Sunday 30 September – Sufis, sarcophagi and a shrink.

After breakfast this morning, again overlooking the pool but with a pussy cat for company today, and a last look over the Mediterranean, we headed inland.  After pausing to view the remains of the Roman aqueduct that brought water to the ancient Greco-Roman town of Aspendos, we visited the magnificent 12,000 seat theatre, constructed during the mid-2^nd century CE.  It is regarded as the best-preserved of all theatres from antiquity, largely due to the Seljuk Sultan Keykubat, who restored the ailing theatre in the 13^th century and for a time used it as a palace.  So what we saw has basically been preserved in its current state for seven centuries.

After a delicious pide lunch, next stop was the city of Konye and the Green Mausoleum, resting place of Hz. Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi, 13^th century Anatolian mystic, poet and the father of the Mevlevi Order, and is the original lodge of the Mevelvi Whirling Dervishes, a mystical Sufi Mulsim group.  The original green dome of the mausoleum was first built shortly after the rumi died and was added to in the 19^th century.  It contains many sarcophagi and is a place of pilgrimage for Muslim Turks.  While we were there, John spoke to a Sufi Master, who volunteered that he is also a London-based psychiatrist.  He asked John a few probing questions and, fortunately, gave him the all clear.  After a sip of the local holy water, he was pure in body and mind.

Last stop before our final destination was to visit a 13^th century caravanserai which – surprise, surprise – was under renovation, so we only saw the outside.  Then after a further long drive – we were on the road for eight hours today – we reached Cappadocia and stopped for a delicious three-course dinner in an upmarket restaurant.  We then completed the journey to our remarkable hotel – every room has been carved from the rock for which the region is famous and each is of unique design.  Ours has a large round bed and a spa-bath in the bedroom, as well as a separate bathroom with a double shower.  Absolutely amazing!