After flying to Istanbul yesterday, we had an early morning today in order to catch a morning flight to Kayseri. We arrived to discover that it had snowed yesterday, so it was still much colder than we'd anticipated (or packed for). We joined a group for the day to explore the southern portion of the region. We began at Monks' Valley, but spent the most time at the Goreme Open Air Museum, a collection of Christian cave churches protected by UNESCO. We also witnessed local pottery making and painting, and enjoyed a great lunch consisting of lentil soup, beans (soup), slow-roasted beef with rice, and baklava. Along the way we also stopped to see the Cave Castle and the Panorama Views. Tonight is the first of two nights we'll spend in a luxurious cave hotel room, equipped with wifi, tv, and a soaker jacuzzi. |