At the beginning of July we celebrated a special Wedding Anniversary with our family, and decided we would like to mark the occasion by taking a trip to see the extraordinary landscape of Cappadocia. November suited us better as July would have been unbearably hot.
Every household in Turkey has one of these blue glass ornaments hanging somewhere in their home, protecting them from the 'evil eye'.
In the previous post I mentioned that this photo held a clue. The Honesty seeds are sitting on a Kelim rug surrounded by Kelim cushions all hand woven in Turkey.
Several people guessed Turkey, but Perpetua, Marian and Yoko were spot on when they said Cappadocia - this is where fairy chimneys are to be found - geologically known as Hoodoos.
Several people guessed Turkey, but Perpetua, Marian and Yoko were spot on when they said Cappadocia - this is where fairy chimneys are to be found - geologically known as Hoodoos.
In 'A Time To Keep Silence' by Patrick Leigh Fermor, he describes the area thus:-
It was the landscape of a planet, the surface of the moon or Mars or Saturn; a dead, ashen world, lit with the blinding pallor of a waste of asbestos, filled, not with craters and shell-holes, but with cones and pyramids and monoliths from fifty to a couple of hundred feet high, each one a rigid isosceles of white volcanic rock like the headgear of a procession of Spanish penitents during Passion Week.
These petrified cagoulards extended for leagues to the farthest end of the ravine, where they were reduced by distance to a barrier of shark's teeth.
Patrick Leigh Fermor was one of our greatest travel writers who died in 2011 at the age of 96 years.
Our journey commenced along the Mediterranean coast of Antalya before climbing over the mighty Taurus mountain range to Konya, the cradle of Sufism. We then followed the Silk Road across the plains of the ancient region of Anatolia to Cappadocia.
We found fairy chimneys - more of which, when I have recharged my batteries following our extensive travels.
Hello Rosemary, What magnificent scenery you encountered on your trip. I should probably get one of those eye amulets, in case all my Chinese lucky charms are insufficient.
ReplyDeleteI was impressed with Fermor's poetic descriptions, and I am looking forward to your further explanation of the fairy chimneys.
--Jim
Hello Jim - it is very nice to be able to communicate with you again. The ‛evil eye' protectors are everywhere - in the form of jewellery, decorated on pottery, and as glass hanging ornaments etc - the Turkish people certainly believe in them.
DeleteFermor was a wonderful travel writer, his books are well worth reading.
Welcome back, delightful photos, Turkey is a wonderful country of many contrasts. I have an evil eye bracelet which I purchased when David took me to Istanbul to celebrate my 60th Birthday last year. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your welcome back Linda - Istanbul is a wonderful city - it is so vibrant, colourful, and so much to visit.
DeleteWelcome back in blogland after youre wonderful trip too turkey.
ReplyDeleteI have never been in Turkey, but i see on youre photo's that it is a beautiful country.
Happy Weekend.
Greetings,
Inge, my choice
Thank you for your welcome back Inge - it is lovely to reconnect with you again. Our trip to Turkey was full of fascinating sights and images which I will slowly sort out into some posts.
DeleteSounds like you had a fabulous trip Rosemary and your photos are stunning. Look forward to hearing more. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
Thank you Patricia - most days we saw something that was completely new to us, it was a very interesting trip.
DeleteWelcome back, rosemary! I have known Cappadocia for long but it’s quite recent when I got to know about fairy chimneys. It was right after the terrible incident that two Japanese female students were assaulted by the local man at Cappadocia and one was killed. But my country people do know Turkey is not such a violent country, and the two nations are very friendly. Turkey is an intriguing and fascinating country straddling Europe and Asia. I’m interested in what you were attracted. The images you showed us are beautiful and exotic.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Dear Yoko - it is sad when something tragic happens to overseas visitors in foreign lands.
DeleteWe found the Turkish people to be both friendly and hospitable. They want to sell you their crafts and wares, but do not pursue you like they do in some countries.
You are right about Turkey straddling Europe and Asia with just the Bosporus Strait separating both. There are very strong influences from both continents there which makes for a very interesting mix in the food and things to buy.
Welcome back from what must have been an unforgettable trip, Rosemary. Your photos are amazing and I look forward to more of them in future posts.
ReplyDeleteThank you Perpetua - the trip was really interesting - we saw things that were completely new to us.
DeleteI do hope that your eye sight is progressing well?
It's improving all the time, thanks. :-)
DeleteDelighted to learn that Perpetua.
