Photos from Cappadocia, Urgup, and Goreme

Michael climbing through old doorways in Goreme

Daisys in a Canyon

My daily view in Urgup

Just chillin' in the Selime Cathedrale, NBD.

Goreme, Jesus on the cross

While climbing up the castle in Cappadocia...

Goreme - tall builing is the nunnery

Urgup, what a view!

Almost to the top of the castle in Cappadocia

Pigeon Valley - Cappadocia

Derinkuyu underground city, a church... a million stories undergroung (kidding of course)

It's a restaraunt... in the middle of a canyon... made out of comfty cushions... seriously.

Cathedrale... We climbed to the top of that lighter colored rock on the right.

The castle in Cappadocia is the mountain on the left.  Michael and I climbed to the very tippy top.  Yes. I was SCARED.

Carvings right down the street from where we stayed in Urgup... smelled like piss.

Carved caves and pigeon holes in a canyon

Three Beautifuls (translation) - Urgup



Sorry that they are so mixed up
Also note:  i barely editing (I KNOW, ME?!)  The sky was actually the colors you see in the photos, it was insane.
More later :)

All Aboard the Sarkoy Express

IF ONLY.  The so called "sarkoy express" doesn't exist, but if it did I would have been on it!

The trip to Sarkoy took a marvelous 11 hours.

At this point, I could become a professional packer and I can now easily find comfortable ways to sit on the bus that will allow me to sleep.  I'll tell you, it is not an easy feat.

Listening to T.Swift while dozing out... using Michaels stomach for a pillow.  Ah the life!

At the rest stop we ate "tost" (toast.. with cheese in the middle).  I then heard some English... naturally I'm drawn towards the speakers.  Greek bikers.  Harley bikers, no less (@Dad).  May I also add, cranky, hungry, bikers.  YIKES.  They were angry at the turkish servers for not understanding their english or greek.  I was getting ready to photograph a really epic fight when sweet Michael stepped in and helped translate that the bikers in fact wanted some water and cups of ice.  Fight worthy, indeed.

We jumped back on the bus to Canakkale and another bus to Sarkoy.  Then we walked a few blocks to the summer house.  By this point, I was tired, cranky, and ready to start a fight myself.  Michael and I went to the market and bought some food then we went home ate and we were all pretty ready to take a nap.  However, we ended up visiting his aunt and uncle to say hello.  May I just say their garden was absolutely adorable!  Garden full of veggies complete with fruit trees, a gazebo covered in vines and a beautiful golden retriever (Duff) to top it all off. 

Sorry about the dark picture, apparently it cannot be edited because I don't "own the photo" hmm.

Computers these days.

The next day, Michael and I went to the beach!  I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was to jump in some cold water...  it was such a hot day that the water was like bath water.  STILL!  I got to go swimming!  Michael and I ran toward the sea to find out that the first 15 feet were a ton of rocks... OW!  I forgot my water shoes that first day, and thank god I had yet to buy my goggles...  explanation to come.

We swam for a good hour and a half and then went off shopping.  Clear water like this, I was in need of goggles and a snorkel.  Last December, I took a trip with my Nana and found out that I really love snorkeling!  I could spend forever out there checking out the under water life.

Back to present, we found affordable, decent quality snorkels and Michael got some water shoes, I was also in need of some heavy duty, waterproof sunblock.  Check, check, check!

The next day the travelling must have caught up to me because my butt was going no where except on the big orange floral swing with my kindle.  I was determined.

Boy. I'm attractive. Unfortunately its the only proof I've got.

Day four and we got out and went swimming again, this time with his cousin, aunt, uncle, mother and Emily.  We had a blast.  I used my snorkel and realized that you pretty much couldn't step anywhere without encountering a crab or hermit.  [insert shiver here] the day before I was out there without water shoes on!?  Never. Again.

Unfortunately, I broke my underwater camera in Mexico last winter.  Applause?  For me?

So no crab photos for you.

Michael and I stayed where we could touch the bottom, the waves were small, but we still wanted to be careful.  Snorkel we did, for almost three hours!  Then we sat on the beach and at corn on the cob.

