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...

boat trips...

One thing I love about Turkey in the summer are the boat trips you can take. Turkey is in a unique geographic position where it is surrounded by three seas. Kara deniz(black sea to the north, Ege deniz(aegean sea) to the west and Ak Deniz (Mediterranean Sea) to the south. Most seaside cities have a daily boat trip or tons. The photo above was taken from the Polis Kamp beach in Didim and as you can see there are various sizes and adventures for your liking. Some are for relaxing, swimming, and site seeing others are loud party tours, others scuba diving and you can also rent private boats for a day or several days to tour the coasts. All depending from which city you start from. We have gone on ones before from Kaş, another in Fethiye.


















Most recently a scuba diving trip out of Bodrum.













My favorite are the wooden sail boats, pirate ships. My husband and I dream of having one...some day! Family- when you all come some day- it will happen we can rent one for a few days and sail around the coast. Also to "my girls" I plan to do this with you all some day too!


















My cute hubby getting ready for his first dive.


















Learning...













Beautiful secluded coastlines.


















Too pregnant to scuba dive but enjoying the ride.

Learning a language...

This photo is from a trip to the Black Sea coast, a remote spot close to Amasra and Bartin. Çok güzel!

A few years ago I decided to write one of those "Things to do before you die lists", or more positive way to think about it...What I want to do in my life. On the list I added "Learn a language" and now here I am living it...really forced to learn Turkish if I want to have a fulfilled life while living here and it is hard! I slowly learn more daily. As anyone who has tried to learn a language knows it is easier to understand more than to speak. I think I need to enroll in another course...

I found an interesting article in Today's Zaman by Charlotte Mcphereson, "Do you seem to be in a language rut?" The full article link HERE. Below is a description of what it is like to learn Turkish and a funny poem so you don't forget just how difficult English is...

Let's just briefly compare two languages: English and Turkish. The Turkish language is regular, with very few exceptions to the rules and only one irregular verb (the verb to be). The sentence construction is opposite to English, e.g. school to go I. Turkish uses agglutinative suffixes: endings added to a stem word to make a longer word. The English sentence "It appears that he said he would be unable to come" is just 2 words in Turkish! There are no grammatical genders. The pronouns he, she and it are all the same. In understanding the culture it is important to understand the special reported tense: a Turk will make a distinction between a fact which they know because they have witnessed it themselves and a piece of information which they have heard, or deduced, and are passing on to you secondhand or implied.

Turkish is a phonetic language, with every written letter being pronounced the same way no matter in which word it appears. The language displays vowel harmony. This means that the endings change so that if a word contains back vowels (a: undotted i-o-u) the ending will do the same, and if a word contains a front vowel (e: dotted i-o with an umlaut, u with an umlaut) the ending will do the same. This gives Turkish a melodic flow. The emphasis is on the last syllable, except for place names (second) and negatives (syllable before the negative).

The Turkish language has fewer words than English and is not rich in synonyms. Sometimes when an English speaker wants to express himself he may not find a word in Turkish that means the same (or his translator may struggle!).

How about English?

Why is English so hard?

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes;

But the plural ox should be oxen, not oxes.

The one fowl is goose, but two are called geese;

Yet the plural for moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a whole lot of mice;

But the plural of house is houses not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men,

Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

The cow in the plural may be cows or kine,

But the plural of vow is vows, not vine.

And I speak of a foot and you show me your feet,

But I give you a boot -- would a pair be called beet?

If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,

Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

If the singular is this and the plural is these,

Should the plural of kiss be nicknamed kese?

Then one may be that, and three may be those,

Yet the plural of hat would never be hose.

We speak of a brother, and also the brethren,

But though we say mother, we never say methren.

The masculine pronouns are he, his, and him,

But imagine the feminine she, shis, and shim!

So our English, I think you will all agree,

Is the trickiest language you ever did see!

(Anonymous poem, quoted from "Learning a Foreign Language" by Eugene Nida.)

No language is totally logical and regular but after just looking at the irregularities in English plurals, Turkish is looking fairly simple with just "ler" and "lar"!

Any attempt made by a foreigner to speak will be greeted with delight, especially by Turkish friends. If you are living in Turkey, don't fall into a rut. Try to learn at least survival Turkish and more to really share your heart!

Need some inspiration or a positive attitude?

This fabulous photo was a fabulous time with two of my many good girlfriends who I miss. Deborah, Tanya and I cliff jumping on the Big Island, Hawaii.(I forgot the spots name...anyone?)

