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 One of the great things about living in Turkey is that it is almost entirely surrounded by water. Where there is water, there are ferries to interesting places. Along the western coast, many of these ferries goo to Greek islands. Last year we took one to Rhodes, and this year we tried the small island of [... Day-tripping to Chios] Children's Day in Kizilay April 23rd was Children’s Day here in Turkey. The entire country, but especially the schools, are decorated in Turkish flags as well as photos of Ataturk. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was the first president of Turkey after he helped gain indepence from Greece. He set up the First Grand National Assembly on this [... Celebrating Children’s Day in Turkey] Bliss, by O.Z. Livanelli, is a good read about a naive young girl who is condemned to death by her family. I’m a little torn that in some ways it confirms a lot of suspicions that the west has about Muslim countries, but on the other hand these events do still happen – especially in Eastern Turkey. There [... Bliss – Book Review] Lots of Nazar boncugular to ward off the jealous eyes! The moment you enter Turkey and start looking around, you immediately notice the “Nazar Boncugu” or Evil Eye everywhere. They are hung from car rearview mirrors, worn as jewelry, nailed to the outside of houses or in an entryway, or even woven into a prize sheep’s [... Avoiding the Evil Eye] The house where the 2nd president of Turkey lived. We’ve joined this wonderful group called the Friends of the American Research Institute which supports scholars and archaeologists all over Turkey. The group does tours in and around Ankara and it also holds, lectures, movie nights, and even an “Antiques Road Show.” It’s been great learning about [... Listening to the Past at Pembe Köşk] The pit that is Hell! In many guidebooks about Turkey, they recommend a jaunt to Heaven and Hell. Well, it sounds intriguing. Since it’s so far south and there is supposed to be a lot of hiking (specifically 450 steps) involved, we decided to get up before breakfast when it was cooler to check it out. [... Flying Through Heaven and Hell!]  The spices and homemade wine make this one of the best eats in Goreme. The Dibek resaraunt is conveniently located right in the center of Goreme, which of course is where you find the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cappadocia. After a tiring slog up, down, around and through rock chapels galore, an evening at Dibek will [... Dibek…A Restaurant Review]  Smoking hookah in one of the many cafes in Ankara. One of the best things about living in Turkey is the weather, and the way cafe owners have learned how to maximize the abundance of sun to their advantage. Everywhere you go, cafes abound. The proprietors have gratiously provided either umbrellas or canvases along with fans [... Nargile…A Turkish Tradition]  The Pigeon Man in Cappadocia. What is it about pigeons? They are everywhere I’ve been, all over the world. People hate them or they love them. I, personally, don’t want them hanging out on my balcony, but I do like them. I like watching people with them as well. They must have some appeal, people feed [... The Pigeon Man]  Jim and I love having the ability to drive everywhere we go…usually. On this particular day, we probably should have taken a bus. As we were driving west from the small town of Kahta, in eastern Turkey, an industrial tractor took us out! Here is a photo of the right side of our car. Thankfully, no one [... Not Our Best Day in Turkey!] |
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