DeleteHi Rosemary, I always enjoy your blog posts about your travels. I have never been to Turkey, so it is especially nice to read about this country in your posts. The "Fairy Chimneys" look amazing. What natures creates is hard to top! Hope you recharge your batteries soon, can't wait for part II of your travel description.
ReplyDeleteChristina
Dear Christina - Thank you for such a kind comment. The different areas that we visited gave us so many new experiences - I am enjoying reliving them as I go through my photos.
DeleteHi, Rosemary - Another fabulous and exotic trip!! Welcome back. I'm looking forward to enjoying more of stunning photos. We just came back from Sweden and Denmark - rained 80% of the time we were there :( How was the food?
ReplyDeleteHello Loi - not a drop of rain fell in Turkey and it was very hot. We had full board with wonderful exotic food.
DeletePleased that you are safely returned from your trip.
Welcome back Rosemary! Congratulations on your wedding anniversary. It's good to see you and your husband had a good time. Lovely photographs!
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend.
Madelief x
Dear Madelief - glad that you enjoyed seeing the photos - it will take me a while to sort them all out. It was a packed trip and we saw lots of amazing things.
DeleteHi, Rosemary! Welcome back! You certainly had a great trip. Lovely views and pictures. I've never been to Turkey, but I've visited Greece twice.
ReplyDeleteHello Satu and thank you for your kind welcome back. Glad you enjoyed a few of the photos from Turkey where we saw some fascinating things.
DeleteWhat a great trip you had in Turkey. I love reading your stories and your 'Fairy Chimneys' look wonderful. Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures with us.
ReplyDeleteStill feeling a bit tired from so much travelling, but happy that the trip went well. The area in Cappadocia with the fairy chimneys is an amazing landscape.
Deletewow im really jealous...i have never been and also some ancestores were from trukey..great amazing shots
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting Sharon, which part of Turkey did they come from?
DeleteI'm pleased you had such a wonderful trip, Rosemary - and to such an ancient and fascinating place. I look forward to hearing about the fairy chimneys, they look amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhen we first saw the landscape in Cappadocia we were stunned by it - nothing like we have ever seen before.
DeleteI love the fairy chimneys too! My great aunt's husband was half Turkish, but died in WW1 within months of their marriage - she spent the rest of her life travelling in Eastern Europe. Recapturing memories, perhaps.
ReplyDeleteWhen you hear of tragic stories like that it makes you realise how fortunate your own life has been.
DeleteI wrote here - http://wherefivevalleysmeet.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/remembering-vera-maschova-oreste.html - about something similar to your great aunt's story.
Looking forward to seeing more photos of the fairy chimneys.
ReplyDeleteSounds as if you had a wonderful time.
Can't understand that Evil Eye or Devils Eye...have read about it, heard about it, but still don't understand people being so superstitious, and or, so frightened. Anyway that is what they believe in, as many cultures do :)
Protection against the Evil Eye is very big in Turkey - here it does not figure at all. I have bought an ornament back with me as the blue glass is very striking as it catches the sunlight whilst hanging in a window.
DeleteDear Rosemary, Lovely photos. and it looks like you had good weather and were able to soak up some sun!
ReplyDeleteYou have whetted our appetites for more beautiful images and fascinating stories.
Good to see you back blogging.
Betty
Thank you Betty - it is good to reconnect with you again.
DeleteYes, the weather was perfect all day, everyday, so November is an excellent month to travel there.
Beautiful photos of stunning places...which I still have to visit , looking forward to seeing more. Wish you a nice and relaxing weekend.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much that attracts your attention in Turkey - lots of interesting shapes and striking colours everywhere.
DeleteThanks Val - glad you enjoyed seeing them.
ReplyDeleteHello Rosemary
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary and may the fairy dust from the fairy chimneys cast magic and blessings on your life.
The images and description of the trip has me longing to follow in your footsteps.
Victoria (blogger from Art House Design) wishes to be remembered to you and thanks you for visiting her blog
Helen xx
Hello Helen - it was a very memorable trip. We saw so many things that were completely new to us which we found very interesting.
DeleteI can quite see how they came to be called Fairy Chimneys. I will be fascinated to learn more about them, and how they were formed. Glad you had an enjoyable trip Rosemary, if tiring!
ReplyDeleteThe geology in Cappadocia is really interesting, and I shall look forward to writing the post when I finally sort through the photographs.
DeleteDear Rosemary, You give me the wanderlust. Love all of your photographs, especially the one with the fairy chimneys. Reminds me a little of the Trully, Trullies of southern Italy. Looking forward to the next post.
ReplyDeleteDear Gina - you are right they do share a resemblance to the Trullies in Italy.
