I often heard from the subterranean cities in Cappadocia, Turkey, read for example the wikipedia information or the article written by Madhu in her blog “the urge to wander”: secret places / the subterranean cities of Cappadocia. Once they were built to hide from persecution in the early days of christianity. The subterranean cities are connected to each other with long tunnels. Madhu writes in her article: “…Originally thought to have been built over 3500 years ago, by the Hittites making their last stand against the enemy they called the ‘Sea People’, it was later used by early Christians fleeing persecution by the Romans…” Actually modern balloon tourism is very much frequented – but up above in the air the tourists cannot realize the relics of the gone cave society. Nevertheless, some photographers sent great photos to my group BLOG IT, enjoy two of them:
1
title=”Colorful sky” – photo by Saori_, click on the picture to enter his galleries on Flickr
2
title=”ballooning” – photo by Vin60, click on the picture to enter his galleries on Flickr
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related:
http://the-travelbunny.com/2013/01/07/deep-derinkuyu-underground-city-turkey/
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http://www.photographyblogger.net/42-incredible-hot-air-balloon-pictures/
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http://www.gadling.com/2013/03/01/safety-of-hot-air-balloon-rides-under-spotlight-after-luxor-trag/
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Related articles
- Road Tripping Cappadocia – Heading South (travelshus.com)
- See How Turkey’s Ancient Cave Dwellings Were Transformed Into A 5-Star Hotel (businessinsider.com)
- Sunrise Balloon Ride Over Cappadocia – Göreme, Turkey (travelpod.com)
- Sunrise Hot Air Balloon ride in Cappadocia, Turkey (ireport.cnn.com)
- Tourist numbers increase 15 pct in Cappadocia (worldbulletin.net)
- Taskonaklar Hotel Offers a New Spring Travel Special to Visit Turkey’s… (prweb.com)
Flickr Comments 
Hi FrizzT,
Both of these are incredibly beautiful photos. The balloons are flying so low over the ancient city. I followed the link to Madhu’s post – sheesh what a fascinating place. If you were claustrophobic you didn’t survive! I hope to visit Turkey one day.
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These are certainly great Frizz! Love the second one. That balloon ride was an unforgettable experience. Appreciate the mention 🙂
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70,000 people are actually killed in Syria – and religion seems to be a reason in that conflict too: the subterranean cities of Cappadocia were built, because the people had the fear, to get killed. So the happiness of tourist ballooning – what a gap to the cruel things, societies can produce on the other hand. Latest example: a tourist couple from Switzerland with bicycle and tent was gang raped by a macho group in India – yesterday. The gap continues …
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What can I say Frizz, We are slowly sliding into lawlessness! Shocking that there is no fear even after all that uproar over the Dec rape!
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like Rita Banerji in Calcutta and all those mobile phone using students in New Delhi I have the hope, that information, multiplicated, will change the things to a better moral – and more acceptance of female humans in India, Arabia, China etc.
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Thanks for having selected my photo.
It was indeed an unforgettable experience. Cappadocia is really a wonderful place in all respects: ancient culture (and modern one!), landscape, people… . A must to go.
more photos of mine in Cappadicia in the set http://www.flickr.com//photos/vin60/sets/72157624935889857/show/
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Congratulations, I have nominated your blog for the Versatile Blogger Award.
Learn more about the award here.
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you are living in Vancouver? My daughter spent her honeymoon there (coming from Germany) – she said: yes, Vancouver, wonderful! Especially Vancouver Island …
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Yes, I live in Vancouver. I am glad your daughter enjoyed her vacation in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island. Victoria is a beautiful city and has a lot to offer visitors.
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Up up and away in your beautiful, your beautiful balloons……….
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The second one is stunning!
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Amazing photos, and an interesting place. One of the many places I need to visit before I die.
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incredible photos, like a fantasy world frizz!
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I have been to Cappadkia before It was fun
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Amazing pictures!
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reading your blog I was amused by: disconnected like living in a cave: “…when you get in to that deep writing zone, when it’s continuous for more than a day or two, your mental state shifts visibly. It’s definitely a hermit-like stage you go in to …” – frizz: yes I like this when I’m writing on a new level …
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Ahh, yes. The view over Goreme National Park is quite stunning. The hot air ballooning tends to start just before dawn because at dawn, the view just takes your breath away.
We went to Turkey with my daughter and my husband’s sisters and their spouses and daughters in 2009. We had a very knowledgeable guide. What an experience! It was a wonderful discovery of a country so rich in history and one so unlike anywhere I have ever visited. We also got to go inside Ozkanak, one of the underground cities, although my photos of the underground city were not so great. One has to go to experience it firsthand. (Note to self: bring better camera next time!). If there will be a next time.
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beautiful photos, great!
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That second photo is AMAZING,
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So many atrocities in the past and still today … I have heard of these subterranean cities even as a child. Good post,Fizz., the photos are spectacular.
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I’ve been there too, its a really magical place!
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Very cool photos…and I want to explore those ancient tunnels 🙂
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you are a perfect globe trotter!
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Beautiful! A dream destination my friend.
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These are fabulous. Would love to visit Turkey one day. On my father’s side, this is where we come from — via Greece to U.S.
Lovely.
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congrats to your father, Jamie, for to have the courage, to test another country (and language)!
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Wow, spectacular photos!
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Frizz, by chance a friend and I are planning to make a balloon trip on my birthday at the end of this month. It is still a plan but I wish it would come true because it would be a great adventure.
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hope you will have a fine birthday and enough courage (and heat and wind) to enjoy a balloon flight!
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Thanks 😉
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Hi Frizz,
Wonderful post! There are a couple of photos of the underground city in this post that I wrote after my trip to Turkey. http://naomibaltuck.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/turkey-a-land-of-light-and-shadow/
P.S. I am glad I didn’t read about the balloon accident before I went on this ride. Here are photos of my balloon ride in Cappadocia.http://naomibaltuck.wordpress.com/2012/10/15/sky-candy/
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