Riding Underground! (by Josh)

Had one of those days today where every minute I want to slow it down so
that the day will never end.
We headed out this morning to
go to Derinkuyu, an underground city dating back to 1200 BC. We were initially going to bike( because we're suckers for punishment and it was cheaper!) but we decided to rent an an ATV and man was it incredible. We tore through the countryside for an hour and half each way and the views and the little towns and one city (Nevershir) were so charming. And it is customary here to offer a "hello" honk as you pass by someone ( even the police honked and waved). So there we were cruising through the mountains honking and waving to passers by and watching the towns, most built into the mountains as cave towns,and just in
awe. (I'll be uploading the video onto the blog shortly)
And then if that wasn't awe inspiring enough we get to Derinkuyu, a city built partially by the Hittites in 1200
BC and then the Romans and Byzantines added more floors( deeper underground) until it now has 18 stories below ground! It was like nothing I have ever seen before.
It held 10,000 people and was equipped with a school, church many kitchens and animal stalls, many living rooms and many graves which were exceptionally creepy!
It connects to 36 other underground cities( only 4 of which the public can visit) and is completely booby trapped with Indiana Jones style traps!
You can watch our video to see how they worked:)
The Hittites built the first underground floor in 1200 BC to house animals in the winter and the Romans added numerous levels deeper into he ground to hide from the invading Phrygians
in the 4th century. And in the 6th century the Byzantines used them to hide from the Arab invaders. The underground city is a massive maze with numerous secret entrances and exits that had us spinning in circles sometimes trying to did our way around!
I still have this rush of adrenaline in
my system that won't subside. It's that feeling you get when you feel so inspired and alive.
What never ceases to amaze me about being on the road is the diverse emotions you can feel on a day to day basis and the way your senses get such a healthy feeding everyday.
We both feel alive and healthy and there is something in the "travelers cocktail" if you will,that is giving us this. It was a great day of learning and
living and I didn't want it to end. From every wave at the roadside to every step down a dark spooky tunnel.
6 weeks on the road and it keeps getting better. Off to have some Turkish coffee with the owners of our hotel. Peace:)