Day 12: Urgup








Our morning started bright and early at 4:30am for a sunrise hot air balloon ride! We drove through the city to the balloon valley; a place full of people just like us waiting in anticipation for the ride. We watched our jackrabbit blue and yellow ballon blow up before climbing in. As we dipped between the valleys of Kapadokya we watched the sun rise over the horizon admiring the view with the other hundreds of balloons around us also on a morning ride. We had a smooth landing followed by cherry mimosas to celebrate a successful flight. After that it was back to the hotel for breakfast.

After a quick moment of rest we meet the students from Kapadokya University who will be traveling with us throughout our time here. They are all students in the English Language and Literature Department and will be helping to translate on the excursions. We started our day of touring with a bus tour of the Castle of Cappadocia and The Red Valley. The Castle is the tallest rock structure in the area and served as a defense tower and the world’s “first apartment building.” The Red Valley is famous for the layers of rock that can be seen: red, yellow, and white. This valley is very famous for beautiful hiking paths as well! 

Next we traveled to the Goreme Open Air Museum. This museum took us through the various churches that were carved into the rock formations by early Christians during the Roman Empire. As we walked through the various churches we explored the structures admiring the architecture and paintings. A drive over the Red River and we were ready to learn all about pottery making at Bezirhane Seramik. Megan tried her hand at wheel throwing and made a beautiful bowl! To finish up our tour of the area we stopped at the Valley of San Simeone. This area was filled with tall mushroom shaped rock formations that was a result of erosion after 12 million years of being there. 

We finished our day having a lovely dinner with the university president of Kapadokya University and some of the students who accompanied us today! We are all excited for what day two in Kapadokya will bring!!!

Betsey Williams 

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