back to Kusadasi

We took a bus Saturday night from Ankara to Kusadasi. It was a busy day for travel because of the holiday, but bus travel in Turkey is very comfortable. The seats are spacious, each has a television, outlet for your electronics, and wireless Internet for your computers. We travel through the night, making one stop in the middle for the bathroom and tea. There's a bus attendant that serves drinks and snacks. It's a comfortable way to travel, but a long way.

In Kusadasi we were met by Anne, Baba, Teyza, and two cousins. Our house will be full for the holidays, as will this seaside town that has gone from 100,000 to maybe a million. Our first order of business was to shop for food, but I'm afraid we are going to eat all the chicken, meat, and fish we bought in one barbecue tonight. I told Tolga we could go on our on luxury vacation by ourselves and spend the same amount of money as we spend when we come to Kusadasi for no one seems to have money around here. I think I should be grateful that we do have jobs and paychecks, and really - we are only buying food for the family . . . and cousins . .. and gold for the new baby . . . and a bird.

all-ah-hal-ah.

It is the end of Ramazan here. Tomorrow is Bayram and we will spend it mostly sitting around the home, serving chocolate and sweets to guests. We kiss the hands of our elders and the elders give money to the children. It is the end of the 30-day fast, but only Tazyze and maybe 20% of Turks fast for Ramazan - I suppose its somewhat comparable to Catholics and Lent. It's part of history and culture, but not necessarily practiced religiously.

The canon has just fired to signal the end of the fast in Kusadasi - time to eat.