15 March 2015 - Pigeon Valley

Joke of the day: We notice none of the accommodation here is called The Cave Inn!  We have seen plenty that have done just that!

At breakfast we met three Mexican Interns from the Mexican Embassy in Ankara, Andrea, Lalo and Eric.  They were very lovely to talk to and hopefully an inspiration to our kids.  Their undergraduate courses had been in international relations and their English was impeccable.

Not the only kamikaze cat we have seen!

It was school this morning as we are travelling for the next two days and need to keep roughly to a time table.  Luke's cooperation was not at his best this morning but we finally completed half of the day's requirement and that was enough for him and me. The English part is sheer hard work but he likes the Maths so we will tackle that later (quickly).

This is where we were headed: Pigeon Valley

 As we set out back to Uchsar, by bus this time, the sun came out and we temporarily wondered if we had over dressed.  Our destination was Cafe Yildiz, the same cafe as yesterday afternoon, for cheap boreks and cappuccinos, then our plan was to walk back to Goreme by the Pigeon Valley paths.

Heading down to the valley

We asked several locals before we actually found the Pigeon Valley path although by the look of the hillside any little track would have got us down into the valley.  The vegetation was still mostly dressed for winter but some fruit trees were in early buds and blossom.  It must look very picturesque in autumn here but having said that, any season here would be utter eye candy!

The kids literally frolicked in and out and up and down the hill sides and caves, with Tim venturing to top most peaks pushing the physical boundaries as teenagers need to do.  There is a wild man in every boy!

Trees with winter clothing

"Now how do I get down"?

Deserted hill/cave dwellings

Village of Uchsar in the background and birch trees

We climbed there yesterday!

Some caves were decorated!

Cupboards

Steps carved in the wall for access.

This dwelling was clearly occupied!

Not too far into the valley we met an old farmer checking his fields. From what we could glean, the land was owned by his family for generations and the soil and water was rich with nutrients.  His crops included onions, tomatoes, potatoes and spinach.  The fruit trees, gnarled and unpruned, he informed us were apricots, walnuts, almonds, cherries and mulberries and wild roses for the pigeons to eat.

Dovecotes

Sign for Goreme

Cappadocian farmer

Field ready for crops

Fruit trees and chimneys

Wily farmer and Karl

Tim flexing his muscles

ADVENTURE!

He led the way, which in retrospect may have been the sly Foxy Loxy's route to his friend's cafe, which we declined, but he claimed that we would get lost in the canyon and to be honest, it would be easy enough to do.  I did briefly think of the story of Henny Penny when he took us through a completely dark tunnel!  However, it was when he asked for money at the turn off to Goreme, that we doubted his motivation, but despite this, we had enjoyed chatting with him and walking the route he had taken us.

Foxy Loxy's tunnel

See what I mean about dark

The dark clouds had descended by this time and the rain had stones in it, according to Luke (hail) and we were not sure how far away Goreme actually was.  We followed a trail which brought us out very close to our cave.  We were quite wet by this stage and glad of the extra clothes we had worn!

Cloud covering Uchsar Castle

Apricot trees in blossom

Convolutions of the canyon.

Feeling small in the depths of the valley

Bound for Goreme

The sign was pointing somewhere

We could see faces in this pinnacle

Someone built a tunnel...must lead home...

Quirky cave!

The landscape was once again quite surreal and apart from the farmer, we seemed to be the only ones in the whole of Pigeon Valley.   The call to prayer echoed through the valley eerily bouncing from side to side - truly unforgettable.

Dinner back at Ottoman Cafe, a tradition now - cos it is cheap and friendly - our last evening in Goreme!

All so fancy for an orange!