Page 20 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2023 DISCOVERING TURKEY

The rough walls of the dark, narrow tunnel STORY BY RON AND MARY JAMES | PHOTOGRPAHY BY RON JAMES
two thousand years ago. The short tunnel was a DISCOVERING TURKEY
scraped my arms. I was in a full duck-walk, deep
knee bend position. As I painfully and slowly
moved forward, my head continually bumped
into the rasp-like volcanic rock ceiling carved

door from one room to another, purposely small
to discourage Roman soldiers or other enemies
from killing the people who live here.
I was most likely larger than soldiers over two
thousand years ago and can confirm that it was
discouraging. “You’re almost there,” Mary called
from somewhere ahead. It didn’t matter that I
was almost there; I was stuck, and the small
tunnel was getting shallower. My legs burned,
my calves were cramping and I couldn’t move
forward. I backed up far enough that I could lie
flat and awkwardly crawl out, skinning my knees.
Younger members of our tour reached out to
help me out. Despite my minor wounds, rubber
legs, and bruised ego, I applauded myself for
making the attempt. This is a key reason we
travel. Doing what it takes to experience the
present and understand the past. This time we
were exploring Kaymakli, an ancient under-
ground city.
We were discovering Turkey.

20 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2023