JULY 15TH
Trip Start
Jul 09, 2008
1
8
13
Trip End
Jul 21, 2008
Urfa,
Turkey
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
We were met at the airport by a group of pharmacists who gave each of us a rose and greeted us very warmly. As İ got off the plane İ took a photo-as İ did İ saw out of the corner of my eye a policeman running my way. İ took another photo and as İ did İ heard the words..."No photo, no photo". İ put the camera away not sure why İ couldn't take a photo since there was nothing but desolation all around.
We went inside to pick up our luggage and it was very apparent that we were unusual to those around us. People openly, blatantly stared. But our hosts, as usual, were very warm and welcoming. There were 3 hosts. One very handsome with a smile that did not stop the entire visit, one who looked like Phil Collins and another who had a very heavy beard
Urfa Engagement Party
. They all spoke some English. They all were very young. They all were pharmacists. They all are a part of the Gulen movement in Turkey.We were taken to lunch. Some foods have universal counterparts: Burritos, gyros, wraps, sandwiches. That is what we had for lunch- a great Bread, veggies, meat and other things. The bread was like a rectangular burrito. We put meat (lamb) cooked on an open charcoal fire in it along with mint (that was spicy), onion sauteed in a local pepper (İ bought some of the pepper later in the spice shop) and pepper. İt was delicious.
From there we went to the birthplace of Abraham. Street kids followed us saying - "Hay-lo", over and over. İ would say hello in Turkish and they would smile large smiles. When there was a need for the kids to move away from us, for a photo or something like that, our hosts would lovingly talk with them. rather than harshly shooing them away. It was indicative of the love shown by adults to children that we have seen inside and outside of family settings.
We walked through a bazaar- textiles, tobacco and copper. Eventually making our way across a street to a copper store. The craftsman proprietor allowed us to stamp a piece of copper. İ bought a Turkish teapot, a pepper grinder and a Turkish coffee maker-which looks like a ladle
Urfa Dinner
. All hand made.Then to dinner - we made our way from the hotel into the narrow streets of the old city, a poor area filled with shops, homes, tobacco vendors and children playing until we arrived at our dinner location. The restaurant was old- older than the time of the Crusades. We ate on the rooftop which permitted us an amazing view of the ancient walls of the city.
The food was very good- eggplant, tomato, lamb, peppers and a wonderful dessert called wiggling woman- a crepe like pastry with honey and fresh pistaccios. There was an engagement party going on. The bride had a gorgeous red dress. We joined the party later-were given sugar in lace to be thrown during the ring ceremony. We had a great visit with our host families and returned to the hotel. Some of us went on a walk- and bought home made ice cream from a store called Hajii Baba (Pilgrim Father).
Urfa is in southeast Turkey close to the Syrian border and so much different than any city we have seen thus far.
