Sep 14 2025

Very glad we weren’t talked into the balloon ride. We needed the sleep. We were still able to see some in flight just from the hotel and when Lori went out for a run. 

Did our usual of finding a local coffee place to enjoy the morning. 

Another very full day. Started with another overlook at another “castle” at Ortahis. But the biggest bonus was pistachio coffee!!! Why are we only finding about this now‽‽?  

It was then on to the Gorome outdoor museum which was already becoming quite busy. Here we were able to see some of the restored chapels. Unfortunately no photos were allowed. Well that’s what the sign said. Sometimes there was someone enforcing it. Not always. And certainly compliance was “flexible”. St Basil appeared prominently, however we read later that he probably did not build any of the churches as they predated his time. Constantine and his wife, St George and St Theodore (both on horseback) were also regular features. As Omer pointed out to us you could appreciate that it was a skilled painter(s) who did the work. In some places you could see where the early basic iconography had been painted over. 

Then another overlook, overlooking Gorome but the theme of which I’ve forgotten. Though there was one private house amongst them for around in which an 80 year old couple still lives. 

It was then onto lunch but this time in a “cave” restaurant. Which presented a challenge as I’d finally remembered to switch to my sunglasses just as we moved indoors. We enjoyed the traditional stew in the clay pots. Though I felt it wasn’t that great. Lori preferred it to the day before meal. 

It was then on to the pottery display. Fortunately the other woman in our group volunteered to be the volunteer. 

Then on to the mushroom caps where Omer described the geological process. As there was only one other couple today we were able to plug him with more questions. Also had random other tourist ask us to take a picture of him peeking through a hole. Then helped me climb up (and down) to do the same. 

Then finally it was onto imagination valley with formations that, well, you get it.. 

Then it was back to the hotel to await our airport transfer, the relatively haphazard “check-in”, security and boarding process. This time we took our bags as carry on. This saved us a bit of time at the other end though it was still over an hour back to the hotel as we landed at the airport on the Asian side. Thus it was after 11pm when we finally got (re) checked in.