Drive to Konya via Sultan Han Caravanserai and Çatalhöyük

We leave Mustafpasa and the region of Cappadocia - and say farewell to our lodging hosts, Adin and Hatice, who've treated us like family for the last 7 days (6 nights), or at least like fellow retired engineers.

Today we drive from the "gold star" in the upper right (below map) through the "red balloon" (Sultan Han Caravanserai), then to the lower left "green flag" (Çatalhöyük) and then arrive for the evening in Konya.  We'll see some very wide open spaces, both arid and with irrigated farm fields here and there.

"Sultan Han is a large and significant 13th-century (completed 1229 A.D., restored after fire 1278) Seljuk caravanserai located in the town of Sultanhanı, Aksaray Province.  It is one of the three monumental caravanserais in the neighbourhood of Aksaray and is located about 40 km (25 mi) west of Aksaray on the road to Konya.

A caravanserai was a roadside inn where travelers (caravaners) could rest and recover from the day's journey.   Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information and people across the network of trade routes covering Asia, North Africa and Southeast Europe, most notably the Silk Road.

Sultan Han, located strategically along the Silk Road, was integral to the Seljuk Empire's efforts to bolster trade across Anatolia."

Lot's of unrestored detail after nearly 800 years of sitting out here on the wild plains of Turkey.

In the rear portion of the almost 53,000 sq ft structure is an enclosed portion, where travelers could get out of the weather.  Today we see mostly open spaces, but with original, and some recreated, very traditional Turkish carpets on display.

Modern decorations evocative of the Silk Road trade.

A mosque in the central courtyard.

Modern caravaners that we are, with a speedy combustion engine conveyance, we have no need to stay the night, and push on down the Silk Road.

Now just about 25 minutes outside Konya, we visit Çatalhöyük - an excavation site with a museum of a neolithic settlement.  Information we had, including the museum's webpage said it was open today (Monday), but we were nervous as Google Maps said otherwise.  Ah, balderdash, Google was right - they were closed today.

There's time in the schedule - we will double back and take it in tomorrow.

Above photo used with permission - Licensed shown linked in wikipedia.com,  Date 27 November 2019, Source Own work, Author Murat Özsoy 1958

These doors behind the intro sign, they're very much locked up, tighter than the case around the Mona Lisa.

Let's go see Konya - where our "caravanserai" awaits us.  

(See the mosque-looking building in the background of the photo below.)
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"The Mevlâna Museum (built 1274 A.D.) started life as the Dervish lodge of the Mevlevi order, better known as the Whirling Dervishes. It houses the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a Persian Sufi mystic.

Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī (1207 – 1273), was a 13th-century poet and Sufi mystic.  His Masnavi (Mathnawi), composed in Konya, is considered one of the greatest poems of the Persian language. Rumi's influence has transcended national borders and ethnic divisions.
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Rumi has been described as the "most popular poet", is very popular in Turkey, Azerbaijan and South Asia, and has become the "best selling poet" in the United States."

Let's go inside - it's free!      And there is Rumi's tomb, just inside the entrance.

Surrounding the inner museum (the mosque-like building) is the Dervish lodge.

The Whirling Dervishes - okay, mannequins anyways.

The blue dome is right above Rumi's tomb - lesson known deceased hang out outside.

Selimiye Mosque is a 16th-century (1558 A.D.) Ottoman mosque - adjacent to Sufi's museum.

Compared to the museum this mosque looked so much newer - yeah, actually 300 years newer, but still  almost 500 years old to us.

This mosque had separate entries for men and women, and the women's side, Gerri reported, was a bit enclosed - so Tim went inside to get the grander view accessible to his gender.

Pide - like sorta a Turkish pizza - we can't believe we hadn't tasted it till now after hearing about it so much.  It made an excellent dinner.  Quality takes time, and we waited a bit (about 20 minutes).  Many locals ate here.

Next we checked out a daily market - the fruit hawker below was interacting with all who passed his spot.

We seek dessert, and found a very inviting baker with seating just outside.  Sinful to say the least.

This raggedy bear was pounding away creating coffee grounds.

Displays of clothing that can be custom created if you're so inclined.

The view from the top of our hotel where a cafe served up refreshments.

Down on the plaza was a trailer with t-shirts and stuff commemorating the "Turkish Stars", their version of our Thunderbirds or Blue Angels.  It's based in Konya, and celebrated their 30th year in 2023.

A 21st tram passes by a 16th century mosque, as the Sun sets on our long day of caravaning.

Turning in for the night - ha - we're on the Whirling Dervish themed floor of the hotel.