Cappadocia, Turkey.

Our entree into Turkey! One night in Ankara and we’re off to Cappadocia, a landscape shaped by terrestrial events to become cave dwellings and underground cities. Really, whole cities underground, with homes, churches, shops, wells, and tombs. We opted out of the guided tours and hot air balloon ride, saving us a couple hundred bucks, and were still amazed.

South of Cappadocia is Konya, where the famous whirling dervishes would spin to enlightenment. Sufi poet, Rumi, is buried in a tomb there, in the Mevlana Museum.

From all the swimming we did in Jordan, plus the flight, Leo got an ear infection. Luckily, we found Dr. Nuriiye and got right in. For the speediest recovery, she prescribed two antibiotics, a nose spray, pain medication, and a healthy diet.

city of Aksaray, home of Aksaray Malaklisi dog breed

waiting to see Dr. Nuriiye for Leo's ear infection

cave panorama

down, down, down into the cave

short hallway, other way

inside a cave

back up the cave

down, down, down into the cave

exploring an underground city

short hallway

pide restaurant