Kappadokia Visit - Day 1 - 15th Mar 2011

Yachtforeverfreedom
Sun 20 Mar 2011 10:16
Route from Alanya to GÃreme

We started at 0530 on Tuesday morning when we were picked up at the marina entrance, along with friends from the yachts Augusta and Sondela, by the minibus complete with driver and guide.  The road journey took us West to Sidà to pick up some extra passengers and then back to Manavgat before we turned North East to Konya and then on to GÃreme - a total distance of 335 miles for the day.  We crossed the snow-covered Taurus Mountains, going up to a height of 6020 ft at the Alcabel Rakim Pass.

Pauline at the Alcabel Rakim Pass - Altitude 6020 ft

The first historical site of the tour was the MevlÃna TÃrbesi Mosque and museum in Konya.  Konya was the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate (1097-1307) and the home of the Mevlevi Order of Whirling Dervishes.

MevlÃna Mosque and memorial to JalÄl ad-DÄn Muáammad RÅmÄ, Konya

Tomb of JalÄl ad-DÄn Muáammad RÅmÄHe lived most of his life under the Sultanate of Rum, where he produced his works and died in 1273 AD. He was buried in Konya and his shrine became a place of pilgrimage. Following his death, his followers and his son Sultan Walad founded the MawlawÄyah Sufi Order, also known as the Order of the Whirling Dervishes, famous for its Sufi dance known as the samÄÊceremony.

Views around the Museum

First View of the "Fairy Chimneys" of GÃreme

Mount Hasan (10720 ft) - South of GÃreme