New Year's Eve was pretty interesting. I found myself in a loud smoky club, surrounded by young Turks wearing santa hats dancing wildly to a mix of Turkish music and 80's American pop. Here in Turkey, there seems to be a widespread confusion about this "Christmas" thing, which everyone is convinced is the same as New Year's Eve. I can't tell you how many times I was wished a Merry Christmas on the 31st - there were even a few Christmas trees! After a while, I gave up trying to explain the difference - what's the difference anyway, in a Muslim country? I was wholly unprepared, however, for the moment the DJ played "Hava Nagilah". Yes, for those of you Jews and honorary Jews out there, the very same Jewish wedding song! For the first time that evening, I was the only one in the room that knew the words! In fact, I was the only one in the room that any clue what the song was. Teaching the circle dance to a small group of bemused Turks was the highlight of my New Year's Eve.
Since then, I have been moving around quite a bit. Antalya, where a lovely couple took me in for an evening (Turkish hospitality is legendary) and treated me to everything, even a vegetarian home cooked meal! Konya, for a brief visit to the Rumi museum and some beautiful and very old mosques. Now I am in Cappadocia, which has the one of most incredible landscapes I have ever seen. Photos to come soon! For now, content yourselves with one of my favorites, a nanny goat reclining on an ancient Lycian carved stone. Livestock and ruins seem to go hand-in-hand here in Turkey. In the background you can make out some of the tombs cut into sheer cliffs that the Lycians cities are (were, I guess) famous for. More is on my Picasa site, of course http://picasaweb.google.com/dnemens/Olympos). The Mediterranean sun looks especially great now, as it's snowing with subzero temps here in the high country.
More to come!
Take care, and stay warm,
Deborah
1 comment:
deb,
we can't wait to see you in february
love, dad
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