Meskindir and Rose Valleys

Monday we took a long walk from our campsite down into the Meskindir Valley, through it to the Rose Valley, and then back up a long ridge to the campground above Goreme. These are uninhabited valleys nowadays but give a good glimpse at the terrain and at the work done at various times to make them habitable.

In the Meskindir, really more a canyon than a valley

Typical Meskindir terrain

Cliff dwellers

We passed through numerous arches, natural bridges, and

tunnels in the rock, most natural, I think

Opening out into the Rose canyon now; note sophisticated
signage

The Three Sisters; wait, no, it's the Three Musketeers...

The Howling Dog, or maybe the Howling Cat...

Spiro's Spires

The Organ Pipes; yes, I am making this all up as I go

Now atop the ridge that took us back to the campground, a

view of the Rose Valley; for days now, we have been

amazed at how much central Turkey looks like the American

West; but no cowboys nor Indians, nor rodeos, nor Mint
Saloons, however; minarets in the distance, calls to prayer,
figs and dates, pistachios, rugs, more rugs, camels, tour
buses...