kaymakli,eski gumus

Seven of us had a 5am wake up for the balloon ride ,we were back at the hotel by 8:30 for breakfast and the journey to the Taurus mountains.En route we stopped for a visit at the Kaymakli underground city.A vast complex of passages and chambers on 8 levels that at one time could house 30000 people.It included schools,churches, stores,wineries and even had a ventilation system,drainage system and a water supply.Every house had a secret passage connecting it with the city.It was build during the Arab raids in the 7th century .You have to admire the determination and sophistication of the then greek christian inhabitants to preserve their religion and their way of life.Only a small section is open to the public .Next stop the Eski Gumus monastery near Nigde,it has some remarkable very well preserved frescos.A very recent discovery,the vandals never found it to destroy it.The Greek orthodox monks lived round the main courtyard in cells and run the school for the local Greek community that flourished round it.There are more chambers under the court yard with a drainage system and a ventilation system that still works.Unfortunately photography is not allowed within the church so all my photos of the frescos are borrowed from other websites.