Today we visited an underground Cappadocian city:  Kaymaklı.

But first, we paid an obligatory visit to a souvenir stand.

Now here we are at the entrance.  Discovered in 1964, Kaymaklı (note that there's no dot over the i) is the second most important underground city in the region.  What's the MOST important?  Ürgüp?  Zelve?  Derinkuyu?  I really don't know. 

But Kaymaklı is believed to have housed thousands of people from the 6th to the 9th centuries.

Mete leads the way.

Don and Wendy may be feeling a bit claustrophobic.

Not Bill, though.  Nosiree.  Really, I didn't feel claustrophobic, but I understand several in the group unexpectedly felt a bit uncomfortable.  It just reminded me of our field trip to Mammoth Cave in the 10th grade.  That's a snazzy shirt, don't you think?

Although the first five levels of Kaymaklı are open to visitors, experts believe it actually has eight levels. 

Gotcha, Robyn!

The tourists have left their marks.

The underground area is thought to cover an area of about a square mile.

Store rooms.

The blue arrows point to the way out.  Thank goodness.