Rock stars of Cappadocia

After floating above the rock formations we climbed down into underground cave cities that required us to squat through tiny tunnels down level after level of stables, wine cellars, chapels, and kitchens, and past giant round stone doors that rolled shut like a scene from Indiana Jones. Thousands lived underground for safety from invaders. It felt like a human-sized ant farm. Above ground we climbed into towering cones of volcanic rock that rise from the valleys like a crowd of very tall, very pointy wizard hats. Many of them were carved into homes, churches, and pigeon houses. Some are still used today. A family served us tea in one but we copped out of visiting the stone-faced police station tower.