Gratitude

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough,and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~ Melody Beattie

Gözleme and Didim on the TV

Gözleme is usually translated as a Turkish-style pancake but from my world view I would compare it to a stuffed thin tortilla or crepe. The actual "bread" part is called a yufka and of course most delicious fresh made! We were lucky our neighbor was making some last Sunday...yum!




She rolls the dough out with a thin rolling pin until translucent on that little table made just for this. Then adds delicious things like spinach, cheese and herbs. She also made spicy ones with peppers added. Lots of good olive oil!



Spooning sweet tahini (sesame paste mixed with sugar and water) with olive oil...

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The final product cooked on a heated metal dome. Texture and taste are wonderful!

Also just as yesterday I was complaining that after 3 yrs the goverment has not lifted the ban on youtube- guess what today it is open! Finally!

So I happily watched House Hunters International's program on Didim...who knew...

You can watch parts 1,2,3 here (even if you live in Turkey now!)

Also I can find you a house:)!

Also here is Istanbul on the Bachelorette TV show...I'm just saying people I live in a cool place...come visit please...also the cistern is magical...

Fall

pomegranates coming into season...

Kapı kırı köyü and Lake Bafa

We; baby girl, the cute in-laws and I went on an adventure to the village of Kapı kırı. Herakleia is it's name from Greek mythological times with ruins to prove it. It's a beautiful drive through olives groves to the base of the Beşparmak(five finger mountains)or Latmos Mountains.


































Located on Lake Bafa about 45 minutes from Didim. It is a quaint little village built on top and amidst the ruins. An ancient piece of marble just chilling in the parking lot:)


































We had such a wonderful breakfast, Turkish style at the Pelikan Pensiyon. We admired the lake view with crumbling castles mixed with milking cows as we mmmmed and ahhhed over our fresh eggs, homemade jams of fig and mulberry, tomatoes, cucumbers, locally made olives in olive oil. We smeared butter and honey on fresh bread as we peered down the ravine and spotted the boxes of bees making their honey from the wild flowers popping up around the hillsides. There was a delicious salad medley of parsley, scallion greens, tomatoes and a crumbly white cheese.

Warm tea in a cool rain. After eating lots a rain storm came through just long enough so we could enjoy one last tea...

We meandered our way up the path to one of the many crumbling but beautiful and revealing proofs of a previous time, a different way of life.





































How was it made?



















































































Good day, felt like a traveler again...how I got myself to this land in the first place...

Learning from both sides of the family...

That little blur is baby girl rolling her wrist around pırasa, Turkish for leek. Babaanne(grandma on the father's side) gave it to her for cutting teeth and it really is perfect. It is soft, yet tough to not split open or break off. A natural solution instead of plastic. Also such a great size and shape for that cute little chubby hand to wrap around. Of course there is the slight smell but no one minds...she still gets plenty of kisses.

We made it back down to Didim. To be next to Babaanne(grandma on the father's side, Annaanne on mother's), Hala(Auntie -again a distinction between which side of the family, Teyze on mother's) and Abi for cousin(what all Turks call a man who is older then them unless way older then its Amca-uncle). Oh yeah and don't forget the Manyak Tequila...

So good to see them all. Be together. Think about Dede(grandpa) Have baby girls new little life make them all smile too.

Good to walk next to the beautiful blue water, Aegean Sea where baby girl takes her name from. Where she was born just 7 months ago. Whirlwind!

We went into town recently. Stopped by the butcher shop to get a bone for Tequila. I had baby girl in the sling, sitting kangaroo style so she could face out and observe the world. We were looking in the mirror together making faces while waiting for Babaanne(B) when suddenly the butcher starts frantically explaining something or other...?

My Turkish is getting ok but couldn't quite get it- kendine(self) -dikkat (be careful)-something? B just didn't her cute little smile, listened to his rant, asked him where he was from and thanked him for the bone and we were on our way again.

Once outside I asked what the heck was he saying? (We have our own way of talking- I can always understand her:) She explained that First he was from Erzurum-east Turkey(east and west Turkey are quite different). That his mother said to NEVER have a baby look in the mirror as the baby will become confused and not understand itself. I am sure he said more that was lost in translation but this concept we both found ridiculous...where do these ideas come from? Passed down to generations...that said...

She told me that I need to do what I think is right for our daughter. Don't listen to everyone else and that written...

