We really love Turkey!

People lived in these caves for generations and some of them are still used

Cave houses in the hillside, they were very safe and secure

Erosion and wind causes these amazing shapes

Silk being spun from cocoons at the factory. Silk is the worlds strongest natural fibre

The internet in Turkey is very frustrating. It is so slow in the hotels that it is unusable and won't connect in the bus most of the time. As we have about 8 hrs in the bus today this is very frustrating. So I am typing this in word and hope I will be able to cut and paste it into the blog.

Yesterday we spent in Cappodocia visiting many amazing places. We were out and about from 9am until nearly 6pm. The landscape here is so beautiful and interesting. Totally unique and fascinating. We visited 6th century rock chapels, a Byzantine cliff side complex and had lunch at a 12th century caravanserai. These were used by travellers on the silk road as safe places to stay overnight. We have climbed through underground tunnels bent double, or in Kevins case hands and knees, we have scaled up the side of cliffs and been amazed at how people lived so long ago. We also visited a carpet making company where we were entertained by the excellent host ans fascinated by the amount of time that goes into making handknotted carpets. An average rug is about 2metres by 1.5m and has maybe 600 double knots per square inch, each one hand tied. No wonder they are so expensive.

  There was supposed to be a hot air balloon ride yesterday morning which was postponed until this morning due to weather. Unfortunately it didn't go ahead this morning either and we have some very tired people who got up both days at 5am.

We have had dinner at the hotels each night. The group is mostly Aust with some Americans thrown in. Is a pretty good group with the usual one or two who are a bit painful.

Travelling in the bus is interesting. We are amazed at the gaps he puts the bus through and at some of the driving we have seen on the roads. Kevin is diying to have a go so will be first in line if a relief driver is needed.

This morning there has apparently been a terrorist attack in south east Turkey with 54 soldiers killed. We don't have any more info at this stage but is well away from us and we are fine.

Just before luch we saw two jets from the Turkish airforce doing acrobatic manouvers. They were very skilled and impressive.

There are many dogs here that seem to be strays. They are well feed and apparently Turks believe that people can be reincarnated as dogs and cats so strays are cared for. Is very sad though. I haven't seen any dogs here that appear to belong to people. Even the farmers dont seem to have any to work their sheep. There are no fences for the stock here, and not many flocks either but those there are seem to have a shepherd with them but no dogs.There have been several dogs on the roads, including the highways but we have managed not to hit any yet.

The 5am call to prayer is a new idea for us. Louder and longer than we expected but part of the totally different culture that we are priviledged to be experiencing.

Hoping for a Turkish bath if we arrive at hotel early enought tonight!

PS I have added some photos to yesterday's blog too.