Kapadokiya tour
Kapadokya tour (21. – 23. 7.)
Three days trip organized by AIESEC Ankara. The world is so small. I met Jarda from AIESEC Praha there, who was as a CEED in AIESEC Istambul. First possibility to use Czech language after fortnight:D Sometimes I had a problem to remember words in Czech.
First day (Friday) we spent in the capital, Ankara, situated in the central Anatolia. It became the capital of the new Republic of Turkey in 1923, mainly because of its strategic position and its important role in the War of Liberation, when Atatürk chose it as a military base. It looks like a new modern city, I didn’t notice almost any old house and everywhere some construction sites.
We visited Anitkabir – Atatürk’s mausoleum there (small notes for those who didn’t pay attention during lessons of hisory as me: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk – founder of the Republic of Turkey). I have noticed before that Atatürk was for Turkish nation really important person (is almost impossible not to notice some statue, picture, monument of him on “every corner” in Izmir). Sometimes it seems like an idol. And in Anitkabir it was even much more visible. I was passing around a family with a small boy – he could be app. two years old, almost couldn´t speak but his mother taught him Atatürk’s name. Topic “Atatürk” is really sensitive to discuss with Turkish, they either absolutely adore him or hate him.
After Anitkabir AIESEC tried to educate us in Analolian history by means of visiting The Museum of Anatolian Civilization. I resisted successfully :D, only took several pictures of “stones” (for lovers of history it has to be paradise).
According to the agenda we spent 5 hours in front of a shopping centre in open space having a glogal village. AIESEC was really prepared, I have never seen so many materials about Czech Republic before. The only things that didn't fit were: duration (5 hours) and the stalls situated under the Sun, most of them without shadow. Nevertheless we enjoyed it...
Overnight we stayed in some dormitories. I am really sorry for those students who have to stay there whole year. It looks like barracks for soldiers - 8 metal beds, 8 metal wardrobes - everything in blue. We were supposed to take a shower in another building but unfortunately the water was cut that day. So you can imagine unsatisfied crowd of app. 100 trainees that wanted to wash themselves after whole day spent under the Sun.
On Saturday we set on a journey to Kapadokiya. As a first stop we visited Salt lake - a huge plain and salt everywhere.
Then we stopped for a sight-seeing in one of the underground cities (Kaymaklı, Mazı, Derinkuyu, Tatlarin, Özkonak - I don't remember exactly which one - the names sound all the same for me). Underground cities were used by Christians during 7th century, who were fleeing from persecution. These cities were a complete and self-sufficient environment, including rooms for grain storage, stables, sleeping chambers, kitchens and air shafts. We went through eight underground levels to the deep of several tens metres. In last levels the temperature was quite low with comparison outside and I finally felt cold after such a long time - that's why they probably stayed there only from spring to autumn.
At the end of that day we admired the beauty of sunset in Kapadokiya valley. There are amazing rock formations, in some of them were hollowed chapels, monasteries or just houses for living. That's the place worth seeing again. If I ever come back to Turkey, I will go there to see it one more time.
On Sunday we started our trip in The Göreme Open-air Museum (a monastic complex of rocks churches and chapels covered with frescoes). Most of them dated back to the period from 10th to 13th century. Those guys really liked digging :o]
Our last stop was Awanos, town especially known for its handcraft - pottery. We visited one manufactory with a demonstration of making pot and even could buy something there. I "fell in love" with one piece of pottery, unfortunately the price was as high as my rent in Prague for one month :d(.
Over night - 8 hours travel from Ankara to Izmir, quick shower in the morning and "enthusiastically" go to work.