I do try to do what is best for her but also a balance for the family as a whole to feel good too as Turks are a superstitious bunch...

Baby girl goes out of the house always with a Turkish eye, nazar boncuk pinned to her, we can't say she is beautiful only ugly because of a Nazar. She can't be caught in a cross breeze(only one window open in the house/car at a time). Can't be cold or sweat...

My point of the above story is there are some things that are found ridiculous from one culture(even city) but might be important for another. I do do what I feel is best for my baby girl but also what makes her other side of the family feel better too even if to me some of the things are as silly as not letting the baby look in the mirror...

I know it is all nurturing and out of love...and I have the "erzurum mirror" to bring up if I find anything really hard to handle:)

Currently I am just enjoying having some help with our little monkey. It has started to really get fun- her rolling and sitting and eating and talking!

I am looking forward to some possible alone time? Personal creative time...please:)

At the same time I write of some funny things from this side of our family I have learned some great things too!

Pırasa as a natural teether...

A great swing- sit down stick your legs out, put a pillow across your feet- place baby girl laid across your legs and start a rocking!














Also baby girl was a bit fussy so B quickly whipped out her hammock and rigged it all up for baby girl with a "grandma approved safety strap"(my pink scarf)

At the end here I will add a Maşallah, plaa, plaa, plaa(signifies a sort of spitting/blowing noise you make to get rid of those jealous eyes towards baby dear)- I do love some superstition:)

Have you learned anything great from your parents or in-laws? Anything you need to kindly say "we are not doing that, thank you?"

(uhhhggg...I have been working on this post for far too long. Still trying to find balance with a few minutes of free time even with the in-laws around baby girl still really likes her momma but she is relaxing...I am sure I will miss it one day)

P.S. So very dependent on my computer and it is soooo slow- frustrating!

Hot! Hot! and did I mention...

...it is Hot and i am 7 months pregnant! I have been a bad little blogger with so much time between my last posts but I am ready to begin again. Back in Turkey after a wonderful trip to Minnesota, soaked up lots of family time and managed a quick trip to the old stomping ground, San Diego to see my Girls. Back in Turkey we moved into our new house! Yeah our own house, our own space, my own kitchen, our own closet to hang up my clothes and kissed my suitcases goodbye for a while. It's been a few years since I can honestly say "my house" or should I say "our house" with my hubby and our baby girl on the way! As my friend pointed out I am happily nesting.

We got our internet hooked up after weeks of "tomorrow" something like how it was always "ten days later" before our house was going to be ready but are now happily in it 2 months later. I think the equation is
A(amount of time said) x 6 + persistence + patience = you will receive your desired z

And of course "Burası Türkiye"

The internet was supposed to come "tomorrow" for about two weeks with my husband trying very hard, calling daily because he knew his very large, very pregnant and easily irritated hot wife(yes that's me) really wanted the internet connection to connect to her peeps across the ocean. Also for blogging and writing of course.

My third column, A Journey Within came out through Voices Newspaper. This one is about my attempts to make Turkey feel like "home."

One thing about living abroad, anywhere except the USA(and randomly Liberia and Burma) is that countries use the metric system of measurements and Celsius temperature measurement. It is almost easier that it doesn't immediately register for me that 37 degrees Celsius means 99 degrees Fahrenheit. It doesn't sting quite as hard or should I say sweat quite as much? But now I know...everyday for about 2 months it is almost 100 + degrees Fahrenheit. Great.

My husband and I have a debate...is it worse to be really hot? or really cold? Me coming from the really cold, Minnesota can get to below zero F Temperatures thinks it is worse to be really hot but imagine my Turk who has lived every summer in this constant heat and never experienced a Minnesota winter thinks it is worse to be really cold...Funny just what you are used to...

In Turkey also there is this fear of the cold as I have briefly written before. The all around mentality is the dreaded cold is what makes you sick. So you can only drink cold water and eat ice cream when the temperature have reached ridiculously hot. Where I am coming from a culture where there is ice in every drink year round. My husband got me a fan and installed A/C (Klima) in our room for me but he doesn't like it. So I sleep on the side of the bed with the fan blasting and no blanket and he sleeps on the fanless side with a blanket on. Also we had the A/C on last night and he would turn it off in the night then I would turn it back on. I know that A/C isn't the best for you all the time but sometimes is so necessary. Also my very dear mother-in-law is calling us telling us to not sleep with the fan on because we will get sick. I have slept with the fan on every summer of my whole life and not been sick from it.

