Cappadocia again - visiting an underground city and more pidgeon houses

We spent an interesting day exploring the underground cities where 6,000 people were housed underground hiding from the various marauders - 8 levels underground.  It can't have been all bad, they were even making wind under there.

They were not designed for tall people Matt.  Those round grates were covering deep holes for unsuspecting invaders and were covered so that the locals didn't come to a sad end.
On thing though, it was lovely and cool down here

At this point were were at least down to the 4th or 5th floor.  The animals were housed at the first floor.
Just another passage way

 

Once we left the underground city, we went to see some more Pidgeon houses.

Pidgeons are very important in this area and so the locals are converting the old stone houses as pidgeon houses.  As this interesting sign suggests, the pidgeons need our "help" but not quite sure what sort of help.  Notice all the blue and white objects, these are warding off the "evil eye"

Notice the indents going up to the window, these are pidgeon houses made by locals to attract them

climbing down one of the crevices within the valley

Mariana, Cassandra and Lizzy

I think we may see Mariana coming to Australia one day - we hope so!

A break at last (always shops in the most unexpected places!)

Just next to this is the little ancient Church with these amazingly preserved paintings on the ceiling

Off again and a couple of more landscapes before we head for the pottery

Notice the decoration, this is to show the pidgeon this is home so they come back to their own place (weird but true)

This church was completely carved out of the rock (everything was carved)

I am sure Amanda's pictures were more impressive than mine