Whirling, Twirling and Swirling

SARUHAN

Whirling Dervish is not a spinning top, a toy of one's youth or a festival. I mention this because I thought all of these things before I learned more about this ceremonial presentation. Their ritual and costume is deeply rooted in symbolism: the dervish head dress his ego's tombstone, the white skirt a shroud spiritually born to the truth, by removing his black cloak, he journeys and advances to spiritual maturity through the stages of Sema.

The Sema ceremony represents a mystic journey of man's spiritual ascent through love, leaving hos ego, finding the truth and arriving at the "perfect" place. From the removing of his cloak, to beginning the whirling and up stretching his arms, his right hand directed to the skyresdy to receives God's beneficence, gazing his left hand trimmed down toward the earth, he turns from right to left pivoting around the heart.

While interesting to watch, the ceremony itself is quite mesmerizing. This trance lulled me to sleep ever so peacefully.

What a Way to See Cappadocia!

GOREME

Bleary eyed at 5:30 am, it's dark and a bit chilly as we board the group bus for the sunrise hot air ballon ride with Butterfly Balloons. But before we do that, we stop by their offices to register and have a quick breakfast, tea and coffee. Gratefully, these are smaller basket balloons which carry 16 passengers instead of larger groups up to 30 in a basket.

Region of fairy chimneys, mushroom tops, cascading cliff sides and underground caves were formed when Erciyes Dagi erupted. Thousands of years later, rain and Byzantine rule made up the current magical almost mystical looking structures. Tourism came to Cappadocia as recent as the 1980's and has since seen remarkable interest in this off beat location.

Inflating the balloon with fans and propane tanks.

We arrived at the site to the powerful noise of propane tanks and fans inflating the balloons readying for flight. 

Captain Mike onboard uprighting the balloon.

man oh man, it was loud and ouch... HOT!

Captain Mike Green gets into the basket and begins to crank up the propane to get the basket upright which means we are to get into place immediately. There are four small sections, the four corners for four individuals to fit and barely move. Once in the basket and off the ground the rise was surprisingly peaceful and tranquil. 

Ready for take off!

Getting a close up vantage point of a deteriorated castle.

Mustapha's balloon close by

We floated gently down a valley, across the land and through the valleys and at times rising 100 to 150 meters to get get beyond the other forty balloons in the sky. Captain Mike brought us as close to the fairy chimneys and churches as possible, at times brushing the treetops and tops of structures. It was an incredible way to see the region in the most wonderful manner.

balloons everywhere!

Thirty to fifty balloons go up daily in the valley

Fairy tale castles

We got low enough to pick fruit off trees!

As we readied for landing, his crew below in a 4x4 and trailer followed Captain Mike so that the basket could land on the trailer. I've not seen that before! It worked remarkably well. Once on the ground, the crew offered a champagne toast and presented certificates of completion. I daydreamed about the brilliant experience of calmly gliding through the sky...

cheers!

HAMAM - TURKISH BATH

Took my clothes off and donned a red and white traditional cotton Turkish Bath wrap. First step was to sit in the stifling hot sauna for several minutes to get the toxins out. I know, sauna is supposed to be hot, but when the weather is quite warm it just doesn't make sense. I'm taken to the open Turkish bath where there is a heated marble platform that you lie on while the attendant begin the rinsing, scrubbing, soaping and more rinsing and more rinsing process. After few minutes of cool down and rest in the relaxation room the host comes to paint your face with a mask which in ten minutes gets rinsed off. The parading in public places between services is a bit odd but that's how it is done here! My reflex foot massage felt good though after all the ART I've had with Tracy,

Istanbul, Constantinople...

Do you know the prior name of Constantinople? First person to comment with the correct response wins a Turkish surprise. Arrival into this city of 16 million people was breathtaking. Istanbul, a powerful force of economic trade second only to China is the only city in the world split between two continents by the Bosphorus Strait: Asia on one and Europe on the other.  The history of Turkey is remarkable through various empirical rulers, religious struggles and cultural differences though continues to flourish.

Our hotel shuttle driver maneuvered narrow, winding, cobblestoned back streets to arrive at Alzer Hotel in the Sultanahmet area. As fate would have it one of our designated rooms was occupied by another guest who decided to extend his stay in Istanbul so ended up in the Pasha Suite with a magnificent view of the Blue Mosque.

Our fabulous view from the Pasha Suite at Hotel Alzer.

Hotel Alzer cafe

the flats and Turkish coffee

a little boost after our long journey

Hotel Alzer

Host Sureyya with "The Flats" on the Hippodrom

After a relaxing walk about the Hippodrome area which consists of Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque came back to the suite to sit in amazement of the fabulous view. As the sky drew darker, the illuminated mosque with it's six gold tipped minarets even more magical as flying, floating seagulls whose feathers seemingly underlit resembled angelic wings.

Blue Mosque by night

Following days filled with visits to ~

Sultanahmet or the Blue Mossque...

Interior of the famed Blue Mosque

from across the fountains in the Hippdrome

Hagia  Sophia...

Followers must first wash their feet before entering to pray.

Topkapi Palace...

Bosphorus Bridge from Topkapi Palace

Margaret and I and the Bosphorus Strait

In the Harem

Ottoman Empire performance at Topkapi Palace

the Grand Bazaar...

Sureyya's friend's jewelry shop

shop owner and his son

the Cisterns...

the Cisterns

Medusa upside down!

fish in the Cisterns

no, I didn't forget to rotate this!

the Spice Market...

stacked Turkish Delight

a Bosphorus cruise...

Ortakoy

Turkish love their Starbucks!

Cooking up the fish for sandwiches aboard a very rocky boat!

Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent in the background.

a craft market at Ortakoy...

Another Turkish speciality: stuffed baked potatoes.

Fortune telling rabbits!

enterprising street vendors...

Fresh squeezed pomegranate juice

Turkish pastry ~ Simit

Roasted corn on the cob

Bird seed for the pigeons

Pickled vegetables

Roasted chestnuts

all a part of observing the daily rhythm of life!

Food was divine!  Mouth watering kepabs, kofte, mezze platters with smoky eggplant dips, fabulous hummus, sauteed vegetables, stuffed vine leaves, breads, desserts and more!

Mezze appetizer plate of flavorful dips, and sauteed vegetables.

Anatolian flat bread fresh from the oven served with yogurt
garlic butter that was divine...

red pepper condiment

peppers and meat

infamous fish sandwich

Absolutely delicious entree of seasoned meat wrapped in
Anatolian bread, sprinkled with herbs and red pepper flakes
served with sliced tomatoes and fresh yogurt. Yum!

wonderful dried fruits including grapes, plums, apricots,
figs, apples and mulberries! 

tomatoes, cucumber, olives and cheese are typical

Typical Turkish breakfast is tomatoes, cucumber, olives, feta cheeses with bread. To round out the offerings, they have added a variety of the English fry up to include sausages, potato croquettes or french fries, cereals and pastries. Off to the country but back in a week or so.


All kinds of baklava for afternoon tea or dessert!