I am a little worried when my baby comes in-laws are going to make me bundle her up to the point of me being hot just looking at her and sometimes I wonder how these little babushka babies can even breath they are under so many layers. On the Turkish airlines flight back from USA to Turkey the plane was soooo hot and my Turkish seat neighbor and I asked if we could turn down the heat but I was informed, NO because there were three babies in the front row. OMG! I can understand not going outside with a wet head and keeping babies warm of course but it is just a whole other level here. Also sweating is seen as bad because as you cool off you are wet and then get sick from the cold again. My nephew is not allowed to sweat...he is changed immediately! I think sweating is good. It cleans your body and means your heart rate went up. Keeps your insides heated up.

Anyone relate?

Anyways all this talk of hot and cold reminds me how blessed we are to be in walking distance to the Aegean Sea. It really is gorgeous. The deep varied hues of blue, so clear and refreshing. We usually don't go swimming until after 3 or later because the sun rays are so powerful. The beach is the busiest from this time until sunset.

Swimming has been so amazing on my pregnant body. My feet get swollen and pulse from the heat and my weight and then I go swimming for an hour and feel weightless. I can float on my back which is nice because I can't lay on my back anymore for pressure on the baby. I think I am going to go swimming now...

"No but of course yes"

This is a photo of the always impressive Sultanahmet Camii or The Blue Mosque in Istanbul. The inside is completely tiled with Blue Iznik tiles hence the English name. Must see. We were in Istanbul a few weeks ago...


















We were sitting in Traffic as you often do in Istanbul when I noticed all over the taxis were the no smoking signs, you know, the cigarette with the big red circle around it and a slash through it, pretty universal. Then I also noticed the taxi driver was smoking? Hmmm? So I asked my husband if you can smoke in Taxis? He replied, "No but of course yes." This along with "Burası Türkiye" is another one of my new favorite slogans for my Turkish experience that can probably be applied to other situations too.

It seems that a HUGE majority of the population smoke here. It is a very social culture, people always seem to have time to sit together, drink tea or coffee and smoke cigarettes while chatting. I enjoy it all very much except the everyone smoking part. I think most Turks are quite oblivious to the idea of second hand smoke and the awareness of whose air space they are invading with their smoke. When I first came to Turkey a few years ago you could smoke everywhere; schools, public buildings etc. Now those spaces have been banned and you have to pay a fine if someone catches you(that's the trick... if someone catches you or cares enough or has the authority to even fine you) but still every bar, cafe, restaurant and outdoor space is open to smoking.

Since I lived in San Diego, California it was always been a completely smoke free(indoors) state. When I would go back to Minnesota and go to the bars where smoking wasn't banned at the time I realized how it permeates your skin, hair, lungs etc. and now really appreciate that they passed the law to ban smoking inside. They are supposed to impose a similar law here in Turkey in July so you can't smoke in bars anymore. This law keeps being pushed back to a later time and I wonder how it will go over this July? A ban or the "No, but of course yes"? Slow changes I wonder? Please just be aware of your second hand smoke!


















We went to Bursa a year or two ago for my husband's work. It was a fair at one of the universities with bands, cotton candy and other fair food, pop the balloon games, a few rides, for the most part usual fair activities until I noticed the above game, "Ring-a-round a ciggy pack". If you can throw a ring around the cigarette pack it is yours. It made me laugh and I had to take a pic. I think my husband probably played a few rounds actually. The love/addiction to cigarettes is no joke especially when it is so culturally accepted. We'll see... "No but of course yes????"

The story of the three idiots and the sweet talkers...

We went to Izmir, the "big city" for the day to go to IKEA and a few other shops. We sipped our Starbucks on the boardwalk, I admit i miss Starbucks sometimes. This lady came by selling red roses. She had a few good lines about this and that...for your lady...blah blah...she was a sweet talker though. She got a few lira from us in exchange for the red rose that was going to die in the car on our two hour drive back down to Didim, oh well. She kept sweet talking, got a cigarette out of my husband...some more sweet talking(again in Turkish so I only understood some but knew it was sweet)...then she has my husband's friend's hand and plops a few beans in it and starts reading his palm. Talking about life and love, counting and giving good blessings. Then she moves on to my husband. He was hesitant at first but hey it's fun even though I wish I understood it all. More sweet talking about life, love and then she takes away Nazars...














