Bera Konya

A brief stop in Konya, overnight and one morning. Everything was dirt cheap, but it was pouring rain, so I didnīt do any shopping. Plus, shopping is an arduous experience in this country. And every single person on the street has a damn carpet shop! Except for one guy who actually was just being friendly. Went to the ...

... a lot of conservative muslims, some dressed quite traditonally (especially the women), but the city is experiencing an economic boom and the prosperity is seen everywhere- from the skyscraper in the middle of the city, to the cleanliness of the streets and the expensive cars, and of course the prices, which are about the same as in Canada. The city is also famous for being the home ...

... replaceable and materialistic. What am I trying to say here? I have a strong feeling after this trip, my views on many things will change and I cannot wait! Well, I am going to leave it at that. From my reflective point and Konya I bused it to Kapadokya. Here, lies a land of some pretty strange little things and a history- I am sure- that could keep many entertained for a long time! Hope this way of writing hasnt bored you but, I have to do it. Until then, Ciao! Alex p.l.u.r

... lodge was revived in 1957 as a "cultural association" which preserves a historical tradition. Call it what you will, but the dervish lodge in Konya is a very holy place for Muslims and 1.5 million of them visit it each year to pray at Rumiīs tomb. From here we head east to the region of Cappadocia for some good hiking and great landscapes... Enjoy! Jon and Liz

Today has been a weird day for the dead. Colleen was feeling particularly lonely digging her house so she invited me up to come and look at her walls- encouraging me to take yet more samples and keep her company. On my way back down the mound, I stopped off to visit some of the other diggers and see what they were up to. Lori has been digging the same burial for 2 weeks now- there were a sequence of 8 bodies in there, one on top of another. She was finally on the last body and it ...

... then pull both the cat and the rug down. Clever. The parties have become more fun, too, with more people. More people introduce more music and more interesting people to talk to. I usually spin my poi at the parties but, despite several attempts, my poi are broken beyond repair and now one piece is missing. One student from UCL had promised to bring out a fire pair and forgot. I was really upset by this because I had been looking forward to spinning with fire. I ...

... and put it in the trunk and slammed the door shut. Then he ran into the field across the road and grabbed some chick pea plants. While he was in the fields, presumably picking food for the animal, Dan ran out of the bus, opened the trunk and pulled out the now-very-upset tortoise and put it back on the road. The driver was baffled by this, shook his head and resumed driving. However, at the next tortoise he did the exact same thing ...

... and nibbles (olives, cheese, chips/crisps), and of course, there was music. Since we've been having so many Latin dance classes lately, it was only appropriate that music be played for people to practice their new skills. It was fun to watch the men, especially since most of the Latin movements are in the hips. The boys would throw their whole body into the "butt wiggle" rather than just shift their hips from side to side. I was most amused. The party ...

... for being a clean-cut prude in the image of Ms. Drew but that is an easy one for me to uphold. Roddy is our token Scotsman and he's taken after Tagert, whose famous line is "there has been a murder". Keep this in mind. Last night I was awakened by the rustling of my tent, as if there was a strong wind. But it was a calm night so I could not account for the noise. I got up and turned on the light to figure out where the noise was ...

Konya is town of Sufis. The name Konya is a cognate of icon, as an ancient Greek legend ascribed its name to the "eikon" (image), or the "gorgon's (Medusa's) head", with which Perseus vanquished the native population before founding the city.

Konya has a reputation of being one of the more religiously conservative metropolitan centers in Turkey. It was once known as the "citadel of Islam", and it is still more devout than other cities.