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Final Thoughts

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 That was a good trip. Turkey was a lot different then I had expected, more European. That, I am sure, is a function of where you are at in the country. In the Southeast they are at war and their president is stirring things up with the Greeks. There is a bit off animosity towards him as Turks on the ground that talked to us say that he is more interested in Arab oil money than in maintaining Turkish culture. Inflation in the country is skyrocketing, last I saw it was an average of 73% since January with over 100% on food and fuel. It does not help that the Russians started a war and their flights and credit are sanctioned. The number tourist nation to Turkey is Russia, Ukrain is in the mix as well. One restauranteur in Istanbul related to us that he is glad to see Americans and Westerners back, they always seem to be happy. He contrasted the smiling Westerners with most Russians that he meets as being very serious. As Americans we have not known the hardships endured by the people of
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Planes, Trams, and Taxis

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 Sunday June 19 This is it, last fragment of a day in Turkey. All alarms went off at 1:10 to begin our last Turkish Taxi ride. We left a little early so as to have time to find the lounge and get a few early breakfast calories in. The lounge in the Istanbul interrnational terminal was outstanding, note the baby grand in the background. It was, no exaggerating, larger than the airport that we flew out of Cappadochia from the day before. They had a pretty decent food selection considering the time. The pida (pizza) oven was not fired up for breakfast :-(. Turkish Air seemed always to be late. We got used to that and may have lounged a bit too long. When we got to our gate for the Air France flight to Chuck D in Paris they were already on last call before gate closure. Chuck D (Charles De Galle) airport is the biggest maze of a complex airport I have ever been in. Tara was wondering why, my guess is that it is likely originally quite old and they have just keep adding capacity however the
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Miscellaneous Ramblings

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With as many millions of dollars as it cost to develop and produce modern aircraft you would think that the in-flight announcements would actually be audible and understandable. The possible upside to more connections - it feels like less plane time as you get break times.  Learned something new - 'Book Protected' seats. If you have missed a connection and are trying to get another flight and have found one but want to hedge on a better flight coming available - you can 'Book Protect' the first one you find, then work from there. Unfortunately for Patti most Turkish Delight is made with Honey, not sugar, except for the cheap stuff. When explaining this to the dealers to see if they have a solution they all look at her quizically wondering what is wrong with this crazy woman then they try to sell her something else. Patti, being the fearless, then regretful, eater that she is, rolled the Delight Dice. Mom is the ultimate photo bomber. Here she is with her umbrella. Patti
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It's a Wrappa for the Cappa

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Saturday June 18 Today was our final day in Cappadocia and closing in on our Turkey Exit at 4:10AM Sunday Morning We had a late evening (after midnight) at the cultural spectacle last night. Patti and I decided that we would just sleep then make a call as to our morning activity based on that. We managed to wake up at a decent time but were impeded in our exit by check-in shenanigans that seemed to be of higher priority. We headed out the door when it was still the cool of the morning and left the kids in the dark and powerless room. We pulled the key from the master switch, which deactivates all the lighting, so as to lock the door behind us. They were still passed out when we returned. We hiked up Pigeon Valley. Saw some balloons, Patti made me delete the few pics I snapped, control freak. Saw some pigeons, the excrement of which was used as a plater-ish base to apply to the walls and ceilings of the cave churches over which pigment was added to create the incredible frescos. Saw yet
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Action Packed Day

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Friday June 17 We woke the kids up early to go see the balloons rise with the sun. Got a few more balloon pics, pretty sure I did not need any more but I got a deal on digital storage. We stopped by Pasa Bagi to check out the Fairy Chimneys. That was fun and there was a nice climbing challenge in one of the dwellings. There are some ancient hand holds in these rocks. There was a young Spanish girl who was lamenting all the activities that her slightly long nails kept her from doing, but she went for it on one of the climbs and made it nails and all. Patti was remarking on how good, rather perfect, her English was. To which Tara replied "She spoke English, very well English". Next stop Zvelve. This was a V-ish shaped canyon with dwellings in all the cliffs. There was a fair bit of it closed off due to rock fall but we pressed on to the furthest part of the canyon. It was there that we found the best exploration site yet. We were able to climb all over this thing by ourselves a
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Phrase Association 5

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Mount Doom It reads right at first glance One of my favorite Stans 'Color' Commentary by Tara 'Pass a baggie", said sick Marie to me on the plane.  Pottree Hotel Coneafornia The Mines of Moria The Dog House
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Puts the Cap in Cappadocia

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Thursday June 16 This morning we were granted sleep in rights and fully exercised these unexpected privileges. This is only our second breakfast here at the Stone Cave Hotel but I have already developed a bad habit. Very low carb is the most consistent descriptor of my breakfast menu back home, but now Nutella on bread is drowning me in mouth water. We hit the road for a 90 minute drive to the Ihlara Valley for an out an back hike. The road trips in Turkey have been pretty good. Apart from a general ignorance of the speed limit and the non-'about' nature of the round-abouts things have been good. There is an overhead speed tracking device in about every other town. Whenever we pass under the tracker I seem to be doing 10 over what I think might the limit while everyone is passing me at another 20. Who knows.  Today we had something unusual happen on the way to Ihlara. A car passed us on the inside of a round-'about', honked his horn, got in front of us and the passenger
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