Todays picture is an "artsy" B&W shot I took when I was backpacking through Turkey in late July, 1988. The reason for todays picture is because through Facebook - one of my friends Paulo uploaded a pic he came across (see the end of this post). I was really taken with it - so much so that it is now the background for my desktop.

The region that is being displayed here is called Cappadocia (you can check out the wiki article here). The rock formations you see in these photos are called "fairy chimneys". A really neat geological formation that is the result of years of erosion. The entire landscape is dotted with these features - quite amazing. What is perhaps even more amazing is the fact that the region is littered with cave complexes from a variety of periods - the most significant and largest of which date to the 1st and 2nd C. AD. I had the opportunity to tour one of these "underground cities" - complete with stables, kitchens, defense systems, etc.

One particular event I recall from my visit to Cappadocia occurred while having apple tea in one of the rest houses in a tiny village. It was around noontime and everything was quiet until I heard an odd tune coming from the mineret (tower associated with a mosque). It wasn't the call to prayer...I know what that sounds like...this was oddly familiar. After a few seconds I recognized it...it was the same tune that Via Rail uses to begin its PA announcements at all of its rail stations. Try as I might to find a copy of the tune online to include with this post - I couldn't find one. But the next time any of you are travelling the Via Rail system...you'll know what I mean. What came next was someone yelling in the speaker (obviously in Turkish...which I don't understand at all). I asked the local server what the person was saying and he told me "oh...that's just so and so (insert Mohammad or Mehmet here) calling so and so (insert Mohammad or Mehmet here) for their lunch." I was flabergasted....I thought the minnerets were only to be used for religious purposes...but apparently in Cappadocia...they do double duty. A kind of Turkish - "I think I hear your mother calling you...." kind of thing.

STAY THIRSTY