The above photo is a Turkısh eye that helps protect from evil eyes. Evil eyes and jealous thoughts people may have towards you are reflected if you have these blue Turkish eyes about, the protection. People are always pinning little blue eye beads on ones they love, especially babies. But the fortune teller said she would take away Ç's nazar for a mere and measly 20 Lira. Ha-ha so Ç and his friend both handed this sweet talking gypsy 20 TL each...40 total and we brushed it off for good luck, of course purification from nazars and this lady deserved it for here sweet talking skills. She proceeded to talk to us more how she is a Roman...I think this really is the gypsies all over Europe. Always transient and not in their original country of Romania. Normally with poor jobs living in shanties. Does anyone have extra info on these people? She continued to tell us about her father in jail, her two kids and her husband whose job is "treasure hunter" looking or should I say looting the ancient historical sites in search of gold. All throughout she had kind eyes, a bluish green. I had my big sunglasses on so she wanted to see my eyes to make sure I was OK, this American I am. She was a character for sure! Took another cigarette and went on her way to sweet talk the next...














Then grandma sweet talker came over...the mother that probably taught all these ladies "working the boardwalk" to sweet talk. She had seen the para(money) we had handed out. Instead she went to me...grabbed my hand and before I knew it my palm was being read even though I didn't know what she was saying my husband tried to translate best he could. Something about a key is coming soon(it's about time we get our house key I hope:)) and more blah blah and oh no...seems I have a huge nazar against me. Could be the pregnancy, could be her using my husband's love she knows she can get some money from him...20 lira nope not enough...she needs more to banish this huge nazar from me...but sorry sweet talking grandma...para yok...bitti...We had just given away far too much money in a short amount of time. Oh good for a story, "The three idiots and the sweet talkers". haha!


















We proceeded to IKEA, to note a Swedish company, when Ç slams on the brakes because he sees a man selling Native American headdresses and bow and arrows on the side of the road. I snapped this pick of my hubby and his peace pipe but really just want to mention what an interesting global world we live in. I am an American married to a Turk in Turkey and we just bought Native American replica paraphernalia for our cafe that was made in Indonesia, that's why it was so cheap the man said...crazy...

Burası Türkiye...

This is Turkey...

I had to drive my in-laws to a neighboring city of Aydin where my father-in-law has been receiving treatments for the cancer he still doesn't know he has after 9 months. I think in the States that this unrevealed fact wouldn't be possible legally but his family has decided that to keep this man going, instead of worrying himself to death, that they just tell him he is receiving "treatments" and everything will be fine. But hey he;s alive with stage 4 lung cancer that spread to his brain so they might be on to something here?? But I think I would want to know, anyways. Our extended family has become somewhat of a Broadway play. I think he just trusts his family to do the right thing for him and he just goes along. My mother-in-law has been the most impressive lead/supporting actress in this "play" and seriously deserves an Oscar or Tony, whatever. She is always first inside talking to the doctors and nurses getting him where he needs to be and reflecting comments that include the word cancer and making sure that the other "actors/nurses/doctors" know that they in fact need to become actors and play their role accordingly around the "C" word. Oh the interesting dynamics...

As my mother-in-law was inside the hospital taking care of papers, future appointments and check-in for her husband of 32 years. Father-in-law and I went to get some çorba and çay, soup and tea. As we were sitting inside on our third cup of tea attempting to communicate with my still flawed Turkish and he was "shooting the shit" with the restaurant workers as he LOVES to do(with anyone!) we wondered where mother-in-law is because we were supposed to be at the doctors appointment an hour ago??? When m-i-l calls and says the doctors still hasn't shown up for the day and no one knows when he will be in. Well I am thinking what the heck...this is not very professional...this would never happen in...blah blah when the restaurant manager says, "Burası Türkiye!(This is Turkey)" And I just start cracking up so loud(those of you that know me know my loud laugh can get really loud) because this simple statement(which I was stoked I could understand even) sums up so many things so beautifully and it was coming from a Turk not just a yobanci(foreigner like me) out to complain about the inefficiency.

Burası Türkiye is now my new "motto" for life here, frustrating and beautiful as it can be I am in a foreign land, Türkiye. Where things move at a different pace but family is important.

