which was located on a thermal spring and had a wonderful spa.  That Friday we were scheduled to go skiing but because of a lack of interest (or lack to pay for equipment and everything) we tried to come up with another activity.  What we came up with was to go horseback riding through some of the valleys and nearby towns within the cliffs, which in my opinion was a much better option.  We arrived and rented the horses for two hours.  After the first hour we stopped in a small town to rest for a few minutes and take pictures.  After the break two of the girls asked to split off with one of the guides because they were experienced horse riders and wanted to gallop.  We were about halfway back to the ranch when the experienced riders accidently came into view of our horses.  My horse bucked a little when she saw the other horses running by.  I was able to calm her down but it started a chain reaction with the two horses behind me who took off like rockets surprising people riding them.  They went quickly out of site.  When we found the girl she had fallen off and sprained her ankle.   The guy jumped off and even though he told a dramatic story of how it happened he only had minor scratches.  Being the Boy Scout and lifeguard I am I helped the girl remove her shoes and socks before her foot became to swollen to do so.  The ranch did not have any ice and neither did the convenience store we stopped at, but being creative we bought several can of cold Efes (Turkey’s Budweiser) and held it against her ankle until we got back to the hotel.  Once back at the hotel we grabbed dinner and went to check out the hotel’s thermal spas.  The 

water was a bluish green and very hot but relaxing to soak in after a long bus drive and riding horses for two hours.  Two of the Turkish guys showed up and we went in to check out the Hammam (Turkish bath).  The floors and walls were covered in marble and the ceiling had blue glass circles in a round pattern.  The Turks then persuaded me to lie on the marble slab in the center.  They then began to use rough towel gloves to scrape the dead skin off of me.  The masseuse walked in noticing their poor technique and took over.  So there I was lying on my stomach on this marble slab in a room full of steam being rubbed down by three Turkish men. 

The next day we went to explore some of the rock formations and dwellings that had been 

created into the side of the cliffs.  The tour guide pointed out some rooms we could go into and then told us that there was another dwelling to the side but that there wasn’t any way to get up in them.  A few of us went to just look.  When we got to the bottom of this rock I found a stairway and a chiseled ladder.  Without hesitating I climbed up to see what it was like.  I was up there long enough to get some pictures before some Turkish soldiers approached the group of my friends at the bottom and asked me to come down.  Afterwards we got back to the bus to go on and see more fairy chimneys, as well as the iconic ones that had huge boulders sitting on thin columns.  The next stop was a more extensive town of these Christian dwellings.  The Goreme Open Air Museum had multiple churches carved into

 the cliffs will very beautiful artwork painted on the walls and ceilings in a few.  When we got back to the town nearby we ate lunch and then headed across the street to watch a demonstration of artists making clay pottery.  Throughout the whole building there were stacks of painted plates, bowls, cups, and vases.  There were also some very interesting sculptures.

 On Sunday we went to explore an underground city that went six stories underground and had an elaborate tunnel system.  It almost seemed like a giant ant farm.  Tunnels everywhere that would twist and turn quite often with rooms periodically throughout.  If it wasn’t for the tour guide I feel that we would have easily gotten lost.  Afterwards we headed to the regions famous winery for a wine tasting.  Once everyone had their souvenir wine and bought some to go we all boarded the bus and began the long ten hour drive back to school.

Location: Uchisar Kavsagi Neveshir, Cappadocia, Turkey