Over the next few days we swam two more times.  The final time we went swimming we had plenty of fun.  Fish here are apparently not afraid of humans.  I was walking/swimming, literally, inside schools of fish.  They didn't seem to notice that I lacked gills.  Cute little green fish, they were fun.  I still had my worries about those crabs.  I saw a few larger then my fist and I'll tell you those were some dramatic moments.  I don't think I like crabs.  The hermit crabs I could deal with, but some of those little guys aren't so little.  Michael and I decided to go out a little deeper that day and see what was under water there.  I swear, I've learned my lesson!

I put my foot down to see how deep we were, when I touched the sand a sting ray came from literally a centimeter away from my foot.  Michael was feet away and he heard my scream underwater.  Thank God I WAS underwater when I screamed.  It hurt my own ears.  I'm sorry but sting rays were not on my list of must see under water creatures...  at least not when I'm stepping on them and they are probably really pissed off wanting some stinking sting ray revenge!

Breathing.

After my... encounter, I decided I didn't really want to swim anymore.

So I sat on the beach and made a rock castle.  It was not worth seeing, trust me, so I took no photo.  I did however make a really cute puppy.  Now that I took a photo of!

We then spent the remainder of our time at the beach taking photos.  Because we just cannot get any more cool.

Super-Katy

Just chillin' in the air.

"Pokemon Emily uses super punch...  it's very effective.  Pokemon Michael fainted."

As I get to this point on my week, I believe I will save the rest for a separate post.

Also, I wanted to let everyone know that apparently comments aren't working right now.  People keep trying to leave them, I never the notifications.  Try if you will but don't be shocked when I never see them.

Enjoy your day!

No longer a teenager, not yet an adult?

How Much Can I Cram Into One Post?

First of all, you should know that there will not be a post (or at least a long post) for at least the next 12 days.

I know, I know the world is ending.  ;)

Michael and I somehow got covered in the clay while we were making pots and flowers.  Thought I would share my detailed moustache!

The other day michael and I went shopping, because I am STILL in need of some clothes.

I came home with one tank top which I love.

I also know that a certain friend of mine, DK, loves orange and will most likely be permanently "borrowing" it from me once I get home!  :P

Love you Koko!

We walked a lot that day, it was excersize that was needed.

The following day, I was, again, not feeling good in the morning.  This heat + sinuses = Super painful

Happily, toward the afternoon the heat was less, so I decided that I was in much need of jogging!

I said I would be jogging everyday... that was before I felt the exhaustion and dizziness that the sinus pressure is causing me.

SO I am happy to AT LEAST say that I went jogging once!!

AND I went a whole mile in the 85 degree weather!

*bow*

Michael didn't like jogging very much...

we stopped at one of the many "work out" areas along the track...

apparently, moving your arms in tiny circles is an extreme work out.

I'm glad that I have been kick boxing and jogging many miles at home all this time, when all I needed to do was stand in place and move about 2 inches to each side in order to be fit.

I guess its hard to explain.  Easier?  The "work out equipment" fails at working anything out, except my brain.  I spent way too much time trying to figure out how to work each one and what I must be doing wrong since I felt no "burn".

OOF..

When we continues jogging I came across some adorable furry friends.

PRECIOUS.  The black one was following me so I HAD to stop.

I was carrying a water bottle with me so I poured a little on the track and apparently they were very thirsty.  They drank half my bottle!!

I ended up pouring a ton of water into a leaf contraption that I, so smartly ;), created and they went to town.

I felt so bad for them.  Apparently, it is kitten season. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.

After I gave them water, I think I became their mommy.  A very unsuccessful game of following the leader began when I started jogging again.

Sad!

When Michael and I got home we were pooped.

I convinced him to play skip-bo with me and when Mo got home we taught him to play too.

Have you ever noticed that when you love a game, and you try to teach someone, you HAVE to make their experience fun, otherwise they will never want to play with you again?

I failed.

This is what happened to Mo his first time playing Skip-Bo.

9. 9. 9.. 9...9... 9.

Needless to say, he never wants to play again.

