Rose Valley Walk

Our Intrepid tour included a couple of walks in the great outdoors, including one near Goreme in Cappadocia through a valley in that weird landscape.  I think we did the "Rose Valley" track.

Descending into the Rose Valley.

Through a short tunnel.

Pigeon holes in the cliffs.

There are pigeon holes cut into cliffs all along the valley, and in fact all over the whole Goreme area wherever you go.  We were told they were cut to attract the birds because their guano was highly valued as a fertilizer.  These holes are often high up on steep cliffs, so it must have taken considerable skill and determination to reach them and recover the prized droppings.

The track went through several tunnels in the rock.

This track ended at the village of Cavusin, where we stopped for a cool drink and shelter from the hot sun.  Cavusin is known for these old rock dwellings (below).  Settlement here is thought to have started about 2,000 years ago.

Cavusin, at the end of the track.