Images from our Turkish experience…

It is a photographers paradise!
Even if you have to climb to the top of a formation to get “that” shot.

They look like Smurf homes don’t they?
Or something from Lord of the Rings.
They are to be found in the Derent Valley

All the camels that I came across looked well fed and in good condition.

If you look at the size of the person,
it will give you some perspective as to how vast the vista is.

At the open air museum…Goreme

Some of the murals inside the stone churches at the museum.
Unfortunately, many of them were defaced prior to the area
being declared a museum.
Why people want to carve their names into EVERYTHING
I have no idea.

Looking out over the valley from Esentepe,
one of the panoramic view sites

Time to head off on a morning hike through the Red Valley
A great way to discover the landscape, and not too taxing

From the inside of what was an old rock cut church.
It was later turned into a Dove Cote…
but is now only used by some wild birds

Be aware…public toilets cost money!
So have the 1/2 TL handy…or find the nearest restaurant
and buy a cup of coffee…and use their facilities.
I did use “private” toilets on a couple of occasions
and I was never denied access or asked for money.
This one was in Cavusin (a Greek village)

Don’t be chicken when it come to bartering…

There is so much “imported” touristy mementos,
that it pays to shop around and check for the labels.

Something we did not do but should have.
A balloon ride in Cappadocia.
But at $150.00 per person it was expensive…

A visit to the Grand Bazaar is a must.
However, we where there when there were cruise ships in port
and it makes shopping very difficult.
There are smaller, more select markets in Istanbul
where shopping is actually a pleasure.

I think that every major city should have these…

Our penultimate meal in Istanbul.
A Donner Kebab…and they hid the chips inside.
Very tasty and a recommended meal.

A favourite spot…
The fountain between the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque

Our final meal at Istanbul Airport.
It was like a folded pizza and, of course, the unambitious glass of tea
Turkey is a highly recommended tourist destination
and I intend to return in the not too distant future.