Konya
On our drive inland from the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya to the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, we were treated by a local family as luncheon guests in a century old traditional Ottoman style village house. Many of the buildings in this village were of traditional hatıl construction (where timber is the main structural reinforcing element in rubble stone houses).
The food was a traditional salad, lamb clay-pot casserole and pumpkin dessert. A wholesome and simple meal which made a welcome change from the normal roadside cafe/restaurant meal we ate most of the time.
In Konya we visited the Mevlana Museum and Mausoleum, the final resting place for members of the Whirling Dervish mystic sect (Mevlevi Order). Mevlana, a 13th century Persian poet and theologian was the inspiration for the establishment of Mevlevi Order. Konya is a spiritual city for many Muslims who come and pay respect to Mevlana.
We went to the Göreme Open Air Museum - one of the most visited sites of the monastic communities in Cappadocia and one of the most famous sites in central Turkey. The complex contains more than 30 rock-carved churches and chapels, some of them have superb frescoes inside, dating from the 9th to the 11th centuries.
We stayed for two nights in Goreme which is best known for its natural rock formations, often called "fairy chimneys". The two highlights of our stay here were a hot air balloon flight over these formations and a Whirling Dervish ceremony.
Our hot air balloon flight was the most fantastic experience. We found ourselves effortlessly drifting over the rich fertile valley, set against the dramatic two million year old volcanic landscape.
At one stage our pilot skillfully flew us down into the middle of the unique rock formations at times bringing us within half a metre of this surreal moonscape that was the once medieval Byzantine Christian homes.
This was a rare occasion where sharing the experience with crowds added to this unique experience - over 100 balloons took to the sky on this particular morning. What a sight!
The pilot's local knowledge and skill was demonstrated when our flight concluded almost exactly back at the take off point and we landed in the back of the trailer (with a little help from the crew to guide the basket the last couple of metres.
The Sema ceremony is performed by members of the Islamic Mevlevi Order. The ceremony includes the practice of whirling as a form of dhikr (remembrance of God) that represents a mystical journey, the spiritual ascent of man who improved his mind with love.
The dervish, removing his black cloak, is reborn in a spiritual dimension and begins its journey towards the truth. He wears a hat that represents the tombstone of material pleasures. The white dress is the shroud of his desires.
At the beginning and at each stop of the Sema, the dervish folds his arms across his chest to represent unity with God. While turning his arms are open, his right hand toward the sky, ready to receive God's blessing and his left hand faces the earth.
What happened in Greece will follow very shortly. In the meantime please keep sending in your comments and questions.
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Also if you're unsure which stories you have read and which ones you've missed you might find the Blog Archive (at the bottom of the page) an easy way to choose the post/s that you haven't caught up with yet.
On our drive inland from the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya to the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, we were treated by a local family as luncheon guests in a century old traditional Ottoman style village house. Many of the buildings in this village were of traditional hatıl construction (where timber is the main structural reinforcing element in rubble stone houses).
The food was a traditional salad, lamb clay-pot casserole and pumpkin dessert. A wholesome and simple meal which made a welcome change from the normal roadside cafe/restaurant meal we ate most of the time.
In Konya we visited the Mevlana Museum and Mausoleum, the final resting place for members of the Whirling Dervish mystic sect (Mevlevi Order). Mevlana, a 13th century Persian poet and theologian was the inspiration for the establishment of Mevlevi Order. Konya is a spiritual city for many Muslims who come and pay respect to Mevlana.
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| Mevlana Museum |
The Sultanhan Caravansary, just outside Konya on the southern overland Silk Route, is a very well preserved reminder of the era of the Silk Road.
The Silk Road (or Silk Route) was the network of interlinking trade routes that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world. Caravansaries were public buildings on the caravan routes and the distances between them was the usual distance a camel could walk in a day (approx 25 to 40 km). Caravansaries provided the caravans with every possible service such as a place to sleep, Turkish bath, mosque, and doctors and veterinarians.
Cappadocia
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| Sultanhan Caravansary |
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| Camel accommodation Sultanhan Caravansary |
The Cappadocia region is well known for its dozens of underground cities, the most striking volcanic landscapes and is dotted with caves and troglodyte dwellings. The underground cities were used by early Christians as hiding places before they became an accepted religion.
We went to the Göreme Open Air Museum - one of the most visited sites of the monastic communities in Cappadocia and one of the most famous sites in central Turkey. The complex contains more than 30 rock-carved churches and chapels, some of them have superb frescoes inside, dating from the 9th to the 11th centuries.
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| Göreme Museum Elmali Church |
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| Our first hot air balloon flight |
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| A bit more heat needed for 25 passengers |
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| Being closely followed by an identical balloon to ours |
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| Floating amongst the Goreme landscape |
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| Close encounter |
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| Some of the balloons in flight |
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| Would you like to fly in my beautify balloon? |
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| Inspecting the crop |
The Sema ceremony is performed by members of the Islamic Mevlevi Order. The ceremony includes the practice of whirling as a form of dhikr (remembrance of God) that represents a mystical journey, the spiritual ascent of man who improved his mind with love.
The dervish, removing his black cloak, is reborn in a spiritual dimension and begins its journey towards the truth. He wears a hat that represents the tombstone of material pleasures. The white dress is the shroud of his desires.
At the beginning and at each stop of the Sema, the dervish folds his arms across his chest to represent unity with God. While turning his arms are open, his right hand toward the sky, ready to receive God's blessing and his left hand faces the earth.
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What happened in Greece will follow very shortly. In the meantime please keep sending in your comments and questions.
Just click on the word "comments" below. You can just select "Comment as: Anonymous" if that's easiest but sign off with your name (so we know that you posted the comment).
Also if you're unsure which stories you have read and which ones you've missed you might find the Blog Archive (at the bottom of the page) an easy way to choose the post/s that you haven't caught up with yet.
