Cappadocia

After a long day of traveling from Antalya on the Silk Road we checked into our hotel, had dinner and then headed for a  Whirling Dervish performance at a caravanserai near the town of Avanos.



Prior to the Whirling Dervish performance a light-show was displayed on the wall of the caravanserai.



Picture of the dome inside the Whirling Dervish performance. Photos were not allowed during the Whirling Dervish performance.



After a restful night's sleep, our tour group made it's first stop at a Pigeon Valley, near Uçhisar. The valley gets its name from the thousands of pigeon houses that have been carved into the soft tufa rock since ancient times. The pigeons have long been a source of food and fertilizer.



The rock citadel of Uçhisar, the tallest point in Cappadocia.



Fairy chimneys at Ürgüp.



Panoramic view of Ürgüp (Click on image to enlarge)



Fairy chimneys of Pink Valley, which is also known as Imaginary Valley because of the many animal shaped rocks.



Panoramic view of Pink Valley (Click on image to enlarge)



The fairy chimneys of Pasabag, also called Monks Valley.





Panoramic view of Monks Valley. (Click on image to enlarge)












The Göreme Valley




Panoramic view of Göreme Valley. (Click on image to enlarge)



A camel with the citadel of Uçhisar in the background.



Besides the fairy chimneys, the Cappadocia region is also noted for its rug making and ceramics. We stopped at a rug co-op for a demonstration of rug making.



A demonstration of the silk making process.



Examples of handmade rugs.





After two nights in Cappadocia we are on the motor coach early and make our finial stop at a ceramic shop in Avanos.

Avanos, on the banks of the Kızılırmak River is all about pottery-making. The Kızılırmak River is known as Turkey's "Red River" and gets its name from the red clay deposits found in the area.


The FIRCA Handicrafts Center's shops and  demonstration rooms occupy a 45,000 square foot area, which was carved to the rocks by hand.



The FIRCA family has been making pottery for more than two hundred years and shows us how a handmade plate is made.



Making a tea pot on a foot powered wheel.



One of our group tries her luck at the wheel.



Hand painting the ceramics.



Examples of the finished product.



A handmade plate.



A closeup view of the hand painted detail.



A small section of the display room.



Outside the men's bathroom (W.C.).



There are several ceramic shops in Avanos. This one offers a chance to do-it-yourself.



With a light rain falling, we are back on the motor coach and and heading for Ankara.