Hilltowns of Abruzzo July 19, 2008

Last week we went to Abruzzo to visit grandparents of Lorenzo. I love the region a lot… inside green nature crystal rivers coming down from the beautiful high mountains…and medieval hilltowns. On the highway you can see many of them from distance. They’re very impressive.

Abruzzo holds some of Italy’s best-preserved medieval and Renaissance hill towns. The abrupt decline of Abruzzo’s agricultural economy in the early to mid-20th century saved some of the region’s most beautiful hill towns from the onslaught of modern development. Many lie entirely within regional and national parks so their preservation is all but guaranteed. Among the most well preserved are Castel del Monte (AQ) and Santo Stefano di Sessanio, which lie in the Gran Sasso National Park on the edge of the high plain of Campo Imperatore and nestled beneath the Apennines’ highest peaks; both hill towns, which were ruled by the Medicis for over a century-and-a-half, have relatively little tourism. Between the two towns sits Rocca di Calascio, the ruin of an ancient fortress popular with film makers. Also within the Gran Sasso National Park is Castelli, an ancient pottery center whose artisans produced ceramics for most of the royal houses of Europe. Although still home to many artisans, Castelli has a modest tourist trade.

Other medieval hill towns located fully within Abruzzo’s park system are Pacentro in the Parco Nazionale della Majella and Pescasseroli in the Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo. Pacentro, which features a 14th century castle with two intact towers, has been little touched by modernization and is also known for being the origin village of the grandfathers of the entertainers Madonna and Dean Martin.

Danger in Bosphorus July 3, 2008

Increased shipping traffic through the narrow Bosporus Straits has heightened fears of a major accident that could have serious environmental consequences and endanger the health of the 12 million residents of Istanbul that live on either side of the Straits. The Straits have witnessed an increase in shipping traffic since the end of the Cold War to the point that around 50,000 vessels per year (nearly one every 10 minutes) now pass through them. Around one-tenth of these are crude oil or liquefied natural gas tankers. This increased congestion has led to a growing number of accidents; between 1988 and 1992, there were 155 collisions in the Straits. In January 2001, work began on building a comprehensive radar and vessel control system for the waterway.

Enjoying Blue Lagoon Ölüdeniz June 18, 2008

Swimming in the crystal water of Oludeniz was amazing. It was like swimming in an aquarium. The beach…lt’s the most beautiful beach l’ve ever seen

Boat Tour in Beautiful Dalyan June 18, 2008

Dalyan canal through which water circulates between the Mediterranean and Köyceğiz Lake winds its way to the sea, via a small network of lakes and waterways.

Through the rustling reed beds rising between 3-4 metres in heigh. With its mixture of salt and fresh water, this wetlands have become home to a vast number of fish and other waterlife. Many speices of birds which feed on them.

You meet to Mediterranean, after around 30-40 minutes wonderful boat travel. Dividing the delta is the İztuzu sandbar stretching for six km. With fine sand and turquoise sea.

Theses tombs are the resting places the kings of Caunos. They are carved in the style of Lycian rock tombs. There are two types of tomb to be found in Dalyan. Simple chambers, cut in to the rock face like a room and more elaborate temple tombs. Many tombs were built with false walls placing valuables behind them so as to fool robbers, eventually this was to no avail as all the tombs were emptied of their treasures.

Rock tombs can be seen along the Lycian coast, but best examples of them in Dalyan.

Dalyan has many therapeutic hot springs. The waters which contain radioactive elements and sulphur are believed to cure rheumatism, skin, liver, spleen and bowel complaints, as well as being beneficial for nervous and digestive disorders.

The Sultaniye Thermal Bath which is famous in Turkey, the water is 40 degrees C. The water used since Hellenistic times.

The mud baths are also said to remedy rheumatism as well as cleanse and beautify skin. Once you have covered yourself in the mud, than you wait for few minutes to dry it. You clean yourself in the sulphur pool. Mud bath is also at a temperature of 40 degrees.

The ancient city of Caunos grew on the border between Lycia and Caria. Caunos had a particular culture was an independent city state.

The city sprawls over a broad slope overlooking the sea and delta. At Caunos there is an Acropolis surrounded by the city walls, a theatre (which seats 1500 ), Four temples, an agora, shops, harbour, Roman bath and cistern, Some of ruins are still underground.