The above photo is our hopefully new house. It is getting remodeled with the new sun awnings being installed and painted, fresh paint inside and there was a promise of a new remodeled kitchen but... burası Türkiye and they ran out of money to do the kitchen. So now we are stuck possibly doing it ourselves, seriously the kitchen is the heart of the house! But this is our rented house not bought house so I don't want to put tons of money into it...ahhhhh but through my frustration my always positive husband assures me we can make it work...hopefully sooner than later!!!!! Hurry it up people!

Positives: the awnings will be beautiful and will help this summer to keep my hugely pregnant self cool and the views from the walk on roof are beautiful! And it is a decent ways away from other houses to help for our privacy and our puppies craziness!

We'll see...

Election time...

It is local election time in Turkey. I missed the campaign madness in the States for this last presidential election and forget all the tactics. In Turkey flags such as the above litter the sky line with party colors and logos, more heavily concentrated outside campaign headquarters and city centers. I thought this photo makes election time look peaceful as the sun was setting and the 'vans' were tucked away for the night. What I mean by 'vans' is that the daily attention getter is party 'vans' driving up and down every street...blaring and I mean blaring loud Turkish music from scratchy speakers on top of their heavily bannered 'vans'. I find it very obnoxious and think if I could vote in Turkish elections I would ALMOST vote for the party that didn't have a 'van'. This is of course not true and I still have lots to learn about the complexities and intricacies of modern Turkish politics and their multi-party system.

Rakı ve balık

This is one of my favorite food traditions in Turkey. Restaurants called mehanes are dedicated to rakı, the anise flavored liqueur similar to a Greek ouzo and the many wonderful foods it is paired with. I never thought I would acquire a taste for this black-liquorish flavor but it happened when accompanied with the right food and right company on a warm night. It flows well with the food but be careful because it will hit you hard! It is usually served in those tall thin glasses paired with a water. The alcohol itself is clear and becomes cloudy when water or ice is added. This is one of the few drinks that always seem to take ice in Turkey(the ice situation is another entry). The above course starts with sweet luscious melon and white feta-like cheese, eaten together then followed with a sip of rakı, amazing!


















Another reason I love eating at this type of restaurant is the mezes, the tapas style small plates. You share with everyone and get little tastes of things like(forgive me I don't know all their Turkish names yet) eggplant salad, seaweed, spiced yogurt, white beans, spinach, roasted red peppers, okra and much more. All prepared simply but delicious.













This night we were enjoying the balık pazaar, a side street off Taksim's beyoğlu in Istanbul famous for its mehanes trying to keyhole you into their establishment. Especially on a warm night the streets are bursting with life. Sit outside and the people watching is just as good as the food.













There is a huge variety of fish to choose from since Turkey is surrounded by three bodies of water; Black, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. This night we had one of my small favorites, hamsı from the sardine family. (Trinea- I remember this photo was taken for you since you "love" fish with the bones in and head on...he he...come visit soon!)

Unbanned

That is what I was seeing when I tried to access my blog for the past 3 days, Access to this website has been suspended in accordance with decision no:2008/2761 of T.R> Diyarbikar 1st criminal court of peace, but now they unbanned it. I hope this is not a temporary decision like it was with Youtube.com (banning it, unbanning it then banning it again). It is interesting that I have never seen anything officially released about it by the court that banned it or even by blogger, no love for us little guys. Was it really because of football/soccer or what? Anyways I can relax a little and be happy it is up again. Deep breaths for many reasons...

Blogger ban...

I am very upset that blogger.com was banned in Turkey. First they banned youtube.com a few months before and now this. I find it a bit scary and quite violating that they choose to censor the whole country and has gone into parts of Georgia. And they don't even do that great of a job because there are tons of loophole sites to get you on to youtube and blogger eventually with a little work such as www.dtunnel.com. Although these are annoying because you get tons of pop up adds and I can't post pictures argggg! Initially the story was that it was a Muslim creationism fanatic named Adnan Oktur that caused the ban since he had temporarily gotten wordpress.com banned earlier. But now the story is that the ban was caused by digiturk, the largest cable provider in Turkey who was upset because some blogs hosted by blogger were showing football(soccer) games that they had the rights too. Are you freaking kidding me????? Tons of people loose their freedom of speech over a freaking football match and I guess some money of course, there's always the money. It just pisses me off and is doing nothing for Turkey's reputation- CENSORSHIP. So many Turkish people tell me that their hopes for Turkey is to be "modern". I always wonder what exactly they mean by that? This is not modern thinking...Who ever imposed this ban did not consider the many, many people it would effect. Also this happened in a country that has whole stores devoted to pirated dvds, literally! I almost wish it was for a better reason(what if it is???) Also the current ban on youtube.com is because some person published a video portraying Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Modern Turkey's father(who they have made in to somewhat of a deity) in a poor way so they decided to ban a whole huge file sharing site full of information. what the heck? In turkey it is a crime to insult Turkishness...what exactly that means is a bit vague. The world has a love/hate relationship with America but we have our freedom to talk about other counries, ourselves, our president, everything for now at least...Shoot I was just reminded of the PATRIOT ACT, our giant leap backwards. Americans and the world constantly make fun of president Bush and nothing is banned- no one is censored yet. America we need to hold on to this huge pedestal of our country. I never really realized how much I respect the bill of rights and the freedom of speech in America until living abroad. Criticism is a part of life and should be embraced instead of banned!

