The 5th-10th century churches carved directly into the soft ash rock of the many caves we visited at Göreme featured a variety of artwork, ranging from vibrantly colored frescoes to startlingly crude iconoclastic patterns.

I especially liked exploring the dark, eerie side chambers of the downstairs crypt of the Tokalı Church, flashlight in hand.

With the midday sun bearing down fiercely overhead, I could see why monks would take to the caves.

The gift shop vendors spoke a dozen languages, rapidly switching greetings to try and drum up interest. For me and Angie, they tried (in order) English, German, Russian. Ed and Judy reported receiving a "Shalom." Sonia and Cheryl were most often hit with Japanese.

Angie's souvenir T-shirt seemed appropriate: the trademark "fairy chimney" stone formations, with Cappadocia in every language.

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