Ankara and Cappadocia

Another early morning and we are whisked away for an overview tour of Ankara, a modern city of 4.5 million that is the seat of the government of Turkey.

Some interesting buildings in Ankara

A brief visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilization.  The history of the area is dizzying as it begins with the Hittites of 3000 BC and is affected by the movements of nomadic peoples of all directions, mixing artwork, language and culture.  It's impossible to keep track!

We fast forward both literally and figuratively to the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kamel Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey.  This extensive monument is, in some ways, a cross between the Washington Monument and Tienanmen square.  Ceremonially guarded by soldiers of the Air Force (blue uniforms), Ground Force (green uniforms) and NATO (white uniforms).   This man is highly revered in Turkey and the monument clearly demonstrates the homage paid.

These paving stones were widely spaced so as to create unsure footing.  This forces you to enter the mausoleum area with your head bowed.

Just "lion" around ... lol

The square in front of the mausoleum

A NATO guard.

Along the way we stop at an underground city, literally carved into the earth which served as safe refuge for people hiding from oppressors.  These adobe like structures were fully contained and had rooms partitioned for cooking, sleeping and storing food.  They even had a wine cellar.

Learning the ins and outs

Peek-a-boo!

Selling handcrafted dolls outside the site.

The highway takes us south-eastward, past sweeping plains, recently harvested.   The route is also marked, passing a huge salt lake which also is harvested ... for its salt!

A shepherd and his flock

Mining salt from the lake

With a bio-break at Aksaray we turn eastward along the silk road, the route followed by traders and merchants of ancient time, yet it is still used today.  We stop at a Caravansari which served as a roadside in for these travellers.  Room for everyone, including the beasts.  In fact, in wintertime the people slept with the camels for warmth.  It can get pretty chilly here with an average wintertime temperature of -8 degrees celsius.  I'm not sure that I would be compelled to cuddle up with a camel, but hey ... warm is warm.

The front of the Caravansari

Winter logdgings

The landscape changes, with its badlands and hoodoos that create a remarkably eerie environment.  It is our first glimpse at the fairy chimneys or beehive dwellings.  We will get to see more of these tomorrow.  After the hotel check-in, we are back on the bus for a demonstration of the whirling dervishes.  An Islamic sect called Mevlevi.  The twirling is a form of meditation or prayer richly steeped with symbolism on many levels.  The twirling, the chanting, the position of the head and hands all have purpose.

The hotel has an extraordinary buffet and we are back in our rooms to digest the day, the dinner and the delights we experienced.