Utah Trip

Well, this started out as a blog to record places we hoped to see some day, but I was not sure that we would get to any of them.

We recently returned from a road trip to Utah, and are beginning to organize our photos. 

I decided to try out the TripAdvisor free slideshow, and am posting a link to it below. I don't like all the transitions - too jerky, but it is a convenient way to host some of our photos.  Let's start with Bryce Canyon, as seen by Yvette.

http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-00ad-3092-f5fa?ln

Derinkuyu Underground City

For any fan of rock formations, this has to be on the list of things to see.  An underground city of more than 10 levels honeycombing beneath the surface.  Probably built in the 7-8th century, but possibly as early as the 5th century (AD), it housed between 3000 to 50,000 people.  Instead of hauling up a draw-bridge, when security was required, stone doors were rolled into the entry ports.  Religious persecution is said to be the inspiration of this complex and fascinating refuge.

These homes rock!

Although I could certainly do without the snow, I love the way that these homes in Goreme were carved right into the rock, many of them still topped by conical hills.  This too is in the Cappadocia area of Turkey.  This ancient town made use of the natural terrain, yet blended in with it as far as possible, retaining much of the rugged beauty. 

Fairy Chimneys of Turkey

There are several types of Turkish Fairy Chimneys (also known as Hoodoos or earth pyramids), the tall thin spires of rock that tower above a badland or arid floor. The columns are soft sedimentary rock capped by a piece of harder, less easily-eroded stone. The Cappadocia region pillars (above) are sculpted from ancient volcanic ash. 

Smaller fairy chimneys (below) are also found in the Devrent Valley, AKA Imaginary/Imagination Valley or Pink Valley.

The photos above from Imagination Valley are from Free Travel Photography (c)

Mushroom capped Fairy Chimneys can also be seen at Pasabag, or Monk'sValley (below) (Photo also from Free Travel Photography (c) http://www.free-travel-photos.org/)

Some, like the Chapel for St. Simeon (below) are carved out for dwellings in the tradition of the region. The carved homes and underground cities will be my next post.