A trip to the moon

Cappadocia from above

Well, not quite. But from the hot air balloon this morning that's what Cappadocia looked like. A vast moonscape.

Goreme

We've headed 10 hours inland from Antalya to Goreme, which is a magical little place in central Cappadocia set amid towering tuff cones (or fairy chimneys), cliffs and vineyards. The weather has turned a little nasty but when you're cocooned in a cosy cave bar with a roaring fire and a couple of bottles of red, like we were last night, the weather is irrelevant.

Enjoying a wine in Goreme's only wine bar. The owner used to play football in the Turkish league and loved the culture of NZ (he'd never been there ... but he had worked out that kiwi Katherine was the only single girl among us)

We're here to explore the cave houses, underground cities and centuries old-churches, chapels and monasteries carved into the cliffs by the Byzantines. We're staying in a converted old cave church, owned by Hassan, who was born and bred in Goreme which makes him a modern day caveman. Very cool. Our rooms are caves, decorated in beautiful Cappadocian rugs, pottery and other handicrafts. From our spot on the top of a hill, we have views across Goreme, which really comes into its own at night when the lights twinkle in the fairy chimneys. I'm gushing, I know. Sorry ...

Our hotel room - yep, it's a cave

Today was jampacked:

• a balloon flight, with 15 japanese and a Belguim pilot named Gert who took more photos than the japanese
  
• a walk through Ihara valley, a massive gorge with ancient churches carved into its sides and local villagers harvesting potatoes in its gully
• a visit to Derinkuyu underground city, which has seven levels and is one of an estimated 36 underground cities of Cappadocia, possibly dating back 4000 years to Hittite times
• a short stop at a caravansari (camel market) along the Silk Road

And finally, a drink in the Flinstones Bar. Priceless.