Turkiye 2023: Uc Guzeller and Carpet Factory
On the drive to the hotel last evening, we received a very disappointing news. The scheduled hot air balloon ride this morning is canceled due to weather. We were all groaning in despair. I'm pretty sure all of us were disheartened. I was devastated. I was looking forward to this activity, the main reason why I picked this itinerary.
However, this region of the country is filled with natural beauty that I thought it was not very difficult for the tour manager to come up with a Plan B, since I figured when an activity is dependent on the weather just like a hot air balloon ride, safe bet is to have a back-up plane.
On the drive out, the weather was perfect. It boggles us, right then, why there was a need to cancel. Then somebody said the wind was really gusty up there. I don't think I believed that.
The plan B was a visit to Uc Guzeller, or in Turkish, the Three Beauties, a group of three iconic fairy chimneys in Capadoccia. The Three Beauties are considered a symbol of Urgup and appear on the Urgup Municipality logo.
The landscape is otherworldly.
The next stop this morning is to the carpet-weaving place. I believe this was like a cooperative, although we were not told that it was one.
The process of extracting silk threads/filaments from silkworm cocoons was very interesting.
A weaving demo, very tedious.
Sample of a framed carpet for sale.
Once the demos were over, we were ushered in a huge room where we were shown incredibly beautiful floor carpets. The carpets were all breathtaking. If money was not object, you know....
As soon as we sat down, our free drink orders were taken. Choice of tea, coffee, beer or wine. Yes, we had wine before 9 am.
We were encouraged to see how the rugs feel under our bare or stockinged feet.
Not the typical design we see, but I liked it a lot.
Another framed rug.
This was a big day. It was chock-full of sightseeing activities. And I'm going to serve it in bite-sized posts.
Happy Easter everyone!
On the drive out, the weather was perfect. It boggles us, right then, why there was a need to cancel. Then somebody said the wind was really gusty up there. I don't think I believed that.
The plan B was a visit to Uc Guzeller, or in Turkish, the Three Beauties, a group of three iconic fairy chimneys in Capadoccia. The Three Beauties are considered a symbol of Urgup and appear on the Urgup Municipality logo.
The landscape is otherworldly.
The next stop this morning is to the carpet-weaving place. I believe this was like a cooperative, although we were not told that it was one.
The process of extracting silk threads/filaments from silkworm cocoons was very interesting.
A weaving demo, very tedious.
Sample of a framed carpet for sale.
Once the demos were over, we were ushered in a huge room where we were shown incredibly beautiful floor carpets. The carpets were all breathtaking. If money was not object, you know....
As soon as we sat down, our free drink orders were taken. Choice of tea, coffee, beer or wine. Yes, we had wine before 9 am.
We were encouraged to see how the rugs feel under our bare or stockinged feet.
Not the typical design we see, but I liked it a lot.
Another framed rug.
This was a big day. It was chock-full of sightseeing activities. And I'm going to serve it in bite-sized posts.
Happy Easter everyone!
You're very brave wanting to get up in a hot air balloon, I have a huge fear of heights so I wouldn't even think of it.
ReplyDeleteThat's crazy, I'm scared of heights but honestly a hot air balloon ride sounds fun
ReplyDeleteSad that you missed the hot air balloon ride.
ReplyDeleteThe landscapes that you have captured are surreal.
The visit to the carpet making factory must have been fascinating!
Lovely pictures - they reminded me of my visit to a Turkish carpet workshop a few years ago!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would go up in a hot air balloon. You are very brave. The landscape shots are gorgeous. It really does look "other worldly". Loved the carpet photos. Brown and blue together is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteSome amazing sights you saw. I was wondering if the early morning alcohol helped with the rug sales.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful skies.
ReplyDeleteTruly Amazing views, Great to see carpet-weaving , Loved this post.
ReplyDeleteI liked seeing the "Three Beauties". So interesting and unusual looking!
ReplyDelete...gorgeous rugs!!!
ReplyDeleteNow I know where magic carpets come from! So you can fly up to the top of the three chimneys and place a nice flat Rock up there! Aloha!
ReplyDeleteFascinating to learn about rugs. Great photos too
ReplyDeleteThanks for this wonderful trip trough your camera lens. Nature gives us some amazing views, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteThe rug tour definitely was different from any kind of factory tour (if I can even call the rug tour that) I've ever been on. Although it was a touristy touch, the round rug spinning had to take a lot of skill. It's always fascinated me how weaving is done and the two rugs (the cat and the scene with the train) still would have taken a lot of skill. That, and the scenery, made for such an enjoyable post.
ReplyDeleteLovely post ~ saw similar carpet event in China ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores ~ clm
aka (A Creative Harbor)