Soganli Valley, 1

After Zelve, we drove back down south again, through Uchisar, then Moustafapasa (where a few Greek families still live and where there is an annual Turkish/Greek friendship event), up and down valleys and canyons, on to the high ridge, and then down to Soganli. We spent the night in the parking lot outside the local tourism office, which looked closed for the season, but came back to life the next morning. Soganli is off the major tour bus route, although we saw a few independents, including two from NYC, and a couple of more adventurous maxitaxi loads, Germans. We pretty much had the valley to ourselves for a couple hours. The ruins there are mostly churches, monasteries and the like, 10th-11th century, but absolutely un-restored. Even as defaced as they are, they are still interesting and sometimes moving.

En route to Soganli, cliff dwellings

Soganli Calley, right fork; the structures are low down

Karabas Church

More Karabas

Ceiling

Detail

Yilanyi Church--Snake Church or St. George Church

"Onward Christian soldiers..."

Ms. Sherouse was last seen entering hall 17
on level IVa

Interior, looking out, Yilanyi Church

There's St. George, on horseback, the

snake/dragon below

St. Fruitus de Loomis