Day 2

Friday, we drove down to the Soğanlı Valley, where we took a really fun walk along the side of the valley. After lunch in Soğanli, we drove back to Göreme, stopping on the way at the Keşlik Monastery, the town of Mustafapaşa, the astounding Devrent Valley and the equally amazing Zelve Fairy Chimneys
tk12 060110530 j a Beautiful Turkish landscape south of Ürgüp Cappadocia The road descends into a cliff-lined valley. tk12 060111250 s a Yilanyi Kilise, the Snake Church or the St-George Church, in the Soğanlı Valley Cappadocia Courtyard of the Yilanyi Kilise
Cappadocia Wall paintings inside the church, with colors almost as fresh as the day they were painted Cappadocia Closeup Cappadocia Our driver, who spoke no English, dropped us off at the end of the road into the Soğanlı Valley and we walked into the trees and across the river and back to town on the bank of the valley. "Over the river and through the woods..." It was a lovely walk. Cappadocia Herself and her Turkish knapsack
Cappadocia Path along the side of the Soğanlı Valley tk12 060111390 s a Trees grow only near the river Cappadocia Trees near the river Cappadocia Siv making her way up the path (and taking pictures). It was raining lightly as we started out and, since our driver spoke no English, we were quite suspicious of the whole thing. But the weather gradually cleared up and we had a lovely and fascinating walk. Just right for seniors like us.
Cappadocia Other caves across the valley and road tk12 060111430 s a Other caves across the valley and road Cappadocia The Kubbeli Kilise, or Dome Church Cappadocia Swedish tourist in the Kubbeli Kilise
tk12 060111511 s r a Kubbeli Kilise tk12 060111540 s a Sakli Kilise, the Hidden Church tk12 060111550 s a The Dome Church should really be called the Dome Churches, as the rock is honeycombed with holes. Cappadocia American tourist in Hidden Church (?)
Cappadocia Hidden Church (?) tk12 060112010 s a View down the valley (downstream) Cappadocia Other carved churches Cappadocia Probably the Karabaş Kilise
tk12 060112130 s a Getting close to town Cappadocia Coming down into the town, such as it is Cappadocia Mesa looming over the town of Soğanlı tk12 060112221 s a Mesa looming over the town of Soğanlı
Cappadocia Old wooden bridge over the river Cappadocia Antique City of Sobesos, near someplace or other Cappadocia Mosaics in Sobesos tk12 060113540 s a Mosaics in Sobesos
Cappadocia Yellows amid old stones Cappadocia Ruins of Sobesos Cappadocia Ruins of Sobesos Cappadocia Plowed field
Cappadocia Keşlik Monastery, dug out in the 13th c. Cappadocia Wall painting in the Keşlik Monastery church Cappadocia Keşlik Monastery Cappadocia More marvelous wall paintings
Cappadocia Refectory of Keşlik Monastery tk12 060115040 s r St-Constantine-and-St-Helena Church in the former Greek city of Mustafapaşa tk12 060115050 s a The church doorway is decorated with grape-vine motifs. Cappadocia Closeup of grape-vines
Cappadocia St-Constantine-and-St-Helena Church, interior Cappadocia On the way back, we stopped in the astonishing Devrent Valley, with its myriad of wildly-shaped rock formations. tk12 060115270 j Devrent Valley Cappadocia Devrent Valley's balanced stones
Cappadocia Animalish-looking formation in the Devrent Valley Cappadocia Devrent Valley - paths galore Cappadocia Funny rocks Cappadocia Devrent Valley and paths
tk12 060115401 s a Is it a bird? It sure is not Superman. Cappadocia Devrent Valley Cappadocia The other side of the road Cappadocia Rocks eroded into raunchy forms...
tk12 060115502 s aa Is that a pelican? Cappadocia Devrent Valley Cappadocia On the road to Zelve tk12 060116110 s aa The truly astonishing fairy chimneys of Zelve Open-Air Museum
Cappadocia The truly astonishing fairy chimneys of Zelve Open-Air Museum Cappadocia Fairy chimneys at Zelve Open-Air Museum tk12 060116151 s a Zelve Open-Air Museum tk12 060116160 s a Zelve's fairy chimneys are in a circus, or arc, formed by the hills above and around
Cappadocia Three-headed fairy chimney Cappadocia Zelve Open-Air Museum Cappadocia One of the rock-carved churches in Zelve Cappadocia Camel and tourist -- frankly, which one looks more bored?
tk12 060116240 s a Zelve Open-Air Museum Cappadocia Zelve Open-Air Museum Cappadocia Chimney and hill tk12 060116290 s a Zelve Open-Air Museum
Cappadocia Flat tops Cappadocia Hillside chimneys Cappadocia Chimneys in a side valley Cappadocia The site of the Zelva Open-Air Museum