Oops. I made a mistake. Cappadocia is at number 5 on the travel map (not 4, which is the Hittite capitol). It’s a good thing I’m not the tour guide.

The highlight of the day was watching a Sema ceremony (Whirling Dervishes). The poet and teacher Rumi made this part of the Sufi religion. I don’t understand very much of the ceremony, but the sincerity of the dancers was obvious. They don’t allow pictures during the ceremony, but after the ceremony three men returned to let us get our pics.

The other highlight was a visit to a pottery company. The company we visited is a 200-year-old family business. One of the men in the family explained the process. He told the story that trained to be a potter. After an appropriate apprenticeship, he was tested by making an object. He said that after his test, his father told him to learn English so he could help sell. Most of what they make is white clay artistic pieces. The beauty of these pieces is breathtaking (as is the price). We purchased a wall tile made by student potters, which is much closer to our budget. You can see some pictures of impressive people doing their work on the website.

In case two major attractions is not enough, we also visited an underground city. Earlier we saw cave homes, some of which were lived in by Christians hiding from Roman persecution. When that proved to be an ineffective hiding spot, early Christians built elaborate underground cities. These had anywhere from 5 to over 20 levels. They had rooms for animals, food and water storage, and bedrooms for the occupants. I made it to the first room, took one picture, and let Danita complete the tour.

We also stopped to see several unique rock formations, including the famous Angel Chimneys and a Hittite warrior. Several pictures are on the website for those who are interested.

We also stopped to see several unique rock formations, including the famous Angel Chimneys and a Hittite warrior. Several pictures are on the website for those who are interested.