canım doğum günün kutlu olsun
Today Emrah turned 30. He seemed relatively okay with it, though this morning he said “yarim yoldayim” which basically means he thinks he’ll die at 60. Just one year ago I arrived back in Turkey to celebrate his 29th birthday after 3 months at home in the US, so today is a quasi-anniversary as well as a birthday. While I’m missing my family more than usual these days, I’m also amazed at how quickly this year has passed. And overall, it’s been really good.
Today was sunny and warm, something I never take for granted on the last day of November. To celebrate both the birthday and the weather, we took the Banlio Tren out to the last stop (Gebze) and then hopped a quick dolmuş to the fishing village of Eskihisar (thanks RG for the idea).
On the train
The hisar in Eskihisar is not open to the public apparently. But here’s a closeup of a closed gate.
Another view of the eski hisar in Eskihisar.
I should have asked Emrah to open his mouth and pretend to eat the boat!
An old house. Emrah took this pic – he really likes old houses.
Hello – anybody home? Another old house.
Me with the fishermen. Notice the cats slinking nearby on the lookout for some fishy snacks.
There are a lot of fishermen in Eskihisar.
Seaside.
Together at the seaside. Thanks to the guy who took the picture.
Sunset.
In the evening, watching the boats.
Evening, a nice view of the marina with the hisar behind. Not sure what setting Emrah was using on the camera to get the nice graininess.
Another photo with nice graininess.
RG said,
December 1, 2008 @ 9:33 am
Hope you both enjoyed Eskihisar, I had totally forgotten that I had told you about it. The photos look good and very different from when I went there in high summer when it was very crowded. I am sure you have told Emrah that 30 is very young indeed, my 30s were my best decade, I am sure he has great times ahead of him. As for being half way through life, my husband’s grandfather died last year at the ripe old age of 100. These Alevi villagers are made of strong stuff!
Phyllis Soble & Avi Buswink said,
October 4, 2009 @ 1:32 am
Dearest Becky: I was sitting on the computer tonight and discovered your lovely
blog. All the photos were fabulous!!!! Avi could relate to your experiences in
Turkey because he was there to visit a friend a long time ago……..We are just
approaching the crispy autumn weather—it is great; I love it. I suffered all summer
and I’m glad the cold temperatures are here…….My birthday is next week and I’m
going to be 64—UGH!!! Avi bought me a brown leather jacket and we going to a
Chinese buffet on my special day…….I really miss you. Avi joins me in opening
our home to you anytime—-We have an empty guest room, so you wouldn’t have
to share with anyone. We live in Port Angeles, Washington, which is about 2 hours
out of Seattle—–It is beautiful here; Port Angeles sits on a harbor and is surrounded by many mountains. Please write. Aunt Phyllis(psoble@hotmail.com)LOVE