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Turkey |
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This is the boat we took to Turkey. Ayvalik is a city right across the sea. The boat ride took about 2 hours. This was not a university-sanctioned activity, so Sophia stressed that she was not our professor, she was our friend. haha. Nine of us went to Turkey, Rachel Jason and Dana did not. We were also joined by Iro and two of her Greek friends, as well as Sophia's friends. Fatos, a Turk who lives in Mytilene came, as well as some Greek sociology professors and two visiting professors from Michigan State. The entire boat ride, Sophia and another Greek anthropologist discussed with us the problems faced between the Turks and Greeks, and the historical connection between Lesvos and Ayvalik. Its a long story, if you care, I'll tell you some time. But it was really cool, one of those things that you wonder why you don't learn in history classes. |
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As we pulled up to Ayvalik, we could instantly tell we were in a different country. It looks very similar to Lesvos and Mytilene, but that minaret is a dead giveaway that Christianity is not the norm here. |
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As we prepared to get off the boat, we heard canons exploding. Why? Because it was the 500-something anniversary of the Ottoman takeover of Constantinople and the fall of Byzantium (the Eastern half of the Roman Empire, which was alive and kickin long after the Western half fell). There was a huge festival, with dancing and all these funky things surrounding this statue. Crazy. The Turks all knew that we were American and Greek Christians, but they treated us all very very well. The State Department is full of shit. |
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We chose to visit Ayvalik on Thursday, which is the weekly bazaar. CRAZY! There were shops of all sorts, with food and clothes and handmade stuff. So cool. |
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We bought all sorts of stuff. First we had to exchange our money from Euros to Turkish lira, and we became multi-millionaires. Sweet. I bought a ring, a purse, a shirt, hand-blown glass perfume bottles, and a lamp. It was awesome. It was also really hot out, but the bazaar was cool, thanks to the sheets draped over the streets. |
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We went shopping with Fatos, who bartered everything around and saved us a ton of money. She then took us to a travel agent, where a friend of hers worked, and they gave Amanda and me some free Turkish Tea. It was incredibly good, and we loved the cups. We wanted to buy some teacups, but they all came in full sets of six, and we couldn't afford it. Someday I will go back and buy them. |
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We then jumped on another boat, this one took us to Alibey Adasi, the island where Sophia did the majority of her research. We had lunch there, and had a great time conversing with everybody. |
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On the boat to lunch, they turned on some belly dancing music, and we strutted our stuff. Go Kara! |
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Jaime, Jenn and Iro joined her. It was so much fun! |
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