This post isn't about cliff jumping though just inspiring adventure and that was a great adventure! I want to point out a website to those of you feeling uninspired lately(me) and downtrodden by all the news of the global economic crisis, everything sucks blah blah blah...It is the TED website, Ideas Worth Spreading.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives

The first one I watched was from Elizabeth Gilbert, The author of that wonderful little book, "Eat, Pray, Love" and her thoughts on cultivating genius.

There are talks from Jane Goodall, Bono, Bill Gates,Sylvia Earle on the state of the oceans, so many interesting people from a range of themes; design, innovation, art, environment...

I look forward to watching more at TED and hope you will too.

The Honeymoon period is over...

This photo was taken last March when my class from Mimar Sinan went to a village named Zeytinburnu next to Muldanya, about an hour ferry ride from Istanbul.

When I write "the honey moon period is over" I don't mean with my new husband who I love more everyday, I mean with my host country of Turkey.

Good old Wikipedia describe the Honeymoon period as this:

The honeymoon period is the phase early in a long-term relationship characterized by greater than typical joy and lesser than typical friction. This is also true early on in marriage - spouses seem to be more forgiving and loving than they would be later on in the relationship.

I have been coming to Turkey on and off for two years this month and initially it was rose-colored glasses the whole time, I was more forgiving about the annoyances I found and still very in love with this new exotic land I had fallen for. I would turn a blind eye, or turn on my third eye actually so I wouldn't loose a limb to the crazy-ass, non-seat belt wearing free-for-all rule less maniacs of drivers who throw their trash out the windows without a second thought, to the lack of amenities such as constant natural gas to the house which leads to warmth in every room and hot water from every faucet;the kitchen, the bathroom, the bathroom faucet, the shower etc.(my husband reminds me that I come from a "rich country" often when I am frustrated and Turkey is still developing), to up to 20 hours it takes me by plane to go see my family, to the serious problem of feral dogs and cats that roam the streets begging for food and cycle of abuse and fear it leads to between humans and animals, to the garbage that piles up out side dumpsters, if there are even dumpsters at all, so the cats and dogs scrounge for food from it and tear open the bags scattering the trash all over the place, the potholes that I can't figure out why the city won't fix and the irritation I feel every time we hit one hard, to it taking three days for my clothes to dry because there aren't any clothes dryers, that it isn't easy to learn Turkish and I better keep trying hard because...

the reality has hit me hard that I am going to be living here for while and that I need to make a life of my own here. Stop treating it as if I am on vacation and that I am going back to my "real", "safe" life in America anytime soon(although I swear to you I will when the time is right). Make my life my own here with my husband but not just wait around for my husband and his life. We just found out some blessed news that we are expecting a little one and with that news I think your perspective on life changes. I have never been one to over think the future(good or bad as that may be) but with one on the way I wonder what kind of life we will give it? Where to go to school...I guess it needs to get here first...

inşallah sağlıklı= If it is god's will, healthy!!!!!

That is my little rant for the week and releasing it to get over it. Thanks to my mother, sisters and friends for guidance emails. Get past the lust of the honeymoon period and try to get into living here. There is still a new language to conquer and lots to explore in "The ohhh sweet Turkey." Also friends and family don't forget our door is always open for visitors!

Deep breathes(right mom?)

Bittersweet....

Although it is literally -20F which equals -29C and I have the chance to escape to the warmer climate of Turkey it is still bitter sweet. I miss my husband terribly and not a day goes by that I ever regret marrying him but once I leave Minnesota I know I will miss my family terribly. I have had pretty steady wanderlust since the age of 18. It was always easy to go but lately that excitement has given way to some new sadness. I can't quite figure it out? Maybe because now I fly across the ocean instead of across the states to Cali. Or is it because I am married and have this wonderful husband that my old familiar life barely knows? I think I feel like if I fully give into living in Turkey that we will never come back to the States as we have planned, why do I do this to myself? Where has my vagabonding spirit gone? Reverted back into my roots?

The above photo was taken on the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota. So beautiful but bitter, bitter cold!

Everybody needs a nap...

Sometimes it's time to take a little break...

Outside the aquarium- Barcelona, Spain

Are you a hot or cold person?

