Hello all! I just wanted to thank those of you who are still reading this (or at least skimming it). I understand that its summertime and that generally the LAST thing one would want to do is read the ramblings of a now nineteen year old.  So I appreciate it!

Once again, I am still a day behind, so setting: Sunday, May 30^th. Location: Cappadocia. This blog post is going to be my attempt at writing VERY concisely. I have made this claim before, yes, but this time will be different. [cue ironic laughter]

We hop on the bus and head off to see the wonderful natural beauty of the Cappadocia region. Many scenic photos are taken, even though landscape photos generally…well, suck. It’s always prefaced with “Oh you should’ve seen this in person. This really doesn’t do it justice at all…” and all that crap. And it’s true. So I just tried to limit the obnoxious landscape photos (or at least manage to awkwardly jut my head in).

We visit the Three Beauties, these large natural chimney formations. Maybe it was because it was still early in the morning and my eyes weren’t yet fully functioning, but I swear I only counted two. But in all truth, given the Turkish and their horrible record with appropriately naming things of significance, it wouldn’t surprise me that this too is on the growing list of Inaccurately Named Turkish Landmarks.

We head off next to Uchhisar, or as I like to call it: the Human Termite Mound. It is basically a large natural formation with several cave homes carved into it. Apparently they have been around since 3000 BC and have been inhabited until the 1960s. 

View was great, though of course the photos failed to capture that, but the highlight? Seeing the stereotypical high waisted, saggy boobed Turkish grandmother trying to sell us dolls.

We stop again at another valley to take more scenic shots of the increasingly more prolific Human Termite Mounds. It is at this stop that we partake in the grand adventure known as Linda Rides a Camel, recorded faithfully by Allie and soon to be posted on Facebook for posterity’s sake.

We finish up the morning by exploring the ancient cave churches of the region, which are painted with frescos of many important biblical scenes. One interesting fact is that the majority of the figures have their eyes or faces scratched out due to the anti-icon attitude during the Iconoclastic Movement. These paintings were very detailed and interesting, but of course the one thing that attracts my attention is this:

Apparently, the Bible forgot to mention that Jesus’s donkey had the ability to float a foot above the ground. Or maybe HoverAss was the preferred method of transportation in the biblical era.

We head back to the hotel with the intention of reading some of Rumi’s Masnavi before class later that evening. I unfortunately only make it through 8 pages before completely passing out on the outdoor couch.  Hmm a rather unfortunate but recurring tendency.

Class this night is held in the carpet shop that we visited yesterday. While it certainly was cozy and our host graciously provided us with tea, we were oh so unfortunately subjected to a 45 minute (inaccurate) lecture on Anatolian history but one of the shop owners. Luckily an opening in the conversation briefly appeared allowing Omid to jump in, shut him up, and thus teach class.

After dinner and our discussion, we head to see a Sufi ceremony of the Whirling Dervishes. Basically, the dervishes perform ceremonies where they whirl from anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours and then come to a complete and perfect stop. No falling. Quite an impressive meditation technique.

Key memories of the evening

It was a very interesting ceremony and it definitely made me want to try it when I got back to the hotel. Also made me want a giant flowy white skirt to twirl in. They were cool skirts. More men should wear them,

Ok that’s all I’ve got for you tonight. Once again my sleep suffered from blogpost-induced insomnia, but hopefully I’ll get to bed tonight at a semi decent time… Crossing the fingers!