I love Turkey. My blog has never said anything against it therefore should not be punished. This is very, very
frustrating. Here are a few related links...

http://www.basbasbas.com

Also just use our friend google(who owns blogger) to search out the topic...
blogger.com ban in Turkey
and
youtube.com ban in Turkey

What will be next?

kolay gelsin...

Direct translation: easy come you. Every single Turkish person says this to other people who are obviously working, no matter the job, stranger or not. Basically, 'may your work come easy' would be it's real meaning. So I have heard this a ton as we work outside on the cafe.

We started painting the patio three days before. We decided to paint the metal beams a dark brown. I felt like I was painting with milk chocolate, yum. Then the rest of the plywood ceiling we varnished, natural. We started out just Caglar, me and the peanut gallery. The peanut gallery being all the neighbors that would come, drink tea, smoke cigarettes and tell us where we missed a spot. I wanted to point out our extra brushes but alas did not. Oh family, how I missed you even more than usual because I think I could have talked you into helping!he-he. Not just physically but with design ideas and painting tips.

When we were at the painting store I asked for sand paper for pre-sanding- oh you don't need it. I asked for dust masks-oh you don't need it. Then we all had a laugh about my American idea of super safety construction and turkey's- oh you don't need it this is Turkey approach.(see previous post). I did finally get some gloves and had to talk my husband into wearing them. Thank goodness we got Hussein Abi to help us! He is a local handyman and hard worker. The above photo is after the first day. Me and our pile of brushes and tiner(thinner- th is really hard for Turks to say, not in their vocabulary. It's really funny when Caglar does it but of course I am funny when I try to pronounce most Turkish words.) The sunset over the sea so we had to stop for the day.














The next day Hussein Abi came back to help. YES! We still had lots to paint! One of the students who lives upstairs started helping and then a bunch of his friends came. I must have thanked them a million times!


















Caglar in action. mauh!














The tile brothers(three brothers- I love it!) did a great job tiling and grouting the kitchen area. It is fully tiled to protect against water damage and mold. There was lots of mold previously-ewww! We have gotten a few estimates to build kitchen cabinets. The money always goes so quickly!














The toilet tiles have been grouted. Also doors! The stickers need to be removed from the doors. We still need to install the toilets and sinks.














Thank you everyone! We took a beer and pide(Turkish pizza) break after a hard days work. I have decided to wear those clothes until we finish. This photo was day 2.

DAY 3: color!!


















This is the left view from the street into the patio. We chose a bright color. We mixed red, yellow and a little white. It is a bright orangy pink as you can see. We like it! And the ceiling looks nice. I like the coral color with the chocolate. We need to paint the lamp wires(well we need lamps too but still haven't made it to Izmir- YET).














Middle patio view, that is where the bar is going to be. Whoop whoop!


















This is the right view. The white wall will be covered and the white doors take you down into the cafe/ kitchen/ toilet area.

We are getting there! Tomorrow the wood floor, patio windows and doors should be installed.

Happy birthday aunt Polly (Sorry might not be the exact day but luv u)!

kindness of strangers...

Today started out as a typical day in the life of Istanbul Emily. Woke up , made some filtered yummy coffee from America, rode the bus to Mimar Sinan University, did some silk screening, rode the Tram way Funiknler to Taxsim for my language school and tried to absorb as much Turce dil as possible. After class I was quite hungry. There are tons of tiny fruit and veggie stands around Turkey. I wanted some bananas before I went to yoga. I grab three bananas from one of these little fruit stands and then realize that I am out of cash. I only need 2 YTL (Yeni Turkish lira) but yok/ none. I say pardon...para yok (my broken way of saying never mind). Basically I start to go and he basically in Turkish tells me no problem...sonra sonra/ later later. So basically this man tells me I can pay him later, smiles and goes back to reading his newspaper. I was so shocked and touched by his willingness to trust that I will come back and pay him later. Especially in the big city of Istanbul. It made me smile today.

