Wednesday, July 04, 2007
As the sun sets on me and the Black Sea, so the sun sets on this blog. I fly home tomorrow, after 11 months in Turkey. Despite some difficulties and worries, I'm glad to have had the opportunities I've had. I want to thank the US Fulbright commission, Averill Park High School, and ÖDTU Lise, but most importantly I want to thank my wife Silvia and my children Mara, Elli Sol and Silas Miguel for agreeing to accompany me on this learning adventure.
This is part of Amasra (called by The Lonely Planet Guide "surely the prettiest small town on the Black Sea coast). I spent two nights here, relaxing, mentally preparing for my return to the US, and still trying to practice my Turkish.
On my second night in Amasra, I walked by a wedding reception on the bay. It was a lovely night, and it reminded me how much I miss my wife and children.
The view from my "pension" (room rented in a private residence - usually cheaper than a hotel). Behind me is the larger of the two bays of Amasra. In the background is a Turkish coast guard boat, and in the foreground are fishing boats. After my own fish dinner each night, I walked out to the end of the long jetty to the left.
Here I am standing on the bridge to one of the two islands that make up the town. The 600 year-old walls of the kale (citadel) are still holding up nicely. Notice that even the Black Sea is crystal clear here.
Well, I'm all ready to return to the US. Here I am with my belongings, and with my good friend Kenan. 
I went to the cıty of Safranbolu, which is known for it's wooden houses (it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site). This is a very quaint city, and while touristy (but the tourists were all Turks, which gave it a different feel), it tries to maintain its history. In some ways, it was like colonial Williamsburg, except that people still actually live in the entire city/museum.
Here is my room inside one of the wooden homes. The low couch-like furniture is a very old style (I've seen many in museums), and though very stiff, they are quite comfortable to relax on. This one ran the length of the room and was as wide as a double bed.
While they look like toy houses, these are examples of the wooden houses making up the city.
Another self-portrait, in downtown Safranbolu. I was here on a Saturday and Sunday, so the bazaar was in full swing.
