4/24:
Even though yesterday was great (the kids loved exploring the ruined city of Perge), it was a full day, which takes its toll on the kids. We had planned a full day tour again today, and decided to cancel it all. The students have a lot of assignments to do, and we needed to give the students time to work on them (daily digital journal, daily upload of best photos, and documentary project) as well. Their only requirement was to go to the Antalya museum, photograph their 5 favorite pieces, and record descriptions of the pieces. And instead of going as a huge group by bus to the museum, we decided to give them time options and go in small groups with an adult (somehow getting on the bus seems like a bit of an ordeal, but going in a small group and finding your way there feels like exploring). To our surprise, more then half the students chose the first option of the day - 8:30 AM departure, and only three students chose the latest option - 1 PM. So, it was a good lesson for the adults - we were projecting our own feelings onto the students.
It turns out the students loved the museum as well. Many of them had a difficult time choosing their 5 favorite pieces, as did I. Here are my favorites:
The Three Graces, from Perge, 2nd Century CE
I really loved the gentle arms around each other.
Scary face, from Arykanda, 2nd Century CE
Hunting Artemis, from Perge, 2nd Century CE
For some reason I was attracted to the partial face.
Woman lying down, lid of a sarcophagus, from Perge, 3rd Century CE
Again, it was the flow of the arms that attracted me.
Dionysos Sarcophagus, from Perge, 3rd Century CE
From the same sarcophagus as above, but details of the mother and child, which I loved.
Gaius Caesar cenograph, from Limyra, 1st Century CE
I learned at the museum that a cenograph is a monument tomb-like structure raised in memory of rulers or heroes who died on the battlefield, at sea, or in a foreign country.
Gaius Caesar was the grandson of Augustus Caesar.
Menorah plaque from the first synagogue in the Mediterranean region of Anatolia
4th or 5th Century CE
Aphrodite holding a shield, from Perge, 2nd Century CE
Pottery from Lekythos, 6th or 5th Century BCE
I liked the shape of this piece.
Afterwards, I treated the students at the museum coffee shop, while I had Turkish coffee, and we talked about what Perge must have been like with so much public art everywhere. It was definitely the right order to see the ruins of Perge first. Then, when seeing the pieces in the museum the next day, and the majority of the museum pieces came from Perge, they had a context.
That evening we went to Tansule's home for dinner. She invited all of us (5 students went out with pen pal families, so there were only 35 of us). We had to find our way on public transport, which was an adventure within the adventure.
It was a delicious vegetarian feast.
The students in Tansule's living room.
Tansule's daughter and granddaughter, Billur and Nehir.
Students eating on the balcony.
Meg, Sara, Lara and KJ (I think)
Tansule's son, Safak, set up a Turkish disco in his bedroom. At one point I counted at least 20 people in there (all males). We were able to get Tansule and Alicia dancing, and then Billur taught us belly dancing, which chaperone Doug took to in a big way.
On the bus ride back to our hotel, many of the students said it was the best night yet!
4/25: Leaving Antalya
It was really nice starting the first 8 days of the trip in Antalya. It felt good having a home base and an opportunity for the students to adjust to this new culture. It also feels good to leave. There is something about the process of leaving that is so seductive for me. I've had a fantasy all of my life to just start walking (a vagabond spirit, so to speak), and not turn back. I don't exactly know what that is about, but I feel it every time I leave. I puts me in a quiet, contemplative space. Maybe, in my mind, a holy space. Something about shedding all attachments.
We drove east along the coast, and then north through the Taurus Mountains, on our way to Konya, home of Mevlana Rumi and the Whirling Dervishes.
We stopped on the way at Tinaztepe, a 230 million year old cave.
This spectacular cave is 1580 meters long (almost exactly one mile).
We also stopped at Esref Pasa mosque, which is 700 years old and made of wood.
Meditation beads hanging in the mosque for use by anyone. In Islam there are 99 beads for the 99 names of Allah. I carry meditations beads with me, which I purchased at the Tibetan refugee capitol in India at McLeod Ganj. In Tibetan Buddhism, there are 108 beads for the 108 names of Buddha (I think).
We met the Imam of the Mosque, who sang for us the call to prayer. I love to hear the call to prayer, but it is so different hearing it live rather than blaring out of the mosque's loud speakers.
Two of my students in the mosque
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