Turkish Delightful: family time

My travels generally lead me towards locals about whom I gain insight and thus insight into the country itself. This trip is not that sort of trip.

We are essentially a group of students being ferried around everywhere and sticking quite close to each other. Apart from a bit of shopping and the odd meal, it is too easy to avoid any interaction at all. There are many in our group what have not learned one word of Turkish and are more afraid of having to communicate with a Turk than use a squat toilet. This is a bit sad to me, and I wished that there could be a way to ease the path to international awareness and appreciation.

Someone must have been listening June 18 as we made our way between Konya and Bursa. By that time, we had gotten quite close to Pinar, our guide. I buy a bottle of water I am reminded of the origin of her name: "water spring".

We knew about her family and where they lived and what they did, but we didn't realize how close we were to her parents. They live on the coast generally, but for three months of the year live in this area, where they have started an apple garden in their retirement. And that apple garden was barely 1 km off the hightway, and this was the time her parents were actually there.

We were thrilled to find that yes, we could meet them and see their apple farm, and maybe stop for tea. And Pinar, who hadn't seen her parents for many months was thrilled that we wanted to go there.

As soon as the buss dropped us off on the highway in the middle of nowheer and we made our way along a rough gravel track in the warm sun, it was as if we passed through a portal not open since Hellenistic times and the gods themselves led us to an enchanted land.

As we neared her parents' place and they saw this dusty line of humanity move towards them, they rushed out and Pinar was engulfed with hugs and kisses. Then we were all welcomed with smiles and waves to sit next to the house, where benches and buckets formed a makeshift table and chairs. A hammock swung gently side to side in the breeze and two boxes of bees held the promise of apple blossom honey.

We were expecting tea, but suddenly there was a bowl of cherries and another of apples placed in front of us.

Then some rather

wonderful olives, cheese and watermelon, passed to us from the window in their tiny kitchen.

Then packets of warm borek - long thin flats of bread that are spread with meat or cheese and then wither eaten as is or rolled up and eaten like a wrap.

It was incredible, and so unexpected. We ate and drank and then explored their little oasis located in a lovely little valley filled with wheat waving in the breeze like water on a lake, and fruit trees laden with fruit - apple here, but elsewhere apricot, peach, cherry, plum, pear.

How tea is made in the country

tucking in to a feast!

Anyone want any more?

The little cottage they built themselves, and it is very sinple. No electricity and minimal plumbing for only cold water. There is a loft over half the space and a small toilet off the enrance. Windows open on all four sides to move the air on hot days, and a stove sits right in the geographic middle to heat the cottage on cold days.
The stars must be magnificent at night here!

The students loved the whole experience - oh course - who wouldn't? Seeing the obvious love passing between parents and daughter during an unexpected visit made me miss my own parents, and parents-in-law, and siblings, but especially my parents, and know it will be another couple of months before I will share Pinar's experience, which will make itall the sweeter when it comes.