Turkish pumpkin in a Greek house

It's cold again here in Urgup, so I decided to post some of the summer photos just to remind myself that summer actually happens in this place. It definitely did last year, and it's one of the sunniest proofs that I have. Basically, it's a pumpkin growing on a wall. I didn't know it was possible for a pumpkin to reach such heights, but here it is. Oh, and notice the faint blue paint on the wall. It's there because the house belonged to the wealthy Greeks, who  used to live in Mustafapaşa before the population exchange of 1923. 

I will certainly write more about the population exchange between Turkey and Greece some time later, as it is connected directly to Mustafapaşa, which used to be known by the name of Sinasos and had a largely Greek population. Right now, lots of Greek mansions remind of those times, and  most of them have various elements painted in this exact shade of blue. And one of them has a pumpkin growing on its wall..

Winter Urgup

Some pictures of winter Urgup. It was chilly gloomy day at the end on January, but we just couldn't stay in anymore, and so we took a little walk off the beaten path. And here's what we saw.

The great thing about this town is that is has lots of hidden features. On the outside it's a typical small tourist place full of rocks, family-run hotels and cafes, but if you walk through it in winter months, when it looks cold and deserted, you can find a different sort of attractions there. 

It has a sort of tranquility that seeps through you and makes you slow down, and look around to see stuff.  You'll never get a feeling like this in Istanbul or Ankara, or any of the other cities full of light and noise. It's a feeling that you actually run your life, or more like walk through your life, taking your time to see things around you.

Dragon/Horse Sculture in Mustafapasha

This beautiful remnant rests in the garden which belongs to Cappadocia Vocational College in Mustafapasha village. It seems very symbolic to me, because the name Cappadocia means "the land of beautiful horses", and also because the college provides horse training among other programmes. 

To be honest, the first time I saw it, I thought it was a dragon. The mane looks very much like a ridge going down its neck. There are almost no signs of ears, and the outline of head resembles that of the dragons as portrayed in European tradition. Yep, it still looks like a docile little dragon to me.

Kangal Dogs of Cappadocia

The famous Turkish Sivas Kangal. You wouldn't believe it looking at this little puppy, but it's going to grow into  an 80 kilo monster in a couple of years. They are very common here in Cappadocia. The pure-bred ones and the mongrels alike. Mongrels are simply all over the place, you can see half a dozen of them just walking for half an hour on the street. They tend to stick to butcher's shops, as the butchers throw huge bones to them at the end of every day.
Today we saw one of them being led on a leash by a lad barely able to keep up with the monster! It really was HUGE, with brindled coat and cropped ears. They crop their ears, as the wolves tend to attack this part of them first - it's especially vulnerable for some reason. Unfortunately, there's no picture of that monster, as it really was a brief encounter.

Fun fact: Kangal dogs are six-toed. It is thought that this particular feature allows them to be steadier in a fight.

Toy Orca Whale from the Rainforest Cafe

And again a memorable photo from London. This time it's a shot from the Rainforest Cafe. The cafe itself was great, of course, but one thing I loved the best was this toy Orca whale from their souvenir shop. Just a toy, really, but shot from a close distance it looked almost intimidating. It was an unexpected effect, but surprisingly rewarding, as I admire whales and want everybody to see what beautiful and powerful animals they are. Even as toys.

Turkish Ramadan Bread

Amazing Turkish bread that we had sometime during Ramadan. I'm not sure, but I think it is prepared ONLY during Ramadan. I was told that they add either cannabis or hashish into the dough, though there's no telling if it's really so, or it was a sort of joke. The fact is that the bread had an unusual taste to it, sweet and savoury. It was more like a kind of pastry than bread. And the shape is definitely like more like that of a bread roll. Should I call it spiral or twirly or snail? Anyway, whatever the shape, it was delicious.

Baker Street Station

Well, this is what my encounter with the iconic Baker Street was like. A bit anticlimatic, but that's how it turned out to be. I was in London only for a couple of days, so there was simply no time to see all the attractions. And sadly enough, this is how I'll remember the famous Sherlock Holmes's residence - a deserted underground carriage with a paper bag. Ah, well, that's the mundane reality for you. It's just there whether you want it or not.

Zeki Müren

The best ever.... It is for sure that there won't be anyone like him again.

Hitit Hotel in Urgup

I have never been in such an authentic hotel before and really wonder if this kind of figure on top of the entrance is what truly symbolizes hittite culture. I need to check it now....

The more you try to run away, the closer you get........

Cappadocia Mustafapasa

Such a nice view, isn't it? I'm used to being here, but it still is the best place I have ever seen...

Mustafapasa in Snow

It has been snowing for 2 days without any stop.

Balloon Tours in Cappadocia

Only in Ürgüp in Turkey you can see more than 40 balloons in the sky..
I haven't enjoyed this yet but definitely in the near future. It is not because it is too expensive but ı find it a bit scary. And one tip, do not forget to wear your thick clothes cause up in the sky it gets freaking cold even in the summer.. There are lots of balloon companies in the area and you can choose one which offers you the best price.

Fairy Chimneys Part II

Such a lovely view.....It gives you different feelings during winter and totally fantastic feelings in the summer. People used to live here and the idea just makes me feel weird:))))