All Cascoly Posts

Christianity in Cappadocia – Art and Underground Cities

Cappadocia has been an important area for Christian Art for hundreds of years . The terrain is well suited to defense, with cave dwellings and underground cities easily carved from the volcanic tufa. This stone is easy to excavate, but then hardens with exposure to air. With plentiful water and hiding places, various waves of Christian emigrants and… Continue reading Christianity in Cappadocia – Art and Underground Cities

Hoodoo and Cave Church Hiking in Cappadocia

The usual tourist circuit in Cappadocia triangulates Goreme, Avanos and Urgup, but just off this well beaten path there are beautiful, yet easy, day hikes and walks that let you explore the tufa formations and also enjoy vistas of this volcanic land of ‘fairy chimneys’. Gallery of Cappadocia hiking Here are the details from one… Continue reading Hoodoo and Cave Church Hiking in Cappadocia

Ruins of Ancient Architecture

Ancient Ruins Greek & Roman Ruins HierapolisEphesusNemrut Dag colossal headsRhodes, GreeceSantorini Akrotiri, GreeceAegean Coast of Turkey (Aphrodisias, etc) Aspendos theater is known for its remarkable acoustics and impressive architecture. The seating area is divided into three sections: Download royalty free images of Ancient History Buy prints, mugs, jigsaw puzzles & other products – Ancient History Ancient Near East… Continue reading Ruins of Ancient Architecture

SanliUrfa – Ancient Crossroads of History

Urfa and Harran are two ancient cities in southeastern Turkey that have a rich and storied history dating back thousands of years. Both cities have played important roles in the development of human civilization and have been centers of learning, culture, and religion for centuries. In 1984, the Turkish National Assembly granted Urfa the title “Şanlı”,… Continue reading SanliUrfa – Ancient Crossroads of History

Göbekli Tepe and Neolithic Malta and Sardinia

Göbekli Tepe is an archaeological site located  about 10 miles from Urfa in southeastern Turkey. It’s intrigued scholars, historians, and the general public since its discovery in the 1960s. The name Göbeklitepe (both spellings are used) means “Potbelly Hill” in Turkish, and it refers to the distinctive shape of the hill on which the site… Continue reading Göbekli Tepe and Neolithic Malta and Sardinia

Back in the USSR – Part 2: Sweated & Feted – Bukhara & Samarkand

Jewels of the Silk Road: A Grand Tour of Uzbekistan Previously, on “Back in the USSR”: In 1984 I responded to an invitation from the Soviet Sports Committee to visit the  Pamir, Central Asia & the Caucasus.    We explored the steppes below Pik Lenin and helicoptered into Fortembek base camp for Pik Communizm. Now we… Continue reading Back in the USSR – Part 2: Sweated & Feted – Bukhara & Samarkand

Back in the USSR – Part 1 – Pik Lenin in the Pamir

In the late 70s – 80s there exchanges of climbers with the USSR. A group of US climbers went to the Pamir and a Soviet group visited the North Cascade in Washington.  In 1984 I was chair of the Nordic Ski Committee of The Mountaineers climbing club based in Seattle. At a meeting of all chairs, we received an invitation from the Soviet Sports Committee to send a member on a 3 week tour of the Pamir, Central Asia & the Caucasus

Turkey – Hiking from Selge and the Aspendos Theater

Turkey offers day hiking that combines moderate exertion with a journey into the past. We hiked along mountain paths that include parts of Roman construction for Silk Road traffic. With an early morning start, we drive to the Pamphylonian city of Selge – one of the most isolated and dramatic of ancient cities. The road narrows… Continue reading Turkey – Hiking from Selge and the Aspendos Theater