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Open Air Museum

Rooms carved into the rock at the Open Air Museum are examples of the different communities in Goreme, Turkey. The museum has 11 rock-cut churches with frescoes dating to the 10th-12th centuries.(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sergeant Lauren Padden)

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Frescoe

A frescoe fills the wall of a church at the Open Air Museum in Goreme, Turkey. The museum has 11 rock-cut churches with many frescoes dating to the 10th-12th centuries.(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Frescoe

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Turkish pottery

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Turkish pottery

A Turkish artisan demonstrates how to sculpt a flower pot on a kick-style pottery wheel in an Avanos, Turkey, pottery shop. The town of Avanos is known for its terra-cotta products. Inside, the shop shelves were filled with clay jars, hand painted plates, wine carafes and goblets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Destination Turkey: Istanbul

Numerous spices line a shop at the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul Turkey. The bazaar has sold spices, figs, honey and other exotics since the 1660s. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Destination Turkey: Istanbul

The large domed ceiling displays the beautiful tiles that have given the of the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, or the Blue Mosque, its nickname. Construction on the mosque began in 1606 and concluded in 1616. The mosque has six minarets and 260 windows. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Destination Turkey: Istanbul

A chandelier hangs from the ceiling of the Sultan Ahmet Mosque or the Blue Mosque in Istanbul Turkey. The Blue Mosque receives its nick-name from the thousands of blue tiles that adorn the interior. Construction on the mosque began in 1606 and concluded in 1616. The mosque has six minarets and 260 windows. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Destination Turkey: Istanbul

A chandelier hangs from the ceiling of the Imperial Hall in the Harem of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul Turkey. In this hall the Sultan and his wives would enjoy religious festivals, wedding ceremonies and entertainment. Topkapi Palace, which sits on four courts, also has a treasury, a mint, gardens and even the Tower of Justice. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Destination Turkey: Istanbul

The Bosphorus Bridge crosses Bosphorus Straight and links Europe to Asia in the city of Istanbul. The suspension bridge was completed in 1973 and cost $200 million. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and has also been called Byzantium and Constantinople throughout history and links Europe to Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Destination Turkey: Istanbul

A view of Istanbul and the harbor of Golden Horn from the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul Turkey. Istanbul has also been called Byzantium and Constantinople throughout history. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and links Europe to Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Destination Turkey: Istanbul

The Aya Sofya or as it is called in English, the Church of the Divine Wisdom, was completed in 537 AD by Emperor Justinian as a church and then was converted to a mosque in 1453 by Mehmet the Conqueror. In 1935 Ataturk proclaimed the mosque a museum. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Destination Turkey: Istanbul

Two large medallions hang from the walls at the Aya Sofya in Istanbul Turkey. The medallions were crafted by master calligrapher Mastafa Izzet Efendi. The Aya Sofya or as it is called in English, the Church of the Divine Wisdom, was completed in 537 AD by Roman Emperor Justinian as a church and then was converted to a mosque in 1453 by Mehmet the Conqueror. In 1935 Ataturk proclaimed the mosque a museum. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Destination Turkey: Istanbul

Emperor Leon VI kneels before Jesus Christ in a mosaic at the Aya Sofya, or as it is called in English, the Church of the Divine Wisdom, in Istanbul Turkey. The Aya Sofya was completed in 537 AD by Roman Emperor Justinian as a church and then was converted to a mosque by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453. Ataturk then proclaimed the mosque a museum in 1935 . (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Destination Turkey: Istanbul

Medusa’s head supports a column in the Basilica Cistern, Istanbul, Turkey. The construction and placement of the Medusa head is still a mystery surrounded with many theories. The Basilica Cistern built in 532 AD by Justinian, houses 336 columns throughout the 65 meter wide and 143 meter long room. The cistern at one time housed 80,000 cubic meters of water which could be pumped or delivered through aqueducts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Destination Turkey: Istanbul

The Basilica Cistern built in 532 AD by Justinian, houses 336 columns throughout the 65 meter wide and 143 meter long room, Istanbul Turkey. The cistern at one time housed 80,000 cubic meters of water which could be pumped or delivered through aqueducts. Two columns feature the head of Medusa and swimming throughout the water are hundreds of carp. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lauren Padden)

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Out on a Loom

A Turkish employee at Uchisar Castle carpet and pottery workshop uses a small diagram of a design for the rug she is making on the kilim. Valuable Turkish rugs are all handmade; an individual is able to make a large carpet in about two weeks with the loom or kilim. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber Ashcraft)

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Got Silk?

A Turkish employee at Uchisar Castle carpet and pottery workshop picks the silkworm eggs apart for the spinner machine to catch and twist. Hundreds of silk worm eggs are gently unwrapped by the machine to make large wheels of silk before the dye process for Turkish rugs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber Ashcraft)

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Au natural!

Wool is dyed in different colors made from color extracted from flowers, roots and insects for hours before it is hung to dry. Natural materials are more durable than synthetic materials so good quality Turkish rugs are made from the finest silk, bred sheep and naturally picked cotton. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber Ashcraft)

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Need a ride?

A trained camel lowers himself to the ground for a “tourist ride” in Pigeon Valley. The valley, named for the thousands of “pigeon houses” that were carved out of the rock, is still home to affluent Turks who reach out to visitors with their historical culture. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber Ashcraft)

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