Speaking of 9's, July 9th happened to be my birthday.

20 years old

No longer a teenager, not yet legally an adult.

I'm not yet sure what I'm classified as.

Michael and I went first to his college, he had a meeting, and I met one of his friends.

Then we walked to Agora Mall and I went shopping.

More shirts.

I ate Sabarro!!  Is that how you spell it?

PIZZA!

It was delicious.

But I also helped myself to some of Michael's Popeye's chicken.

How could I resist!?

After the mall we went home where I was surprised by Emily returning home!

I went to change my clothes and when I came back Emily grabbed me and pushed me into the family room.  They set up a little party for me!  It was so cute!

Anne made me a homemade birthday cake, scone chocolate chip cookies, something made from grape leaves and rice, and a type of buscuit with cheese in it.  Emily also pointed out that she tried to decorate the living room for me.

:)

I love them!

I then spent the remainder of my night working on the puzzle I got from the mall.

PUZZLE!

I was/am so excited!

Currently, I am about... 1/8th of the way through the puzzle.  I said I wanted a hard one.  I overestimated my puzzle making skills.

Tomorrow, early in the morning, Michael, Emily, Anne and I are all leaving for the summer house!  I finally get to go swimming, yay!  But I also have a lack of internet connection.  Internet cafes, here I come!

Time for some fun in the sun!

<3

First week of July

We have been home from Cappadocia for about a week now.

Mission: go on adventures = slow go.

I have had terrible sinus pressure...pain.

We have gotten out a few times when it wasn't as hot.

HA!  Who am I kidding, it is always hot in Izmir!

I hear there is a drought at home...  we haven't had a drop of rain since I came here either.

I thought that I would be cooking a lot while I was here,

the problem is that most of the ingredients that I need, I have been unable to find them in stores...

Basil for one.  I love basil.

So the other day I had a major american junk food craving.

I needed pizza.

Last time I got pizza in Turkey, we got some from Dominos in Istanbul.

It.Was.Awful.

This time we again ordered Dominos, hoping that Izmir's restaurant would actually know how to peel an onion and not just throw the whole thing on the pizza.

Lucky me, the pizza was a success!!

It was delicious for an american dying for grease.

In the past week we have also managed to make our way the WHOLE 2 blocks to the fair area.

Hooray!

We went on the roller coaster, where they did NOT check seat belts or harnesses.  There was one tiny loop-de-loop on the ride so I was pretty concerned.

It was, without hesitation, the absolute WORST ride I have EVER been on.

You thought the Iron Wolf was bad?!  Try this ride that is over 15 years old and obviously has never had any maintenance testing done.

I thought my head was going to pop clear off my shoulders.

I'm just saying, I wouldn't be shocked if there have been several concussions.

Rant over, photo below.

After the painful ride, we decided to go on something more... calm.

We went in the fun house.  Let me just say, even after 5 years of haunt experience, I have never seen more... disgusting props.  Rooms were complete with naked women and molesting vampires... I won't continue.  Note: if you ever see a haunted house is Turkey (not likely, but still) do not go in.

We decided to save our last tickets... for later.  I wasn't really in the mood to go on more rides after that.

The following day, Michael and I went shopping at the bazaar.  I came home without any new clothes (sad face) but we did end up buying a toe nail clipper and some clay!

What great finds!

Yesterday, we began making marvelous creations out of the clay.  Michael worked hard on a decorative vase and I... worked on keeping the clay from sticking to my hands.

I did manage to make a little jar, or something, with a lid.  Also, a heart with a cicek (flower) on it for his mother, Anne.  She LOVES flowers.

That was my 4th of July!

Today I made dinner, chicken salad :)

Easy, delicious, and healthy. (no Cesar dressing in sight)

Michael and I then went on a date to see The Amazing Spiderman.

I give it 3.5/5 stars.  Not bad, I liked the actors, but Spiderman made me angry...  I kept saying "What a brat!  I want to smack him!"

Taxi home where we sat on the balcony, as always, and a HUGE moth flew in the house.  Adventures in trying to capture it with a dust pan....

pics later as I said.

Time for bed!

Goodnight!