In addition to the Goreme Open-air Museum, our Red Route tour took us to many other locations around the area to experience the fairy chimneys.
Uchisar Castle
A large rock formation at the top of a hill, meaning great vantage points, has been dubbed a castle. Its pointy tops look like turrets. It is pretty amazing. The massive crag is covered in windows and openings, so it looks like a building. Many of them today are used as pigeon houses or dove cuts for the cultivation of the birds. They have done this for thousands of years because the pigeon droppings make excellent fertilizer and was used in the frescoes of Goreme’s ancient churches.
Some of the spaces are still occupied as many of Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys are. All around the castle are more spires, many of the homes and hotels.
Love Valley
Another stop on the Red Route was Love Valley. This high spot overlooks a valley with many fairy chimneys. According to our tour guide, it got its name because couples like to go up there and spend time together. With the great views and a magnificent vista. This could be a pretty romantic place to be, especially at sunset.
Other Fairy Chimneys
We also saw many other rock formation. As in any place around the world, some had been given a moniker based on their shape. Sometimes, in situations like that, I wish people would just appreciate the beauty of the shapes, patterns, and colors. Why does everything have to represent or look like something we already know? Sometimes the abstract is beautiful too.
That evening, I wandered through Goreme. The town itself has many rock formations. One near the center of town has Roman columns marking the entrance to a Roman officer’s tomb. This was a wonderful day in Cappadocia, and the next morning it got even more spectacular!