And I don't mean this temperature wise...I mean open, warm and friendly or closed, hard to get to know. One Turkish student I just met said he was in USA last summer, New York, Seattle and Alaska. He said that our country was beautiful but that the people were cold. This made me a little disappointed in the American public and a bit defensive i think because I also appreciate warm people and love my country. Of course things like this always depend on who you meet on your travels but... Turkish people always talk about if people are warm or cold. The general consensus, around Europe at least, seems to be countries that border the Mediterranean sea are warm, Spain, Italy, Turkey etc while the Scandinavian countries have a colder, less open approach to culture. Turkish people are also extremely hospitable and have more of a collective approach to life. The general response to me being an American is curiosity and as long as I don't like George Dubya Bush I am alright. Turkish people always have time to sit and drink tea together maybe while Americans are busy taking their coffee to go. Americans are all about independence and teaching you to do it your own sweet self. Which can leave people in their work dust and appear cold if they are not used to it. I miss American efficiency and creativity. Also I think America is such a melting pot of cultures that people get over looked. Foreigners aren't so different, by just being different so they aren't overly recognized or welcomed where as in Turkey I feel like you really stick out as a foreigner. Either way some where in the middle of the "give me it to go" efficiency and the sit and drink a million glasses of tea don't forget to be nice to strangers and chat it up a bit. Smile and be nice to your neighbors and visitors...

When they said Jesus could walk on water I think he was just at this salt lake. This is Salt Lake next to Cappadoccia towards the center of Turkey. We went here when I first came Turkey on a bus crammed with other exchange students, both hot and cold.

Kas (Sounds like kaash)

This is a beautiful city to the south. It is small and intimate city. This is where we were for our honeymoon and my b-day last June. We ended up camping seaside amongst the olive trees.


















We took a boat cruise around the Mediterranean. One of Caglar's dreams is to have a big sail boat one day...ok I can get into that dream! Anyone want a ride? Come visit us!!!!


















On the boat we went to a small village that is only accessible by boat. Caglar and I thought it was great...so quaint and beautiful. Caglar told a local woman how much we loved it...that it was like heaven...she replied something like "just try living here." Meaning it is not as idyllic as we would like to think. It is hard to make a living being reliant on the sail boats packed with tourists.


















The geranium beds over the water.














These determined villagers would actually row out to the big sail boats as we stopped for swims to try to sell us their hand crocheted headscarves and jewelry. Some with children in tow.














MAVI means blue in Turkish














Yeah Ruins!(Als that one was for you...think Cozumel circa 1996? he-he) But this is Kekova Island. It was inhabited then sometimes around 100 AD(so long ago) There was a big earthquake but the ruins are still there. It is illegal to stop on the actual island so the tour boats just slowly pass by. Mom and dad...I think those are some pigeon holes on the wall there same as Capadoccia??














As we made our way back to Didim after our loverly honeymoon. We were driving on this road coming out of Fetihye and kept seeing these areas, not one but many with these strange stuffed sheep and camels all lined up in rows. Talk about a hard way to make a living. I really wondered who possibly bought these silly little animals but I had to give these men extra points for lining them up beautifully along the road. I wonder who the first man to think of this idea was and if the others just copied the first man or if they could possibly work together. It really was a bit strange but as Caglar says, "life in Turkey is hard." It is hard for many to find work. We stopped to pretend to take a photo of the view when in reality I wanted photos of these strange stuffed sheep.














I am glad we stopped because we did get some good photos!

Toxic garbage island...

VBS.TV. I stumbled upon this site which has tons of interesting videos about a trip to mind-trip communist North Korea, Manila in the Philippines garbage dump and the scavengers who live on the outskirts, interviews with artists and much more. One I found especially interesting and disturbing is Toxic garbage island. Three VBS.TV crew members travel with Charles Moore seven days sailing into the middle of the Pacific Ocean, so so far away from any people or land where the current circulate back around and keep things in, a vortex filling with plastic. You see the crew getting cabin fever for days and then they finally get to there destination, where millions of small particles of plastic(every part of the coke bottle) are floating in the ocean so very many miles from where any human is. The thing is that plastic never leaves it just keeps getting smaller, breaking down to tiny molecules. It doesn't go away ever; no biodegrading. Animals and fish are eating it and then it comes back to us. We unwrap the animals or fish from plastic and then eat the plastic inside them. great...

