We awoke at 6:30 to overcast skies and cool temperatures. Breakfast at The Greek House was the same as yesterday. We loaded the bus and left at 9:00. The bus dropped a majority of us off on a narrow dirt road for a 5-mile hike in the countryside. We meandered on a trail in a narrow canyon. There were fairy chimneys on both sides of us. Flowers were beginning to bloom and birds were singing. There was high brush and low trees along the way. The trail was fairly easy to navigate except for the many creek crossings. Nobody fell in but a few got their feet wet and their backsides dirty. The weather got warm enough to strip down to a T-shirt and shorts.
Stream Crossing on the Hike
We met the bus and the rest of the tour at the end of the hike. After cleaning mud from our shoes, we took off for lunch. Lunch was in a restaurant in a town near the Red River. We had a cold yogurt-based soup with cucumber, parsley, etc. Then we had the typical salad based on tomatoes, onions and lots of chopped green vegetables. A beef stew came next and baklava for dessert. This was all chased down by some Turkish beer.
Turkish Beer
Our next stop was a ceramics workshop. We had demonstrations of plate making and pot throwing by a master potter who made a sugar bowl with cover all out of the same hunk of clay. Our host asked for a volunteer to throw a pot and, of course, I volunteered. The bowl that I created was like the first one I did in college - thick, heavy and ugly. After the demonstrations, we were shown all of the grades of ceramics that they had in their salesroom. There was some pressure to buy, but those that did got some very special ceramics.
Ceramics
We then rode the bus to to visit the underground city of Kaymakli. This was a series of underground tunnels and room that were carved in the stone. There purpose was for local villagers to hide and live in them during wars which were fairly common in this area. This particular underground city could hold up to 2,000 people. Our tour went through many of the tunnels and room. Some were a tight fit and very uncomfortable for those with claustrophobia. I was one of those, but I made it without panicking.
Underground City
Our last stop was at our hotel in Guzelyurt. It is a converted monastery. Our room has a spiral staircase leading up to the bedroom which contains four beds. It is fairly primitive but it has hot water and heat. (We are at 5,000 feet). We walked one block to the town center and bought some beer and some raki - the Turkey national liquor which tastes like licorice. Dinner was a buffet in the monastery's dining hall.
Our Hotel and Our Room
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