A mistake was made when I packed my bags thinking I was headed somewhere bursting with Spring-like weather. I only packed clothes for warm weather, with the exception of one black sweater. I've been LIVING in that black sweater! (Thanks Lyndy, by the way). At least I fit in as everyone here, be they male or female, dresses in black. There is almost no color at all, other than the splashes of color ın the scarves wrapped around the heads of Muslim women.
And speaking of Muslim women, I'm suprısed at how few there are! I only saw a handful yesterday. I thought I was coming to Muslim country? Most folks are dressed in tights or slacks with dark sweaters and jackets. Most heads are bare.
The Turkish practice a tradition siımılar to the Indıan tradition of removing your shoes when you enter a house. I like taking off my tired old shoes and slipping on a pair of warm, fuzzy house slippers. I'm thinking about instigating a similar practice in my own house when I return home.
I think I offended my Turkish host yesterday at the market when I suggested that offering me tea was really a sales technıque. The more time I spent in the proprıetor's shop, the more likely I was to find more things I wanted to buy. This technique actually worked on me! I was all set to leave the spice shop when the owner insisted I drink a SECOND cup of tea. While I waited for my tea to cool a bit, he offered me samples of fıgs and aprıcots which were so delicious I ended up buying some of both! When I mentioned this to Norta, she seemed shocked at the very idea and assured me that this was just plain old Turkish hospitality.
Yesterday I met a delightful old Turkish lady who was determined to hold a conversation with me. She sat next to me on the couch, all hunched and tiny, and told me stories. When I shrugged my shoulders and ımplied I had no idea what she was saying, she raised her voice a couple of notches and told me the whole thing all over again. This tıme I smiled enthusiastically and utilızed my one Turkish word, "tamam, tamam". I wish I could of saıd something like "really?" or maybe even "oh, my!" but "o.k." seemed to satısfy her and she launched into a second and third story illustrated with gestures and various facial expressions. Afterwards, she just sat and stared at me for a while and petted my hair. Very charming!
One more noteworthy item. Although I love coffee, and the stronger the better, Turkısh coffee ıs for the......well, the Turks. Drinking Turkish coffee is similar in taste to suckiıng down a tiny cup of cıgarette butts. YUK! I'm switching to tea!
About Me
- Marialyn
- Wife of one. Mother of two. Sister of three. Just trying to get it all figured out before it's too late!
Turkey cast off its responsibility as leader of the Muslim world in 1922 ala Kemal Ataturk, and became a strictly secular state. Shows of piety are frowned upon. To this day, the military stresses out to find religion making a comeback under the present regime.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Germans made themselves at home in the imperial city of Rome in the 4th century, Emperor Constantine simply moved to the 1000 year old Greek city of Byzantium, then part of the still vast Roman Empire, which he modestly dubbed "Nova Roma". But his admiring countrymen soon began calling it "Constantinople". It went by that name even for centuries after falling to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 AD, who eventually renamed it "Istanbul". This rechristening was celebrated in a popular song I remember from my youth. Reason for the change? Explains the song, "The Turks just liked it better that way."
I also am reading a book. "The Age of Faith" by Will Durant. He talks a lot about Constantinople. The population in 337 AD, the year of Constantine's death, was 50,000. In 400 100,000; in 500 1,000,000. Today, 12,800,000.
Constantine, the first Christian Roman Emperor, dutifully erected the magnificient Church of the Holy Wisdom, St. Sophia, on the Augusteum. But on that same plaza, mindful of the of the needs of the average Christian of that day for entertainment and gambling, also erected the massive Hippodrome, rivaling in scale and degeneracy of purpose the Coliseum in Rome. Take a look at it if you get a chance and let me know how it stands today.
Why doesn't your comment show up on my blog? I found ıt ın my mailbox but not my blog. I actually went to visit Sophıa my first day in Turkey. I took a lot of pictures but can't post them as my laptop is almost out of charge and the plan I had for rechargint it isn't working out. I only turn it on briefly to download one or two pictures a day. I'll show you the pictures a week from Thursday!
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed with your knowlege of Istanbul's history, or were you copying from a book??? Your brief explination was more informative than the info I got while at the cathedral (it looks more like a mosque, by the way)
Well, I certainly don't know as much about Turkey as you and your dad (unless you want me to describe cooking one!). FYI: I am reading a book about Kengus Kahn (and still am not sure how to spell his name!). It is surprising reading, as (verbal) history has distorted his image, but after the discovery of his secret diaries and more stuff, his image can be recreated. Zahira's "clan"...Hazar...is descended from KK. That's why I'm reading the book.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I just spoke with Matta and learned that you will be there tomorrow and spend 5 days. She sounded very enthusiastic about that! I am very envious. (Hope you are planning for retirement...as I didn't!)
I am enjoying your blog. Keep the good times coming. Love you...Mom
well I'M reading One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (a book by a German immigrant named Theodor Seuss Geisel). I'm very proud to be part of such a well-read family! Let me know if any of you want to read it after I'm through.
ReplyDeleteRead ıt? Why would I want to read it when I can recite the entire book by heart?
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't anyone else above have a little trash can by their comment other than me?
ReplyDeleteI LOVE MY FAMILY!!!
ReplyDelete