DeleteThe volcano that was responsible for the fairy chimneys was many millions of years ago.
Turkey is a fantastic country, there is so much to see. Unfortunately the distances are enormous.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
It is a large country and travel is not always that easy.
DeleteIt appears you were in Turkey at the perfect time. I would love to go there myself to: see Classic architecture, find books of Sufi poetry, watch whirling Dervishes, eat good food and see the fairy chimneys (of which I've never heard!).
ReplyDeleteIt is surprising that somewhere which is only a 4½ hour flight from London should be so different. Previously we had been to Istanbul and it encouraged us to try further afield.
DeleteWhat amazing photos....you have captured so very much atmosphere, history and beautiful scenery! I'm sure you had a wonderful time and I really look forward to hearing more about those fantastic-looking fairy chimneys! Axxx
ReplyDeleteI am slowly working my way through the photos, but the fairy chimneys will probably be last - at least all the washing is now done.
DeleteAmazing place and photos. Looking forward to learn more from your exotic trip.
ReplyDeleteIt was a packed trip full of interest - we are slowly getting back to normal.
DeleteI wanted to comment here yesterday but somehow blogger didn't feel like it and now I see my comment hasn't been published either so it must have disappeared into the web somehow.
ReplyDeleteBut what I wanted to say was I think you had a wonderful vacation again filled with many beautiful and amazing things there are to see on this world. I can't wait to see and read more about all your adventures after you've setteld in and get into the back home routine again.
Marian
Dear Marian - Blogger has a mind of his own and ours is not to reason why. Somehow I have just lost the comment above yours and do not know how it happened.
DeleteWe saw lots of new, to us, and interesting things on our travels. Just about caught up with myself.
PATRICIA FROM RED CARDINAL COMMENTED - Welcome back, Rosemary, and I am excited to see the fairy chimneys - they are what I was imagining, having seen them on TV at some stage, but I didn't know it was Cappadocia. I learn so much from your blog! Looking forward very much to hearing about your travels, which sound fascinating indeed. Patricia.
ReplyDeletePS: Sorry so late to comment, I have been out of town too..
So sorry Patricia but I appear to have inadvertently lost your comment.
DeleteI have copied and pasted your comment from my email list.
Thank you for your kind welcome back - I am now just about recovered from all of our travelling. It was an exciting and very packed trip.
Dear Rosemary, thank you for going to the trouble of copy/pasting my comment.. you are very kind! I trust you are now rested and recovered from this fantastic tour.
DeleteSorry I lost your comment Patricia - not too sure what I did, but it was my fault.
DeleteByłam w Turcji, ale bardzo krótko i do Kapadocji nie dotarłam. Jestem bardzo ciekawa jej. Oko chroniące przed złem mam i w swoim domu. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteI was in Turkey, but very short and did not reach to Cappadocia. I am very curious to her. Eye protection against evil I have in my house. Yours.
Dear Giga - Cappadocia is an astonishing place to visit - a feast for the eyes. May be you will have the opportunity to travel there sometime.
DeleteCatching up again. I loved the images of Split and have always wanted to go to Turkey. Turkey intrigues me because of its mix of Eastern and Western influences. I'm fascinated by Byzantine history, art and architecture and to see examples of it is high on my life list. Historical architecture, from any era, always gives me a shiver, like a memory tickle across the centuries.
ReplyDeleteDear Susan - I love the way you have phrased your comment - a memory tickle across the centuries.
DeleteTurkey is situated at the cross roads and has so much to offer the traveller interested in our past. It is a vibrant and colourful place - eye candy for the camera everywhere.
Yes, Turkey is truly an amazing country. Istanbul is one of my favorite cities of the world - loved everything and hope to return. Sadly didn't make Cappadocia - tried to get a flight for the day but it wasn't feasible OR affordable as there were 9 of us in our group!! Did visit Kusadasi for Ephesus - another truly fascinating place in history where digs are still going on and beauty continues to be unearthed daily in the way of frescoes on the walls etc. I loved it there.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a wonderful trip - thanks for sharing the beauty of the country and its history.
Mary X
Dear Mary - I too love Istanbul - it is a magical, colourful place, and I could happily return there.
DeleteEphesus is somewhere that I would like to visit too, so it looks like a return to Turkey could be on the cards at some stage.
I have yet to do the post of Cappadocia, I am slowly catching up with myself.
You're back! I am falling a little behind with blogland but am beginning to catch up. I just know you had a superb time. I had never heard of or seen the Fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, they look very other worldly and magical!
ReplyDelete