You can visit Caunos at any time. First you will have to cross the channel via a rowing boat, then 10 minutes walk to the city.

The Caretta Caretta turtle is designated as threatened on the Federal Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species List.These turtles with their large heads and reddish brown shells come to Iztuzu Beach to nest from May to September. They have yellowish to white undersides and can measure up to 3-4 feet in length. The turtle reaches maturity around 15 years of age, they can weigh between 150 and 300 pounds.

Adult turtles are meeting in lake of Dalyan Delta few weeks before the female lays her eggs. They are feeding before sex. Famela chooses a boyfriend. Their sex takes some hours and other turtles stays far away. You can hear their sounds.

The Caretta Caretta Turtle, returns to the beach where they themselves hatched. The adult female may lay several clutches each season, usually she will lay eggs every two-three years.

www.dalyaninfo.com

Lycia Trip Starts June 17, 2008

What’s LYCIA?

The ancient coastal region of southwest Turkey known as Lycia was bordered on all sides by massive mountain ranges, making it a uniquely independent state for much of its early history. The earliest inhabitants may have been native Anatolians mixed in with limited migrations from Crete.

Its proximity to Greece made it a desirable location for early colonists, but the Lycians resisted such attempts. In centuries of Greek domination of Asia Minor only one important colony, Phaselis, was ever established among the Lycians.

The Persians too sought to occupy the well defended territory but found Lycian independence deeply rooted in the culture. In the late 6th century BC, the Persians came to dominate Asia Minor and the surrounding vicinity but found Lycia to be a difficult conquest. When the Persians attacked the Lycian capital of Xanthos, the Lycians fought valiantly, but were eventually overcome. The survivors burnt the city, committing mass suicide, rather than submit to Persian rule.

Xanthos was later repopulated and Persian rule proved to be less dramatic than what was feared. Other than an annual tribute, the Lycians were left mainly to their own devices. Lycia was ruled essentially by a council of 23 federated cities, with certain more established cities having more clout than others.

The cities of Myra, Olympos Patara, Pinara, Tlos and Xanthos occupied the upper tier in Lycian politics. Under Persian ‘protection’ Lycia began to thrive and economic growth took hold. The Lycian alphabet also spread throughout the region in this time period.

WEDNESDAY

Lorenzo and I took a bus to go to Balıkesir from Istanbul. It took 6 hours to arrive. Lorenzo was playing with his iphone all the time so he took many ugly pics of me with it during the long boring bus travel. We planned to start our trip to Lycia next day so we had rest in the house of my parents in Balıkesir and we played with the kitten of my sister called Kekik.

THURSDAY

With my parents and my sister we started our trip at 10 am. On the road we saw very beautiful bays. I was getting more and more impatient to swim in the cold water of Egean Sea ( or Mediterranean.. lt’s just in the corner where two seas meet.) It was easy to observe the climate difference. The weather was veery hot. 7 hours later we were in our hotel in Fethiye. After dinner we strolled in the city center and we planned the next day.

Empty Tourists October 6, 2007

Usually I don’t spend time in very touristical areas of Istanbul, I stroll around the historical districts which tours dont take tourists much. Nowadays I walk in the back streets of Uskudar a lot because of the project I am working on. I’m designing a little library next to a building which was an ottoman primary school some hundreds of years ago.

So I dont see many tourists. Only one or two very curious and courageous ones who are able to get a map and stroll alone. Today while I was going down the hill, I saw one climbing the hill with an Istanbul map in the hand and a stupid fes on the head. I couldn’t stop laughing… It wasn’t the only one with fes I have seen so far.Why do tourists wear those weird fes?? Don’t they feel stupid with it? Don’t they look around themselves and notice that noone in Turkey would wear it?

Sometimes the ignorance of the tourists amazes me. They have no idea about Ottoman Empire, Turkish republic , turkish culture, Istanbul, other cities of Turkey…So why are they in Istanbul? They usually go to Italy because it’s a kind of fashion, it seems even Istanbul becomes something like that. I hate this empty tourism. Like the shopkeeper who sells miniatures has told me once : ” Tourists don’t come to my shop to buy miniatures. I have only very special foreigner customers who understand miniature art. Usual tourists who come here aren’t different than gypsies towards art”

Like french, italian, english in Istanbul, like hundreds of americans I see in Florence whole summer or thousands of russians in Antalya…like milions of tourists who destroy , pollute and rape Venice each year more just for commercial reasons far from art, architecture and understanding.

