| Ihlara Valley Selime - Ihlara - Helvadere - Yenipinar - Ihlara - Çardak |
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| Ihlara Valley Selime - Ihlara - Helvadere - Yenipinar - Ihlara - Çardak |
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We walk for three days near Ihlara. The first day is a short and easy trip from Selime to Ihlara, along the river Melendiz. This river has scoured a small canyon in the rock. And not only the river has done some scouring: the people living here made a lot of caves. Some of them were used as churches and painted with frescos. A couple of the more famous churches can also be reached by stairs from a restaurant standing on top of the canyon. In the surroundings of this restaurant, it was pretty busy, but further away we had the place almost for ourselves. |
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At the end of the first walking day we reach Ihlara. We have a detailed description how to find the Anatolia Pansion, which is not the place where we will stay. After asking for directions, Bişginler Pansion isn't that hard to find. |
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| The second day we walk on the sides of the volcano Hasan Dagi. We start in a small village, Helvadere, and climb to the pass. Here we suppose we have left Turkey and got someway to Iceland: rock and moss as far as you can see. |
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But a bit further we walk through forest and then we reach Yenipinar. The school kids just have a break and they are willing to pose for a couple of tourists.
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| Two horses for the wagon and a fowl
walking beside it: a great view.
And it is Autumn: apples on the tree and really friendly people offering us a few. |
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The last day in this region we walk from Ihlara to Çardak. In between lies Ihlusu, where we have a cup of tea on the terrace of the teahouse. One of the men worked in Germany for seven years, so we had a bit of a conversation. And Mirjam learns some more Turkish words, like Teşekkür (thank you) and Çok güzel (very beautiful). Always convenient. |
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| In Çardak we have a new opportunity to use our
Turkish words, although the children know a lot of questions in English. After
some time we are happy the teahouse is off-limits for children. Usually women
are also only accepted on the terrace, but here they are used to tourists who
wait for the taxi to bring them to Soĝanli. A pity, as it is a bit cold inside
and outside it is still warm and sunny.
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