Travel

Ankara to IST – World’s Best Airport

11 October 2022

Melike Hatun Minaret

Call to Prayer, Fajr, blasted to the heavens at 5:27 this morning. I briefly contemplate prayer time. And with everything else, there’s an App for that. I check out the times for Ankara: the exact times for prayer are calculated based on the position of the sun in the sky so it differs depending upon which city I’m visiting. It also depends upon which calculation method and Juristic settings used. Current setting is the Muslim World League, set to Hanafi. These are things an inquisitive mind wants to know.

I rolled over and went back to sleep.

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By Pat, ago

Ankara, Turkey: In Search of Pasha Atatürk

9 October 2022

Breakfast: the usual wide selection of olives, cheeses, eggs, breads and jellies, a bunch of stuff. No yogurt and no coffee. I’m not wild about tea on the best of days and I am getting sick of it here. But, I have my bright new yellow Cappadocia socks on my feet and an umbrella in my pocket and ready for that castle.

As one happy traveler put it: What are you waiting for? What are you saving for? Now is all there is.

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By Pat, ago

Ankara, Capital of Turkey

8 October 2022

The Call to Prayer is at 5:36 this morning. It is a recording with a terrible scratch at the end. The wind Is SSW 6mph. When in Cappadocia, these two morning events are what matters. The blaring scratch at the end of prayer doesn’t diminish the affect. The wind means no launch and the skies are diminished of color and joy. Bag people are returning at 6:29 carrying their consolation gift for not flying today.

Morning over Göreme, Cappadocia
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By Pat, ago

Cappadocia or Kapadokya? Turkey or Türkiye?

5 October 2022

It may be confusing how to spell or pronounce where I am, but there is no confusion as to how spectacular this region of Turkey is.

I quick ride past wind-sculptured bluffs and mesas towering above a river which feeds agriculture and sheep, and I am in the fantasy city of Göreme in fabled Cappadocia. It is warm and dry, clouds promise a good sunset. I walk the few minutes to the store, buy some Efes Pilsen, and retreat to my hotel’s terrace to watch the sun set over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Life is good.

Terrace with Efes and view
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By Pat, ago