May 4th: Antakya

Our mission today - scavenger hunt in the old city

1. Photograph of the whole group drinking water (ensure that the students stay hydrated)

2. Take photos of your 5 favorite pieces

3. Most interesting architecture 

4. Most unusual product 

5. Arabic influence photo

6. Photo of some transaction

7. Greek Orthodox Church

8. Catholic Church

9. Mosque

10. Jewish Synagogue

11. Try kunefe - a dessert famous in Antakya

Archaeology Museum (the 2nd largest mosaic museum in the world)

I am not a museum kind of guy, so I was not really looking forward to a mosaic museum, but I must say this was one of the most amazing museums ever.

 The complexity involved in finding the exact right shade of stone to create the desired image is pretty much beyond my imagination.

 Evil Eye (from Antakya, 2nd Century CE): maybe the most significant superstition in Turkey. You see "evil eye" paraphernalia everywhere.

 The Yakto Mosaic (Harbiye, just south of Antakya, 5th Century CE)

This one was incredible!

 The Calendar of Oceanus and Tethys, from Antakya, 2nd Century CE

 Dionysiac Mosaic from Tarus, 3rd Century CE

 Iphigenia in Aulis (Antakya, 3rd Century CE)

 huge pottery at the museum

 The old city of Antakya                                                           

                                          

Inside the courtyard of a traditional house

The streets of the old city are not wide enough for cars. The architectural design of the homes is very interesting. There is a wall surrounding the house compound, with a door right at the street. Tansule would open the door and call in "hello," and ask if we could come in to look around. We did this a number of times today. Every time the owner asked us in. There is always a inner courtyard surrounded by two floors of homes. Usually 5 families live in a compound, all related. A multi-generational living situation.

 I was happy to take some laundry shots today.


A veteran posing next to a photo of veterans
In the center of the old town, within about 100 meters of each other, is a mosque, a Greek Orthodox church, a Christian church, and a Jewish synagogue. I went to visit the veteran's Center, which is located right in the middle of these religious buildings. There were a lot of old men playing dominoes. This man was happy to tour me around the place. The building was built in 1750. It's motto is, "War is when peace ends. Please do not end the peace." He told us that Ataturk's vision is just as central to Turkey as religious tolerance, and thus, its symbolic location. 

 Lila, Emily and Lilia
We visited a Catholic church. I found out that there are currently 60 Catholic families in Antakya. 

This city embraces the concept of religious diversity better than just about anywhere. One scavenger hunt group documented 5 posters or signs or paintings with the three symbols of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism on it. Being Jewish, I was interested in going to the synagogue. It was closed, but a man outside the synagogue was happy to share his experience. He is Muslim, but one of his grand parents is Christian. He explained that his family and a neighbor's family were very close. One family was Muslim and the other Christian. In order to ensure the continued connection between the two families, they intermarried. He told us, "My grandmother always told me to never discriminate based on religion." When he was growing up, Christians, Jews and Muslims would all gather after work, drink rake (a Turkish Perno), and argue about everything. But afterwards, they would all leave arm in arm. Presently, there are very few Jews living in Antakya, but the synagogue is open every Saturday morning for services.

 I really like the juxtaposition of this photo, with the modern dressed woman walking by the two traditionally dressed women.

 Ugur, Tansule's friend who lives in Antakya. 

Ugur did the paintings on glass behind her.

 Coffee cup on a balcony of Ugur's daughter's office

 Boys in the street

 Another laundry shot

As we were sitting outside the hotel after our return from the scavenger hunt, the school across the way finished for the day. Gray, Ethan and Jacob had been communicating with the school kids from their hotel window, so they came out to greet the students. 

 It became quite an amusing scene

 Eli played "Let's try and pronounce your name" game. Apparently, his mispronunciations were very funny. 

Gray as a rock star

Usually we have 32 students to coordinate for dinner. Tonight, we had 4. Everyone else was either out with their pen pals, or playing soccer and then having dinner with their pen pals. The pen pal connection here has been incredible. it was so satisfying when things work out well. It is magical when they work out better than you can imagine. Tomorrow is our last full day in Antakya. It will be sad leaving the pen pals.