Monday, April 13

After a beautiful breakfast outside at our "Cave Inn" (I was never completely comfortable with that name), we packed up and got ready for the drive to Hattusa.




Our suite was awesome! Here are some pics after we cleaned out all our stuff:

The entry courtyard at the Assiana House. Follow the stairs and go straight ahead to our room. Stay on ground level and go straight ahead to Rob's room.
The sitting area just inside our door.
Sitting area chairs...the seats of Brian and Rob for evening chats and computer time
Hallway to the bedroom




We left Urgup for Bogazkale/Hattusa, tourist trap capital of central Anatolia as far as we can tell. Hattusa was the capital of the Hittite Empire, and also the source for many of the artifacts that are on display in the Ancient Civilizations Museum in Ankara. At every turn very pushy vendors would appear from nowhere trying to sell you their wares. It is frustrating since it is so clear they want your business so badly, but they are so obnoxious as well. I did learn that the phrase "live in Ankara" works pretty well for getting them to leave us alone...a travel tip I hope to not forget.

We had lunch at tourist trap headquarters, Asikoglu, where they were charging 20 TL for a simple Turkish buffet, obviously just because they could (there didn't seem to be any other choices nearby). Outside in the parking lot we were accosted by a peddlar of guide books for Hattusa, asking 40 TL. He assured us they were 50 TL in the museum in Ankara...then offered 2 for 50...then 1 for 25...then finally took Brian's offer of 20 TL. So we have one of the books, for better or for worse.

The drive to Hattusa took quite a while, so we were feeling a bit pressed for time and rushed a bit through Hattusa. It is a loop road with stops all along, but we stopped at what seemed to be the highlights: the Lion Gate, the Yerkapi (gate in the Earth) postern and rampart, the Sphinx Gate, the Nisantas/Nisantepe, the Heiroglyph Chamber, and Buyukkaya.

Aeden was growling back at the lion at the Lion Gate. Lacey had just photographed the actual Lion remains at the museum in Ankara just last week!




Rob, Lacey, and Maren journeying through the Yerkapi postern


The keystones of the Yerkapi postern

The Yerkapi rampart and postern from afar

Views from the top of the Yerkapi rampart:






The Heiroglyph Chamber (also called Chamber 2), along with Chamber 1 at this same site, are the oldest domes of stone masonry known in the Near East. The reliefs are known as Luvian Heiroglyphics and are written "as the ox plows", left to right, then right to left, etc.










We finished the drive back to Ankara pretty easily, dreading hitting city traffic but never really seeing it on our approach.










Mmm, chicken nuggets, french fries, and cheese quesadillas for dinner now that we're back "home" with an empty refrigerator...

The kids made it to bed and Rob was all packed up; it was time for some sleep before going back to school tomorrow!