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Float Above the Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia

Published by Kristin Cowles, Editor-in-Chief

Country: Turkey

The Experience

Cappadocia known as the land of Fairy Chimneys, is like an open crack in time that takes you back to a place where civilizations lived in labyrinths and caves formed out of ancient volcanic stone. The town of Göreme is most closely associated to these smoothed out spherical structures and sanctuaries. It is estimated that the eruptions that produced this soft stone occurred some 3 million to 9 million years ago. Göreme Open-Air Museum is an exquisite experience as it boasts some the best examples of painted cave-churches, decorated in some of the most intriguing and elaborate interiors created by Medieval orthodox Christina monks in 1100(AD).

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Puzzle

When to Go to Cappadocia Turkey

The best time to visit Cappadocia is during the spring, between mid April to mid June. This time is great as it gives you long days of moderate weather. It is also right before the tourist rush which tends to begin late June or July.

Odds n' Ends

Hot air balloon is regarded as the best way to view the ancient cities. Typical cost of a flight can range from $225 - $600 per person depending on the duration and company you wish to keep. If the more the merrier is your style then you will be on the lower end of the price spectrum, but if you want some extra space the more expensive your ticket will be.

Want a Guide?

Absolute Turkey - GAPAdventures.com
Ancient Ruins, bustling bazaars, beautiful beaches, breathtaking scenery and much much more await you on this fabulous adventure through Turkey. With highlights such as Troy, Gallipoli and Ephesus, this is a perfect adventure for history buffs or anyone with a curious spirit.

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Whirling Dervishes Festival in Konya, Turkey
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Books and DVDs

Aspects Of The Liturgical Year In Cappadocia (Hardcover)
Turkey Travel Guide - LonelyPlanet.com
Turkey is as perfect for bon vivants as it is for adventurers and scholars. Roam battlegrounds and the palaces of great empires, unwind in a hammam, float in a balloon over Cappodocia's fairy chimneys and explore the streets of atmospheric Istanbul.
Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips (Hardcover)
No one knows the world like National Geographic—and in this lavish volume, we reveal our picks for the world's most fabulous journeys, along with helpful information for readers who want to try them out.

Elsewhere on the Web

Cappadocia - Wikipedia.org
Cappadocia (or Capadocia, Turkish Kapadokya, from Greek: ?????????? / Kappadokía, which in turn is from the Persian: Katpatuka meaning "the land of beautiful horses"[1]), was an extensive inland district of Asia Minor (modern Turkey).
Cappadocia Turkey - 1000 Places to See Before You Die
A trip to the steppes of Central Anatolia is the next best thing to intergalactic travel, at a fraction of the cost and inconvenience.
Cappadocia - UNESCO.org
In a spectacular landscape, entirely sculpted by erosion, the Göreme valley and its surroundings contain rock-hewn sanctuaries that provide unique evidence of Byzantine art in the post-Iconoclastic period.
Cappadocia (Kapadokya) - TurkeyTravelPlanner.com
The Bible's New Testament tells of Cappadocia, but in fact this part of Central Anatolia has been important since Hittite times, long before the time of Jesus.

Media References

Travel Guides Cappadocia - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
An area that has traditionally attracted backpackers and archaeology-minded tourists, Cappadocia is now going upscale and drawing a younger, more sophisticated crowd.
A Moonscape Carved by Nature and Man - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
“WATCH your head,” warned my guide, Edip, as we ducked into a stone cave in the otherworldly Turkish region of Cappadocia. The ceiling, which was covered with black soot, was just a foot above our heads. “The third and fourth floors were used as kitchens,” Edip said, as we entered another cave with two troughs carved into the volcanic stone floor. “They also made wine here. It was their only real luxury.”
Turkey: Balloon Ride - NationalGeaographic.com (magazine)
Captivating Cappadocia - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
The Turkish region of Cappadocia boasts one of Europe's most dramatic landscapes. The lunar-like setting has become popular for hot-air ballooning.

Language Guides

Turkish is one of the languages spoken in Turkey. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

Discussion

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