Shame on Greece (Part2) October 2, 2007

Today  greek ships had another attempt to leave their immigrants in turkish waters . This time the boat of the immigrants just remained in the international waters. A turkish private yatch saw the boat of the immigrants have overturned and there were 26 immigrants fluttering in the water, there were dead bodies swimming…So they went there to pick the alive immigants. They managed to save 11 immigrants but at the same moment, a greek coast guard boat was harrassing the turkish yatch…it was recorded minute by minute.

Shame on Greece September 29, 2007

On 27th September, at 6.20 am 3 Greek military ships were detected in Turkish waters. They were there illegally to leave around 20 immigrants inside 3 boats in turkish waters and they wanted to escape just after leaving those people in the middle of the sea. However because of the stream, those 3 boats entered back to Greek waters.

In the same day the same ships were detected in another coast of Turkey at 9.30. They were insistent of leaving their own illagal immigrants to turkish waters. But they were warned by turkish coast guards because of border violation so they had to leave without leaving the immigrants where they wanted to.

I am sad today September 8, 2007

Today I have returned to Istanbul after spending 3 months in Italy with Lorenzo and his family. Turning back to my lonely life isn’t easy at all. I already missed everyone soooo much.

Today I got up at 5am…I got on the plane at 7 am from Florence to Roma. I arrived Roma at 7.30. Then I waited till 10 am for my plane to go to Istanbul. I was in Istanbul at 13.30. The Alitalia plane was extremely small and uncomfortable. But I got very surprised that we were on time.

I took a taxi to go to the port…I had to take a boat to cross the Bosphorus because my house is in Asia and the airport is in Europe. The port was extremely extremely crowded…During the time I spent in Italy I forgot what “crowded” means…Istanbul reminded me today…I hate it…I hate sharing every squaremeter with at least one person…I miss the tranquility of Italy already…

I miss warm hugs of Lorenzo…

Pubblicità della Turchia a Milano September 2, 2007

Agostino took this photo for me in Milano. There’s the reflection of the street a bit but it’s ok. Thanks a lot Agostino!

I left my heart in Barcelona August 26, 2007

I have returned from Barcelona on Friday. I enjoyed each minute there.Leaving the city was very difficult for me because I completely felt in love with it. Barcelona is the city of my dreams because :

• I love Gaudi
• I can see very beautiful examples of Art Nouveau wherever I look. It’s a delicious meal for my eyes
• The atmosphere of the city is very joyful and vivid. There’s a crowd everywhere
• Everyone speaks english and also italian
• The city is very modern. It’s very well designed. There are huge bulvars like in Paris. There’s space for everyone. All the obstacles for the disabled people are thought. There is special space for bike , bus and taxi
• In Barcelona I can live in the big city but also I can go to the beach and I can enjoy the seaside
• I can shop crazily without spending extreme amounts. There are outlets of good brands. It’s not too expensive like in italy
• I can find every kind of art and architecture book easily even in the mall. It’s a paradise for me because in Istanbul it’s really difficult to find. I have to go to bookstores which are specialised on this kind of books. And they are terribly expensive
• There are so many places for entertaining kids. They are not caged in the gray atmosphere of the big city like in lstanbul.
• Barcelona offers many things to the people. It’s not frozen like Florence. It’s alive and always in progress

My Complaints about Italians August 7, 2007

First of all, Italians dont know anything about my country like most of European countries. They are too busy with themselves and people in close surroundings that they are not even curiuos about what’s going on in the rest of the world. Italian media doesnt help it either. I watch the tv news here everyday and I dont see any news about the world. They are only about Italy : 40 years old mothers in Italy, ice-cream consuming in Italy, vacation places in Italy…It doesnt matter if there’s an election in a country or if there’s a war or if there’re people starving…Not being able to speak any foreign language is maybe result of this lack of interest

 

Second thing is linked with the first. If you are ignorant, you generalize things. For example : Arabics are muslim so every muslim is arabic. Every arabic live in desert so every muslim live in desert too. Turkey is a muslim country so turkish people are arabic so Turkey is a very hot place in the desert.

