THIS IS CAPPADOCCIA

Calling this place surreal would be an understatement. The landscape is straight out of a star wars set. Tuscan raiders wouldn't be out of place here. However, the fact is the valleys were home to thousands of Christians hiding from persecution in the 10th century. They carved out dwellings in the soft volcanic rock. The remains of these lofty spaces are still visible today.

Rome has competition

We ventured out of the city and into some much older cities on Wednesday. Apparently Rome had expanded into this area many years ago and was doing quite well here judging by the extent of ruins. We visited Aspendos and Perge, just two sites among several that follow the coast up to Istanbul. Istanbul formerly known as Constantinople, the Roman capital of the East.

Ambling about Antalya

Antalya has come and gone, well not quite as we're still sitting on the Tarmac. It's never a good sign when the in-flight service begins pre flight. Guess I'll write a little. Here are some facts we've learned during our stay. Rats are scarce, cats are not. 300+ days of sun ensures plenty of melatonin and solar power. Shoe shines do not cost 100 lira. The beaches are shingled. The sea is warm, turquoise, and incredibly clear. And the people? They're incredibly kind, generous, and easy on smiles. The experience has been grand and has surpassed our expectations. We're saddened to leave as we were just getting our bearings. There's so much more to uncover. We will return. Alahasmarladik Antalya!

Ayran

A tasty yogurt drink that's surprisingly refreshing. It also wards off bad breath and evil spirits.

Camel Market

This is one of two "convenience" stores that have been essential in providing us with certain basic needs. Bottled water, snacks, and ice cream bars. They have these bars that rival dove bars. Sooo good! Oh and we went to this awesome museum today with lots of old stuff. Ok, clearly not my best post.

What a spread

Our hotel is located within the old castle walls of the city. Old town (Kaleici). It's a tight maze of cobblestone streets and easy to disoriented, but that's not all bad. Roman ruins, now Ottoman mosque ruins stand mere feet from our breakfast table. Look at this spread we have every morning. Takes an hour minimum to a make a dent.

Feet first

Bought some beach time today and waded into the Mediterranean. Got a little color, finished my book, and listened in to all the conversations around us. Trouble is they're all speaking German and French. We Americans are an anomaly here.