Post trip kids in Turkey gear

Benches and long table carved into Tuft for dining room for monks.

Churches built into Tuft at Cappadocia, 11th century

Famous Turkish carpet /rug manufacturer- EVERYTHING by hand

Naturally died wool yard for rugs

Turkish rugs

Ballooning

Sunrise from balloon in Cappadocia

Valleys in Cappadocia

Maybe my new Facebook picture

Shadow of our balloon on peak.

Ballooning in Cappadocia.

Our pilot Ebray.

Cave houses, people still live in some, others are used for restaurant and hotels.

Cappadocia from up high.

From our balloon.

Waiting courtyard for Whirling Dervishes, sorry no pictures were allowed inside but performance was spiritual and haunting. Dervishes whirled for a total of about 20 minutes.

Entrance to extensive caves where family has been producing hand made and hand painted ceramics for over 200 years.

Restaurant courtyard

Entrance

Wonderful restaurant.

Entrance to caravanserai, way station for weary caravan travelers, for rest and safety from bandits

Accommodations for horses

Accommodations for travelers

In the courtyard.

Leaving Konya for Kappadocia and my thoughts

We are leaving for Kappadocia and a two night stay, it will be nice as we have lived the nomad life stly for a good part of our travels. Trip is winding down and most of us are sad, Turkey has been an amazing experience, more than could have ever been expected. Turkish Cultural Foundation have gone above and beyond in hosting 28 teachers for this educational exchange. Logistics have been perfect, scheduling and rescheduling for our benefit and comfort was exceptional. Orhan, our tour guide, was a delight. He is extremely knowledgable and informative in a very humorous manner. Our teachers group is eclectic with teachers from many social studies disciplines and grade levels.  Have teachers from Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Maryland, D.C. It has been interesting to hear about each state and what the assessment requirements are to compare to Colorado. Lots off great ideas from this group that I will be able to take to the classroom later this year.

I look forward to collaborating with them when we get home.   

Need I say more

What do you think?

Sand bags used in place of made made materials to protect from cave in.

Vertical cut used to hold wooden beams, petrified piece can be seen in front right.

Landscape at excavating site.

The circular hole was for burying the dead, inside the home, this one held a child.

10,000 years old

Town of Hierapolis above Pamukkale.

I assume this was to carry water.

Natural geothermal calcium rich springs. Very cool looking very warm water.

The oldest known permanent settlement on earth, 10,000 years old.