Nina and Joon

20 June 2009. Mati, Greece.

Nina and Joon, wishing you all the happiness and love in the world! You both looked so gorgeous and it was such an honour to be with you on your Greek Wedding! xxx

Athens - Have you ever tried this?

June 2009. In front of the Greek Parliament is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guarded by the city's famous statuesque 'evzones', the presidentials guards. They are being photographed by thousands of tourists every day, especially during the hourly changing of the guard. It is a spectacular sight observed by millions over the years, probably by you reader as well... But... have you ever tried to imitate the height at which they lift their legs?! Or to walk or stand still as they do....?? I did not manage when I tried it.They have a flexibility, control and balance many a tango dancer would envy!

Turkish delight (3) : Walking in Ankara

During my one and a half year in Ankara I walked quite a bit.

The daily walk from my home in Kavaklidere to the Hacettepe University Campus in Shihiye takes me 45 minutes. In this way I compensate somewhat for the lack of other physical activities such as cycling or dancing Argentinean tango, things that I used to do in another life, time and place.

Despite the presumed beneficial effects for health and condition, walking in Ankara is far from safe or healthy. And I am not even referring to the almighty car drivers who believe the streets are theirs.

Walking in Ankara is in fact a huge health hazard because there are no smooth or horizontal surfaces anywhere. Instead there are numerous slopes, potholes, high curbs, concrete "mushrooms," almost invisible and treacherous steps and gaps, and so on.

To illustrate what I mean, here some photos taken this week in the neighbourhood where I live. Anybody living in Ankara will confirm they are perfectly representative for sidewalks in Ankara city center in general.

Accident prone as I am, during my first months I stumbled and twisted my ankle several times.

The last time has been some months ago now; touch wood! As a matter of fact, I have learned to walk in a new way, watching my steps at all times. I completely unlearned using high heels.

Nevertheless I still often have that "narrow escape" feeling, when I just manage to avoid or correct a misstep.

I have just four more days in Ankara, four more days to watch my steps... I just hope I will reach the airport unscathed.

Next week, with a wedding coming up soon, I will need to relearn walking with high heels again ....

Georgia - Gaumarjos!!

April 2009. Georgia borders to Turkey in the North East, sharing the Black Sea coastline. While being so close, differences are far bigger than I expected. Take for example the unique Georgian language and its beautiful curly script.

Another interesting difference was the role of alcohol. While virtually absent in the daily life in Turkey it is overwhelmingly present in Georgia. It is for example not unusual to find a jar of chacha, the local fire water, or home made wine on the supra (meaning something like "feast") breakfast table in your guest house.

From Zugdidi, it is a five hour ride to Mestia (Upper Svanetia), along a rough winding road, with here and there fresh landslides, catching spectacular glimpses of snow capped Caucasus peaks. Along the side of the road we saw every couple of minutes small shrine-like structures, almost like mail boxes or bird-houses, some featuring portraits of one or two - usually young - men, who have perished on this treacherous road, presumably because of drunk driving. Friends and relatives leave offerings of wine and food on a small shelf in front of the portraits, and raise a glass to the memory of the departed and wishing for a safe trip for themselves.

On my last day, it was Orthodox Easter, along the road from Zugdidi to Batumi airport, where I needed to catch a flight back to Turkey, the graveyards were like joyous picnic places, living and dead people celebrating together, sharing food, wine, chacha .... (click on the photo and find the bottles!!)

Cheers, gaumarjos, sherefe!

Panta rei

"Panta rei", literally everything flows, sums up Heraclitus' philosophy, and means that everything is constantly changing, from the smallest grain of sand to the stars in the sky. Thus, every object ultimately is a figment of one's imagination. Only change itself is real, constant and eternal flux, like the continuous flow of the river which always renews itself.

The name of my blog site shows I relate to this. Changes are many, continuous and fast, and there is no keeping up with blogging. In the past month I have been in Republic of Georgia (Caucasus), Istanbul, Geneva and Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). Now taking a breath in Ankara before moving on. I promise over the next few days to post a short visual impression of each of these places.

My second "Turkish Delight" (see my first blog for the first series) is a picture that I took last week of a shopwindow in Ankara showing side to side 'western' women clothes as well as fashionable outfits that go with headscarf. The headscarf is winning terrain in urban areas in Turkey; it is a also growing trend that these two styles go hand in hand, and relatively new that you find both in the same shop.

Our weeping philosopher Heraclitus, native of Ephesus (Efes) on the west coast of Asia Minor (nowadays Turkey), had he seen this, would he have smiled?

Until soon!