The goreme open air museum was the highlight of our
day. It is an area of the cappadocia fairy chimneys that is preserved and open for touring. Most of the byzantine carved caves in this area are functional areas for meetings and mostly churches or chapels. The frescos on the walls and ceilings are beautifully preserved, except for he more recent graffiti of the scratching out of the faces or eyes of the
Christian iconics. Not a single face of Jesus was untouched.
A flight took us to Izmir, a seaside town. I really wanted to leave our bags somewhere and have the evening on the promenade and have dinner there during the sunset. We walked for about an hour and a half with our backpacks and other and luggage. Per a suggestion we found the tourism office to ask for advise on where to leave our bags. Thank goodness for 8 years of German studied because they did not speak English but spoke German. After more walking we changed out minds and got a taxi to the main bus station and took an hour bus ride to Selcuk.
Our hotel room was very cool - with a large balcony we did not really use except to take a few photos of the ancient citadel and pillars left from Roman aqua ducts. These aqua ducts are some if not the worlds oldest and best preserved. The pillars are used by storks today. There are giant nests on the top of each pillar; the storks come in April to lay their eggs and all, even the new babies, leave in September.
Our travel book suggested a romantic and naturally rustic decorated restaurant. We were referred to. A neighbouring bar post meal for a drink and nargile. The bar ended up being on 3 doors down from our hotel and the staff was very attentive.
In turkey you almost always get mixed nuts with drinks and quite a few places also bring fresh fruit plates. At this bar, Denis' Bar, we got fresh popcorn, and an apple and pear plate. We started chatting with the two neighbour tables, one being a British husband and wife and their close Dutch friend. All 3 were definitely living local and were regulars at this place; the Dutchman was even serving and cleaning tables. A passing man was a friend of the Brit and introduced us to him ad he is a Texan who is teaching groups of students philosophy and history in the area. We talked and drank and play backgammon until late and went home to bed.
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