I remember the first time I traveled outside the USA. I went to Cozumel, Mexico with one of my best friends and her family. I was so young, 17 and so excited. We stayed on the sheltered side of the island facing the mainland at a beautiful villa. On day we took a trip to the other side of the island the open ocean facing side. It was picturesque the turquoise water, palm trees, the breeze was blowing but then all over the white sand beach was litter, plastic washing up from the sea. I started to pick it up but there was just so much. I tried to ask about it. I was told it was from the cruise ships but we are all to blame. That was over ten years ago and what am I doing differently? I can't claim ignorance anymore. Our system now is so set up for plastic we need to change our infrastructure. You use plastic for such a short amount of time but then it is around literally forever. The mind set is that it is disposble, no problem throw it. I think people are slowly becoming more aware but the garbage/recycle man comes every week to take it away from your house so you don't have to think about it so much. Also in America we have been recycling for years and is becoming the norm for so many. I think we are trying to change, there is alot of talk about being green and maybe one positive of this economic slump will help us rethink what we really need. Living in Turkey they use way less stuff, less wrapping, buy less stuff and reuse alot more but their consumption is on the way up , so many plastic bags and you can only drink bottled water in most cities. They want it and other countries want a consumer lifestyle. Some plastics can be great but others leach toxins into our bodies and the enviroment and never leave. Also it is petroleum based- same thing that gas is made from- that is strange.

here's a little more from the surfrider foundation

This video affected me hope you check it out...

Olympos two...

I love him.

cappadocia continued

So peaceful floating at sunrise.

floaty not flighty?

My sister told me before I left for Turkey the second time that I am floaty. My personality I guess. Not to be confused with flighty meaning spacey or ditzy. I think this was meant to be a compliment? I mean I handle what I need to though I do not always know what my next step might be. Normally I am confident that I will find that next step.

I just read the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I recommend it. She is funny especially if you are American. She termed this the great age of the spazzy free-for-alls. I got really nervous in the beginning that I might just be too much of a spazzy free-for-all. What do I do after I graduate? What is my next move? oh my gosh marriage...How do I feel about being connected to someone for the rest of my life?(smile)

What if? What if? What if?

I don't have a job blah blah blah? Question mark? question mark? question mark? I regained my confidence after finishing the book. I want a creative, flexible job...huh? This is a photo from our hot air balloon flight through the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Peaceful and serene at sunrise.

Hanging out the laundry...

I haven't been posting this month because many wonderful things have been happening. I went back to Cali for a dear friends beautiful wedding. Then my amazing parents traveled many miles from Minnesota. We went around Istanbul, to the cave cities of Cappadocia and then went to meet my beautiful boyfriend's adorable parents in Didim. A few minor bad things are my photo shop trial membership ran out so I can't edit photos and the wiring at my Istanbul apartment is so bad that I am having major problems connecting the Internet. My beautiful computer is feeling very underutilized! Anyways everything went even better than expected with our parents and everyone should be expecting big news soon. One thing my parents and I discussed is why are there no dryers in Turkey? Is it because they are expensive? They suck up energy? They have most other appliances? Also their laundry washing cycles are about 2 or 3 hours long...huh? They just hang the clothes outside to dry or one big rack in their houses. I need photoshop again because I have many new photos to share. xoxo

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!

COME-GO...STAY-LEAVE...

Some of my friends were joking before I came to Turkey, "Don't fall in love." But I did fall...Hard! What do WE do now? Change our everything...life, country, culture, language, goals, ideas for the future and what we thought our lives should be like...Or do we forget it ever happened and know we will always have a friend in a far away place? Many tears will be shed...many, many smiles too...

Complete Inspiration

Sagrada Familia


















Sagrada Familia inside

This is one of Antoni Gaudi's many masterpieces throughout Barcelona. This Church was started in 1882 and Gaudi worked on it for over forty years until his death. The project continues and is only 50 percent complete. They anticipate 25 more years of work. The reason I am so inspired by Gaudi is his respect and love for nature. His muse is nature as is mine. Really please go tto Barcelona so you can fully appreciate it.

With the flower pots, surrounded by vines and olives, cheered by the clucking of the hens, the twittering of the birds and the buzzing of insects, and with the mountains of Prades in the background, I captured the purest and most pleasing images of nature, who is ever my mistress. -Antoni Gaudi-

Big eggs and ham...things I miss...

Beautiful fruit variety...


















Avocados...yes please!


















Prosciutto hanging everywhere...


















Little piggies in Spain...


















Actually, no I don't miss ostrich eggs because I have never had them...but thought this was a cool photo. I recently headed over to Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. These photos are from the open air market in the middle of Barcelona. You can find so much variety but for a pretty steep price. Since Turkey is a predominately Muslim country there isn't much demand for pork so it was a good treat. Also here in Turkey they have great beautiful fresh veggies but nothing tropical, no avocados, no limes, etc. I will be going back to America soon...to all it's choices????? Huh????