hello world, remember me,

So, it's been two almost two years since I've been in Istanbul AND I must admit it went by quite fast, and although I sometimes feel like I've not accomplished much, I think I have...broadened my horizons quite a bit...
I've become much more cynical with goverments and life in general however and globalization has a lot to answer for. Idealistic people try to protest against goverments working with big corporations or even bigger goverments however to what avail? Istanbul's new goverment has sold off nearly everything they could think of to foreign investors, or family members. Electricity, bus companies, soon Natural gas, with this of course comes increased prices and we are becoming more and more isolated! May 1st is labor day and has been for nearly 200 years all around Europe, yet our goverment has decided to rename that day, and therefore, control all the protests and demonstrations that are sure to be. No, this is not a joke. Although I must admit if it wasn't the country, where I am living now, I would think it was so. Not that the US is much better with Bush heading it, and soon in my opinion will be McCain unfortunately, since the population of the US has a tendency to elect conservative. I will have gained the ability to study, read at my leisure and walk down the street and see some nature, AND despite everything it is stable. I don't feel economically secure in this country, or that the future is heading in the right direction. The new regime has gotten into the foundations of this country and like termites they are very hard to get rid of. I wish I was being pessimistic but I'm afraid we are heading in the same direction as Iran, watch Persepolis the animation! and you will see what I mean. So I'm off on this beautiful day, to teach the little buggers :)

Brecht...

I agree that some author's have to be read at a certain age..and Brecht is one of them for me. I've had the Threepenny Opera, sitting on my shelf for years, but now I've just decided to read it and it's an amazing parody on capitalism and war. Which seems perfectly suitable to this day and age. I came across this poem, which I will insert -

And now they're off to the war

And they all need cartridges badly

and of course there are plenty of nice kind people

Who'll find them the cartridges gladly

'No ammunition,no war!

'Leave that to us, my sons!

You go to the front and fight,

We'll make you munitions and guns.'

And they made munitions in piles,

And there wasn't a war to be found

And of course there were plenty of nice kind people

Who conjured one out of the ground,

'Off you go, dear boy, to the front!

For they threaten your native sod

March, for your mothers and sisters,

For your King and for your God!'(Brecht, Penguin Books, 1967)

Does any of this sound familiar??? I find it very very ironic!

nothing to say..

just a month ago...brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

Ephesus and Priene

A weekend trip to Izmir, a night on the bus followed by a day of pouring rain! But still it was a trip well worth the effort. Luckily the next day shined bright and dry on us!

First stop, Selcuk St.John's Church! Some believe that he is buried here in Selcuk there is a tomb.

Baptismal font! Yet just behind it was a tomb with an engraving of a wild beast or gargoyle! Still a bit pagan..
This symbol carved into marble appears once again in an Athenian Temple in Pirene...was it the symbol of Christianity, of a co-mingling of religions?

Ephesus!

A weary traveler, just arriving from a long trip to spend a few days in Ephesus and what does he need the most!!! Well just look closely and maybe you can guess?? A woman, a heart and your left foot...Once we found it I must admit it was very extravagant with rooms, a mosaic tiled dining room, a washroom and just behind the public toilets where all essential business was taken care of!!!
Just for laughs!

The library...sigh..two floors and we consider ourselves civilized today..we could take lessons!

Who needs carpets! Amazed at how much is still intact and the colors!

New site, Priene...look carefully! Can find letters engraved in the rocks! Graffitti? Practice writing? who knows...But these were near the church.

Church ruins..right beside the Athenian Temple, Amazing.

and the floors! Thank you mom! She translated the writing...."good kisses!" Hmm some passing stranger to his new sweetheart or to the goddess Athena will we never know! Now brace yourself!

Columns from an Athenian Temple! Words failed me, and I really felt moved! I

Can you see my head near the last column? Someone really wanted to please Athena..

It could be seen from all over the city, a city which had a remarkable sewage system, covered on the side of the streets, leading all the way down to sea. Beautiful staircases leading to side streets where nobles lived, the floor plans readily viewable. An amphitheatre, a temple for Hygenia (or was that the wife), a gymnasium, a church, a square, market place, Greek writing visible on tablets, seats, tiny but immaculate writing! We spent over two hours just wandering around amazed..

Any ideas what these symbols stand for?? These were also on the temple floor.

Street with sewage system showing.

Sitting in the amphitheatre in the best seat in the house! Arm rests had carvings that fit right in the palm of your hand...luxury! It's good to be a senator! Assume that they sprawled as well!

Surrounding countryside which used to be water.

Fini!

Nostalgia...

Ahh sun!! It's really a beautiful spring day! Before I get to the interesting bit and publish photos of Ephesus and Pirene in Izmir, I've been feeling a bit nostalgic. I finished reading my uncle's book; a memoir of his life in Istanbul during the 1940's and 1950's. I'm grateful to him for writing it as it's a family heirloom of the past. I got to know all the "characters" in the book and some I hand known, and their passing was as difficult for me as it must have been for my uncle. His era was a time of long friendships, from childhood, highschool to old age. He mentions in passing that his generation was one that wasn't interested in "saving the world, they weren't interested in politics" as the 1968-70 generation was. The sixties gave us Capitalisim and Globalization...and a generation which lost their youth...a bit cliche, but it has to be mentioned, since it hasn't really gone back. This morning I was rummaging in an old bookstore off Istiklal, the one's that stink of cats and books which smell of decay...when I came upon a box of old photos. This is a phenomena which is very popular in Turkey, maybe in the rest of the world as well not sure, but they are cast offs of peoples lives in black and white. It is both morbid and interesting, once again a voyeur into other peoples lives. People who have passed away and all that's left is these black and white memories...sometimes I came across letters, love letters telling of hardships and jealousy...as well as sickness and old age...I felt like I an intruder yet it was difficult to stop searching...searching...and wondering what happened to all of them?? Was that woman smiling in her wedding dress really happy...I left with these images imprinted into my mind and a line from my uncle's book,-(translated approximately) Possession of property is all very good, but don't forget where the original owners are now? Basically you can't take it with you..as the english saying goes, so try to make the most of life.