Living here I take the bus, tram, ferry etc. etc. public transportation. Some days it sucks, I'll be honest. Crowded, so much traffic and you never really know how long it will take 15 minutes or one hour? blah. But It does force you to interact with other human beings. One other kindness of strangers situation I love watching(or being part of) is giving the seats to old people or others that need it more.

Simply, I just feel good about the world when I see honor and trust in or for others.

HONK-HONK.....hoooooooonnnnnkkkkk!

HONK-HONK-"hey look at me while you are peacefully walking down the street(side note actually you really need to fully stay awake and be aware of your surrounding when walking in Istanbul. I don't always feel secure even on the sidewalk.) HONK-HONK-I'm a taxi driver in Istanbul."

HONK-HONK-"hey look at me, I think that if I sneak up behind you and honk at you that you will want to magically jump in my taxi so I can try to ripe you off even though you had no intention of taking a taxi."

HONK-HONK-"hey look at me, Jump in my taxi, forget that I just scared you and made you jump 5 ft.(meters in this case) in the air and had no intention of taking a taxi or else you would be actively pursuing me."

HONK-HONK-"Hey look at me, You should jump in my taxi, just wanted you to know that I am here so you can get in but if not get the f-out of my way because I am not slowing down-actually I am going to speed up because there is no such thing as pedestrian right of way in turkey."

HONK-HONK-"move it or loose it sister(abla in Turkish) or get in so I can see that you are a yobanci(foreigner) and try to rip you off by not starting my meter or by charging you night rates during daytime hours or keep the meter going since before my last victim got out."

HONK-HONK-Hooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnkkkkkkkkkk! just a quick HONK-HONK- "just to make sure you saw me and hey, do you want a ride?"

This is one of the pages from my Turkey Book. Last year I made a accordion style collage book about things I experienced and cultural differences in this then foreign to me land. The Turks are normally kind, considerate and extremely hospitable people...then they get into their cars. Madness!

My Cali friend and I used to always hold hands and mentally prepare ourselves for the crossing of the street and that was even in our little Eskisehir city. Also the truck hauling is hilarious(see my picture)! They are so overly stuffed full of whatever and sway slightly as they putt down the road.

Also the cars make up lanes. "Oh look there is a tiny little spot that I can squeeze through so I can make a third lane and get up front-great!" Pedestrian right of way seems to be unheard of. Seat belts are barely worn.

On a less comic note, sadly, there have been many deaths from this culturally accepted do or die way of driving.

My boyfriend came to the States, "wow. It's so calm to drive here." He is a good driver though.

Ok off to school and no I will not be taking a taxi.

Field trip...part two...

After our cable factory adventure we had few hours to kill before heading back across the Marmara sea via ferry boat(really nice big boat fyi). The company bussed us to a near by village of Zeytinbogi(a line over the g and no dot on the i). The old name is Tirili. I wonder why the changed the name? Zeytin means olive and there were olives for sale all over the city. Is it for this olive industry? I know turkey is trying the promote this trade.


















It is a great village with winding streets. It is right on the sea. Here is an example of the beautiful olives and oils they had. These travels back in time are some of my favorite times in Turkey.


















I hope these little villages can hold on.


















We met this man when as we wandered the streets. We were admiring his camii(mosques) as he came walking out with his cane. His face screams kindness. Living in a language and culture different than my own I really like this heightened sense for body language, reading eyes. I also have met some nice Turkish friends who help translate. I have started to write down Turkish and this is helping me learn. He loved us visiting with him and we with him...makes me miss my grandpa. He explained to us he has lived in this village his whole life. A Turkish word for friendly is sicakkani I like this sicak means hot. Warm and friendly...


















This is his school he went to. A grand old building that is in the process of restoration. He said they ran out of money though so the project is on hold. Any donations? he-he.














This is another character I snapped a photo of. He wasn't as friendly as our other friend or actually at all. He never cracked a smile but really classic character standing outside his store house watching the students mob through town. I need to paint some of these images!