Goreme

It was close to 7am and we had been traveling all night.  The sun had risen and was lighting up the pleasant land scape of field and a few gently rolling hills.  A few hot air balloons hung in the distance, the only indication that we were nearing our destination, famous for its unique geology.

Suddenly the bus took a turn and began descending.  At last we could see the funny pointed rock formations that make this region so unique.  Within a few minutes we had arrived in Goreme, famous for its rock formations and for the large Christian community that inhabited them in years past.

There seem to be no end of places to explore.  Apart from the scenery, which is spectacular,

many of these little rock teepees were carved out and used as ancient houses or churches.  (Our hostel room is in one of these many caves.)

I'm sure that months could be spent exploring everything.  We've been here but a day and have yet to see much of anything but the most famous site: The Open Air Museum

They say there are thousands of churches in this region, which may or may not be true (perhaps depending on one's definition of church?  We don't necessarily know how all these churches and chapels were used).
Nevertheless, there are certainly a number of churches, and some of them have dramatically preserved frescoes (or something like frescoes) decorating their walls.  Probably the best preserved of these are in the Open Air Museum.

Fresco from (I think) The Dark Church

Lots of groves and niches...and not sure what everything was used for.  Maybe this was a table?

Really fun blue color in this one.

 So far Goreme is pretty well worth it.