Faralya

This is the official beginning of the Lycian Way. It was actually a 12 km hike up a very rocky path and down a very rocky path!

Here is an example of the path up with one of our group, Margie, taking a break.

Lycian Way

We arrived in the little village of Karakoy and stayed at this hotel. A short trek took us up to a ghost town from the 1920's when after the Turkish War of Independence, Greek villages in Turkey and Turkish villages in Greece exchanged lands. This Greek village was never occupied, however, due to rumors of haunting and it was never reoccupied.

Today will be our first day of walking the Lycian (Lykyan in Turkish) 17 km. I will find out how well I can keep up with these experienced hikers!

Haram, Efes, Herefe

Sorry, but this is all I can show of the Haram or Turkish Bath that six of us went to in the morning. It has been in operation for over a thousand years.

This is a workroom within one of the villa excavations at Ephesus--a giant jigsaw puzzle!
My phone died before we got to the carpet shop so I have photos of the Turkish rugs only on my camera. Several of our group bought small but very "pahali" (expensive) ones. I now have a greater appreciation for this dying craft of hand knotted carpets. Herefe is the name of a family that produces some of the finest of these.

The Turkish Aegean

This is the view from our hotel room in Kusadasi, a tourist town close by Ephesus. Today is a very full one starting off with a Turkish bath. Then we tour Efes, as the Turks call Ephesus, then we have lunch with a Turkish friend of Shirley's who owns a carpet shop. We will learn how the carpets are made and have an opportunity to buy one (of course!)

Love Valley and Underground cities

Can you guess why it is called Love Valley?

Villages built underground refuges to keep safe from marauding Hittites, Seljuks, and miscellaneous invaders over the centuries.

Red Valley Hike

Here we are in the dramatic landscape of sandstone.

Cartoonish shapes. (Not us!)

Cappodocia

How is this for a view out our hotel window? We saw many balloons last night but alas, my balloon ride this morning was cancelled due to high winds.

Our hotel is like a little village built into the hillside.

Here is another view out our window. We are going hiking in these hills today.