This was taken in Cappadocia, one of Turkey's most popular tourist destinations. Cappadocia was once part of the Hittite Empire, then an independent kingdom and after that a vast Roman province that was mentioned in the Bible. Its rich volcanic stone (tuff) was fashioned over time by wind, water and sand erosion into fantastic, unearthly shapes, some of which are known as fairy chimneys (and which are rather phallic in appearance). Early inhabitants made dwellings in many of the formations, and when the Christians arrived in Anatolia, they carved elaborate churches into the stone, many of which survive today. There are also vast underground cities in this area, where Christians fled when Arab armies invaded in the seventh century.

I couldn't decide which to put in Eligible and which in Exhibition. At my husband's urging, this was the one that ended up in this gallery :-).