28 September 2023 I rejoice that I visited Ankara last year. Ankara possesses good museums, a 9th century citadel, old neighborhoods, Roman ruins, peaceful parks, and is home to the Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemel Ataürk. Unfortunately, none of these sites will be visited this trip. But, the goats Read more…
11 October 2022
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.
(more…)10 October 2022
5:47 am – a cacophony of prayer calls stream over the city battling for the airwaves from every direction. I suspect the large Melike Hatun Mosque just around the corner is winning. I go back to sleep.
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.
(more…)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.
