We got to get up late today - 7:30 instead of 6:15....our first stop was the mosque complex next to the Silk Bazaar - the Grand Mosque - a fantastic older mosque (1388) with amazing calligraphy - I can now recognize the symbols for "Allah". After another mosque we spent a fabulous hour in an old Ottoman town that is still being lived in and looks as it probably did hundreds of years ago. The region is comparable to the Pacific Northwest - cherries, apricots, peaches, and berries are all ripe and available at tons of roadside stands....so nice to have fresh fruit! Esp. since I am missing our fruit at home!
We then drove through the countryside of Western Anatolia - fantastic, yet not unlike places I have seen in Oregon! Mountains, lakes, broad plains and yet unlike with marble quarries, and olive groves plus people working in the fields with hand tools. We drove through a small town and saw a Janissary (military) band performing for a wedding (we saw a total of 6 weddings - well parts of them - today!). We also saw a goatherder and his herd of long-haired goats as they crossed the road. I have only seen four horses - all pulling little farm carts.
We stopped at a few more mosques and tombs....I'm about mosqued out.....but at the last mosque (with an accompanying park) we saw a wedding party and got invited to join (deadlines and schedules prevented - but we had a great few minutes of conversing and picture taking from both sides!
We are now in an Ottoman provincial capital, Kutahya, famous for its porcelain and an old Roman castle. Some of us are walking up to the castle early in the morning. We then hit some more old Ottoman and Selchuk towns and head to Lydia/Sardis. Maybe a soak in hot springs tomorrow!
We then drove through the countryside of Western Anatolia - fantastic, yet not unlike places I have seen in Oregon! Mountains, lakes, broad plains and yet unlike with marble quarries, and olive groves plus people working in the fields with hand tools. We drove through a small town and saw a Janissary (military) band performing for a wedding (we saw a total of 6 weddings - well parts of them - today!). We also saw a goatherder and his herd of long-haired goats as they crossed the road. I have only seen four horses - all pulling little farm carts.
We stopped at a few more mosques and tombs....I'm about mosqued out.....but at the last mosque (with an accompanying park) we saw a wedding party and got invited to join (deadlines and schedules prevented - but we had a great few minutes of conversing and picture taking from both sides!
We are now in an Ottoman provincial capital, Kutahya, famous for its porcelain and an old Roman castle. Some of us are walking up to the castle early in the morning. We then hit some more old Ottoman and Selchuk towns and head to Lydia/Sardis. Maybe a soak in hot springs tomorrow!
HI Linda
ReplyDeleteIt was great to hear from you and to hear of your Great Adventure. Actually,I was beginning to wonder if The Good Lord had taken you Home. It's been so long between drinks. I am so relieved that my assumptions proved wrong
Actually, this is the 2nd comment I've posted to you, I must have fouled up somehow as I've never seen it appear. Never mind.
You are having such a wonderful trip, your descriptions are so graphic along with your interesting "pics". You will have to come to "The Land Down Under" and give us a full presentation.!! Say, Have you had a draw on one of their "smoking machines"? The type they have a draw on & then pass it on.Come on Linda, you've got to try everything.!! B GUD David.