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| Day 5 |
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| Some people left early for the balloon ride before sunrise, but we slept in. After the wonderful breakfast at the Old Greek House, we walked up the hill in the village and paid a surprise visit to Sidars acquaintaces, Haci and Sereife. After changing clothes, Haci came out greet us. He was more than happy to show us where they lived. As it must be a Turkish custom, Haci offered the fragrant disinfecting hand lotion to each guest as we were leaving. I would have brought some bottles home if it werent for the TSA regulation of liquid. |
| After the morning walk, we got on the bus to explore Cappadocias fairly chimney rock formation and to visit the Göreme Open Air Museum where caves served as early Christian churches. Reportedly, there are more than 600 rock-cut churches in Cappadocia. |
| The Turks eat lunch and dinner later than we are accustomed to. Around 2 p.m. Sidar took our hungry group to a village house where a woman named Fahiye and her mother Hatice had prepared a simple but delicious lunch for us. Sidar told us that two years ago while hunting with some friends he became lost from the group as a result of an early snow storm. Suffering from the cold he came upon these women's home and they welcomed him into their house. Since then he brings his tour group here for lunch. The lunch was followed with an opportunity to ask Fahiye questions regarding their village life. |
| Göreme Open Air Museum |
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| The day ended with a visit to a carpet factory. We watched a man skillfully harvesting silk from silkworm cocoons and several young women weaving carpets. |
| Back at the Old Greek Hotel, we had another group dinner, followed by the entertainment of Turkish/Greek music and dancing. |
| Sereife and Jerry |
| Susanne, Haci & Me |
| Müstafapasa in Cappadocia |
| National flag on a minaret --to celebrate the Turkish Independence Day on May 19th |
| Cleaning hands |