Thursday's Child: Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia

Thursday, April 7, 2011


This month, I’ll be writing about four amazing outdoor adventures we’ve enjoyed on our trips.  One of my favourite aspects of traveling is seeing the natural beauty in many places around the world, and Cappadocia was one such highlight.

Cappadocia is a region in central Turkey that possesses a landscape that could have come straight from the moon.  These freestanding rocks have been eroded by centuries of flowing rivers and flood waters to resemble rocky spires.  Could it be that they really are the fairy chimneys that they’re known as?

It’s easy to imagine that King Oberon and Queen Titania of A Midsummer Night’s Dream dwelt in a palace as regal and unusual as one of these.  Living here really might make a fairy king perform magic that would make his queen fall in love with a donkey.

These photos were all taken the day we flew into Cappadocia from Istanbul, and if it wasn’t quite like visiting Fairyland, it really was a mysterious and unrecognizable landscape.  We felt as if we’d been transported to another realm where, after you’ve left, you wonder if it really was a dream after all.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amazing photos, these landscapes are gorgeous!

laxsupermom said...

Wow! How gorgeous! Breathtaking photos! Thanks for sharing.

Joanne said...

The architecture of this planet is just amazing. How fortunate you are to have been able to see this, it's very beautiful!

Rita said...

Wonderful travel journal that you give us here; this place looks so majestic. How fortunate for you to have been able to see this in real life.
thank you forn sharing.
Rita

Claudia said...

Turkey is a country I've always wished to visit. Now that I know there are fairy chimneys my wishing just got stronger. Stunning landscapes - natural beauty and whimsy.

Ann said...

Beautiful, stunning photos! Beth, I'm still thinking about your wonderful apple cake. I'm going to make it this weekend.

Belinda said...

Are you going to be able to take me with you??

Unknown said...

Wow, how cool all those shapes are.

Lydia Kang said...

My friend went there and I've been dying to go ever since. Thanks for the pictures. They really are out of this world, aren't they?

Angie's Recipes said...

Stunning photos! They really look like chimneys.

Sweet And Crumby said...

What an amazing and unique landscape. They do look like fairy chimneys and I would have never gotten a glimpse of them if it weren't for you! Thanks!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Wow. Those photos are AMAZING!! :-)

Valerie Gamine said...

Beautiful! I love the Midsummer Night's Dream comparison...very true. :)

Kayte said...

Gorgeous, how wonderful get to see all of this!

Carol said...

Stunning. Looks like a most amazing landscape! What a beautiful place.

Anonymous said...

I continue to be astonished by what's hiding on this rock of ours - those formations are just breathtaking, really.

Anonymous said...

The desert is beautiful in it's own way. What amazing formations. BTW--I received your giveaway yesterday! I look forward to reading your book. Thank you so much!

Sue said...

Such a unique and interesting landscape. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous! I LOVE the pictures :) Can't wait to hear more about all of the places you have been :)

Anonymous said...

Those are so cool! Wonderful photos. Mother Nature is the most talented decorator, is she not? :)

Jayne said...

Oh how wonderful and strange! What a beautiful place - oh the possibility for stories!

julie said...

Simply beautiful Beth! I've always wanted to visit Turkey. You've just confirmed my desire with your post. :)

shaz said...

Gosh they are quite amazing aren't they? I really, really want to visit Turkey one day.

Joanne said...

Those landscapes are so beautiful!

Amie Kaufman said...

Oh, how beautiful! Thank you for a gorgeous vicarious journey!

Unknown said...

Now I'm dreaming of an exotic journey;-)

Xiaolu said...

Wow very beautiful!

Monet said...

Smile. Ryan and I can't wait to visit Turkey. We hope to get there in the next few years. Thank you so much for sharing your words and memories with me tonight. During good times and bad, your blog always offers me a dose of joy. I hope you have a blessed and happy Sunday, my friend. Hugs from Austin!

Lorraine said...

The wonders of our planet never cease to amaze me. What a spectacular sight. Thanks for taking us along.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for telling me about Toronto charging for plastic bags, I am so glad to hear that. I know some places in Europe have banned them completely. The U.S. is so far behind with that and I do not understand why. We need to step it up!

Fresh Local and Best said...

This does look like a long ago far away place. The soil in this region of the world must be rich in chalky minerals. I like the uniformity of the stones, it looks like all of them have been carefully carved.

Katerina said...

My maternal grandmother was Greek from Cappadocia and she used to tell me how beautiful these places were! Your photos make me want to do this trip asap!

Anonymous said...

It looks beautiful and mysterious!

Kittie Howard said...

Beautiful photos, Beth, and a narrative that's got me kicking myself for not going the times we were in Turkey. There's sooo much to see there.

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