Turkey – Konya and Goreme | Knotty Ewe On the Land

In the past two days we have spent a total of 13 hours on buses as we travelled first from Kas to Konya yesterday and then Konya to Goreme in Cappadocia today. Our stop in Konya was really just a stopping point on our travels. We did have this morning to do some exploration but it really wasn’t worth the stop. If there were some other way to do this long travel leg I wish they would find it. It seems that the bus networks are very well developed here but not the trains which is too bad.

Konya is the centre for the Whirling Dervish sect as it was the home and burial place of Mevlana the founder. The primary attraction to the city is the Mevlana Museum which is actually his tomb. So most of the visitors are actually pilgrims. It was interesting to see the reaction of the different visitors – some were praying, others kissing various relics, and those like us just wandering through without much context for really understanding.

Mevlana Museum and mosque

Dervish tomb (before I realized photos weren’t allowed)

Women pilgrims waiting to enter

This morning we visited a felt shop and had a demonstration of how they make their felted artwork. One of the primary products of the business is the felted hats worn by the Whirling Dervishes during their twirling. It was fascinating to see how they do this fiber art. They even dye all their own wool and most of the process is still manual. I am resisting very hard the urge to learn this new fiber technique (I need to just stick with knitting).

Morning tea before starting the day

The felt shop

Adding details to the art piece using roving and soapy water

Whirling dervish hats

Silk scarves with felt details

We spent the afternoon on the bus, and arrived in Goreme just before dinner time. Goreme is the tourist centre for Cappadocia. The draw now a-days is what they call the fairy chimneys which are tall pillars of rock as well as the underground dwellings and cities that have been dug into the rock since antiquity. We will be exploring all of this more in the next couple of days. Then on Wednesday we take an overnight bus back to Istanbul where our tour will end.

This evening we went to a local family’s home for dinner. The house was dug into the rock hill with the front made of brick and concrete. The dinner was one of the best I’ve had since starting my travels. I think everyone on our tour is a bit home sick and really loved the home cooking – it was full of veggies and very hearty. I was happy as it didn’t have red meat or cheese. I’ve been struggling lately to find meals I can eat so it was lovely.