![\"1824-0037-Caravanserai-Entrance-Portal-Aksaray\"](\"https:\/\/matchgrun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/1824-0037-Caravanserai-Entrance-Portal-Aksaray.jpg\")
<\/a>Caravanserai Entrance Portal, Aksaray<\/p><\/div>\n
The arch above the portal has some exquisite detail. The image below was taken from below the arch, looking straight up.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Portal Stonework Detail<\/p><\/div>\n
On the walls, at either side of the entrance are fine detailed patterns carved into the stonework. An example of this detail is captured below.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Exterior Stonework Detail, Caravanserai<\/p><\/div>\n
Inside the caravanserai walls, is a large courtyard, with a small tower.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Courtyard, Caravanserai<\/p><\/div>\n
At the end of the caravanserai (the western side), are these huge halls. These were used to store goods of the traveling caravans and served as quarters for their pack animals (camels and horses). Here is an image with Angela looking up, in awe, at the high ceilings of these halls.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Storage Halls, Caravanserai<\/p><\/div>\n
The caravanserai has some real architectural gems. I found these red flowers adjacent to one of the interior doorways. Once again, we see the detailed stonework carved into the arch above the doorway.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Doorway And Flowers, Caravanserai<\/p><\/div>\n
Here is another more detailed image of the stonework.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Arch Stonework Detail<\/p><\/div>\n
After visiting, we stopped at a nearby store before boarding the bus for our next destination — the Underground City of Derinkuyu in Cappadocia.<\/p>\n
Excavation of this city started about 800 BCE, as a shelter and safe haven for thousands of people from marauding armies. The tunnels of the city are carved in a soft volcanic rock. A elaborate system of tunnels extending at least seven (7) levels underground were made. Rooms were carved off the tunnels to serve as living quarters, storage areas, livestock, etc. The city also has several ventilation shafts to ensure adequate flow of air.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Inside Underground City, Derinkuyu<\/p><\/div>\n
Many of the tunnels are quite narrow, allowing only a single person to travel through, as shown below.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Narrow Tunnels, Derinkuyu<\/p><\/div>\n
The tunnels also have doors to protect against unwanted incursion into the city. These are rolling rocks that can only be closed by rolling across the tunnel from the inside. These doors can only be operated from the “inside” of the tunnel. Here is an example of one of these doors.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Rolling Door, Derinkuyu<\/p><\/div>\n
We headed to the city of G\u00f6reme, located among the Fairy Chimneys that Cappadocia is well-known for. We stopped at one location with a view down towards the chimneys.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Fairy Chimneys Near Goreme, Cappadocia<\/p><\/div>\n
The Fairy Chimneys are soft volcanic rock formations. This is a similar rock formation to that of the underground city. In years gone by, several houses have been carved out of the rock, as can be seen in this image.<\/p>\n