As a result they are able to get surprised when I say it’s very snowy in winter in Istanbul. They get surprised when I say we produce very good red wine in Middle Turkey and white wine in Egean Coast of Turkey.

They also suppose that we use arabic alphabet! Just like they suppose that Czech Rep use russian alphabet.

Because of this ignorance, if you are a foreigner , you are an alien… a scary person.

 

Then what else? Oh…Everything turkish is greek for italians. For example Greek yoghurt. Yoghurt is a turkish word. Turkish invented yoghurt and in world literature in every language it’s used as Yoghurt the original turkish word. And many many other turkish products were stolen by greeks…That’s one of the reasons why they dont want Turkey in EU because they cant steal more products if we enter the market.

I am really angry about it.

 

Also italians like gossip soooo much. As Cesare (one of my very rare italian friends) says making gossip is second national sport for italians after soccer. That’s very true. When they get together with friends, what they talk about is other people. In the office, I experienced the most violent version of it because my italian isnt good. In this case they were able to make gossip about me , laughing behind me even when I am in the same room.

 

Their girl-boy relationships are worst than we have in Turkey. In Turkey we have very good friendships between boys and girls, they dont have to have a love relationship. In Italy (I dont know how’s in big cities but talking about Prato and Firenze) it’s not much possible to have a friendship between a boy and a girl. If they talk, if they share something, they have to be a couple. When boys arent able to flirt with a girl, they dont talk with that girl about anything. I experience it directly as a person who lives in Italy now but I also experience it even online. I have been using online messengers for 10 years and so far I talked with hundreds of italian boys. When I try to chat with an italian boy online , he tries to hunt me first. After learning that I have a boy, he stops talking with me. That’s how italian men see women generally.

 

I dont like this fashion-mania either. You have to always show which brand you wear, which car you drive , which country you adore…It’s like this even in Istanbul , just a bit lower level. Pure materialism…..

 

P.S : Please nobody think that I am hostile towards italians. I live with a very sweet italian family. I love them a lot. My boyfriend is an italian and I adore him. Italy is my second country after Turkey so I think I have right to criticize the bad situations I experience here.

I wish people could be more open-minded all over the world.

Italy struggles with Chinese migrants August 2, 2007

In Prato you can see chinese everywhere. They make many many kids so their population in Prato increases very fast. Italians arent happy about it. They are against them not because they are chinese but they dont like them because they dont respect the rules, they keep their society very closed and they dont speak italian.

Today there’s an article in BBC news about it :
In cities across Italy tension between the Chinese and Italians is high. The rapid influx of Chinese migrant workers and their dramatic impact on the labour market have caught Italy off guard – particularly in the northern industrial heartland.

Today Prato has the largest Chinese community in the country – about 25,000 people, nearly 15% of the city’s population.

And the authorities are worried.

“Many of the Chinese here are ‘clandestini’ – illegal. We have big difficulties catching them. And since they arrived, crime in the city has risen,” says Francesco Nannucci, the head of investigations at the Prato police.

The police patrol Prato’s Chinatown every day – an area full of Chinese shops, services and restaurants. Nearly all of them have sprung up in the last few years.

On one raid, ten undocumented Chinese workers were discovered in a side-street sweatshop, machine-sewing clothes.

There was a child present, beds, a bathroom and a kitchen. They slept, cooked, worked and brought up their children in this small warehouse.

Pronto moda

In the workshop at the back of the warehouse Cheng and his family toil away to produce these clothes in as short a time as possible, as cheaply as possible.

They can undercut the prices – and the wages – of their Italian counterparts. They may be paid as little as 2 euros an hour (£1.50), and 20 dresses might be produced for only 150 euros wholesale.

The clothes are bought by sellers from all over Italy and the rest of Europe.

Prato has become a main distribution centre for what is called “Pronto Moda” or “fast fashion”.

This is a Chinese invention: ‘ made in Italy’ goods produced under Chinese conditions.

Prato has also become a centre for the import of cheap clothing from China itself.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6926181.stm