Hello,
I wanted to fill in the gap in the blog. There were 2 days that I did not blog because the
Internet connection was so slow that I could not blog while we were in
Cappadocia.
On Sunday we had a long drive from
Pammukale to
Cappadocia. We left the hotel early and began our journey. We drove across the flat central plateau of Turkey. We drove to the site of
Pisidan Antioch which is mentioned in the book of Acts 13:13 and following. Paul and
Barnabus visited and preached in this city. The site has been excavated in the 1930's (the Temple to Augustus) and the much more in the 1980's -90's. Large portions of the Roman roads have been uncovered. Shops, a bath house and churches are now visible. In the distance a portion of the
aqueduct of the city is visible.
After visiting this site we drove on towards
Konya (ancient
Iconium, Acts 13 & 14). Most of the ancient city is not visible today because of the modern city. While in
Konya we visited the shrine of
Mevlanna or
Rumi the founded of the Sufi movement of Islam. This is a mystic group best known through the dance of the "Whirling Dervishes".
After visited the shrine of
Mevlana we drove towards
Cappadocia and stopped at a
Caravanserai located by a sink hole lake.
Caravanserais were built in the Medieval period to help trade from the east to center of the Ottoman Empire. They provided safety for travelers and place for them to sleep and eat. They also could bring their pack animals inside so they could lodged for the night.
We then drove on to our hotel in
Cappadocia where we spent two nights.
On Monday we had a full day of touring. First we visited one of the Underground Cities. This "city" is massive with 8 levels of dwelling space that was used during times of attack. We squeezed through the underground city and safe the rolling stones that blocked enemies entering. We also saw kitchens, and lodging places.
After leaving the underground city we visited the
Goreme Valley with its many fresco painted churches and houses carved in to the cliffs made of volcanic
tufa. The landscape is beautiful and unique. Volcanic ash which became a soft stone, and covered with lava. Wind and water erosion carved the ash into "fairy
chimneys" and other formations.
We also visited a pottery workshop and gallery and a onyx workshop and gallery. We saw how pottery and onyx pieces are made.
After lunch we visited the Zelve Valley a place that used for filming the first Star Wars movie for an alien setting. We saw a mosque carved into the cliff and we climbed through a tunnel.
We also saw a formation that looks like a camel and 3 pillars which are called the 3 sisters.
After this full day we returned to the hotel.
On Tuesday we left for Antioch. We drove south through the high mountains and we drove through a mountain near the ancient Cilcian Gates which was an important pass for many years. Alexander the Great passed this way on his way to the Battle of Issus. Many armies and merchants pasted this way also. Later we entered Tarsus the home of the Apostle Paul. We visited some of the Roman ruins of the city at the "Well of Saint Paul". Then we ate lunch in Tarsus. We drove on to Antioch to spend the night.
This fills in the gap of our journey.
Connie and I begin our eastern Turkey adventure tomorrow morning.
John Wineland
Adana, Turkey
PS I will send some pictures of this later this evening
Paul's Well in Tarsus, Turkey
Rugged terrain near the ancient mountain pass the Cilcian Gates
This is a group photo taken in the Underground City in Cappadocia
