Posts

Mosque Visit and Mevlâna's Konya

Image
  Day 7: Mosque Visit and Mevlâna's Konya  Fri, May 01, 2026 This morning we'll travel to the village of Güzelyurt and meet with the local mosque's imam (counterpart to a  minister or rabbi), with an opportunity to ask questions about the Muslim faith and the separation of mosque and state in Turkey. After lunch we'll hit the road and, like Silk Road travelers hundreds of years ago, stop to admire the intricate carvings of a medieval sultanhani caravanserai (unlimited camel parking). Today's destination is conservative Konya, famous as the 13th-century home of Mevlâna Rumi. We'll tour the poetry-filled Mevlâna Museum — also the site of the mystical philosopher's tomb, a Muslim holy place - before sharing dinner together. The younger man in the right is the local imam and our guide (on the left) translated all of our questions about the Muslim religion.  Along with Judaism and Christianity, it is one of the Abrahmic religions.  He explained the 5 pillars of...
2 comments
Read more

Cappadocia’s natural beauty

Image
  April 30  Day 6 Surrounded by Cappadocia's otherworldly "fairy-chimney" rock formations, we'll do a little of this and a little of that today. First we will visit the Three Sisters rock formations and then Pigeon Valley.  Afterwards we will visit the carpet weaving school and learn about the centuries-old tradition and artistry of Turkish carpet.  Then we head to a hike at Paşabağ Valley, where we will walk among the rock formations.    At the end of the day we will finish up with a group wine tasting.  —— Today’s pictures will definitely have a LOT of BIG rock formations.  All formed over thousands of years after a volcano covered the area in volcanic ash!  Enjoy!  If you look closely in the distance between these two fairy chimneys you can see a snow covered volcano.   This formation above is called The Three Sisters.  Below, while in pigeon valley I climbed up to this rock to look at the pigeon roosts up close, I didn’t th...
2 comments
Read more

Hot Air Balloon and Cappadocia region

Image
Wednesday April 29, Optional Hot Air Balloon ride Mustafapaşa village  walk and then back at the hotel and drive to visit  Göreme Open Air Museum of Monastery Valley.  We will eat lunch at a local house. Our hostess will be Fahriye at Ortahisar Village  (shoes off for lunch).  KAYMAKLI UNDERGROUND CITY / Possible visit ( inşallah(God Willing)  It doesn’t even look like I am in the balloon on this one, but I am! Mustafapaşa, the town where we were staying, is a historic town in the Urgüp District of Turkey’s Nevşehir Province, is famous for its well-preserved Greek Orthodox architecture and rich history, with a population exchange in 1923 leading to a predominantly Turkish community today.   Located in Cappadocia, it offers a quieter, more authentic experience away from major tourist crowds, featuring stone mansions, historic churches like the SS Constantine and Helen Church, and nearby valleys with rock-carved monasterie.  The above four picture...
4 comments
Read more