I had a great day and it's only 9:30am, hike, church search adventure Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey

 April 22, 2026

John set his alarm to dash out to see the balloons at sunrise (I'm already awake due to call to prayer 30 min earlier) only to discover they weren't flying because of the wind. He asked me what we were doing today.  He fell back asleep and I looked on AllTrails, saw a trail with churches nearby and we set off for Rose or Red Valley. Mostly using Google maps until common sense prevailed, we were we experienced potholed, rocky, active creek bed of a "road" to get to "trailhead".  We both are grateful for our waterproof boots as we walked up the creek bed that is still running days after the last rains. The erosion is sobering to witness. 

 
 
John did an exceptional job navigating. Car is splattered with mud to rooftop.
Then he kept us on a path to the church. 



 our trail continues 
 
I enjoyed seeing a different way to grow grapes close to the ground, not on trellis
Growing grapes on the ground without a trellis in Turkey, often referred to as "goblet" or bush training, is a traditional method that relies on pruning vines into a small, sturdy shrub. This technique works best in hot, dry climates by providing ample spacing for airflow, reducing fungus risk (google)
 
After the wet parts, we climbed up to Hacli/Crusader Church (note sign is dug out since silt buildup from runoff)
 

 




Church frescoes are comparable in quality as those we saw in the Goreme Open Air Museum




Be sure to stop off and walk a short distance to view an adjacent valley (I read Red and Rose valleys) 
Above  is about halfway up to the church entrance if you take steps to the left on trail below the stairs
 
Springtime blossoms and blooms abound

poppy
 
pink catchfly
storksbill
fumitory
 
 
Henbit Deadnettle
tree in full bloom and shade so doesn't pop in photo

 
Aziz Agentangeus(the 3 Cross Church)  we saw in between car and Crusader Church, it was locked.



Look up and see what I zoomed in on
Indeed it was a great day, before 9:30am today



 

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