APRIL 10: Eregli

Cruising the harbor of Eregli

JON:
Merhaba - If anyone says go to Turkey by flying through Manchester, NH - DON'T!! All five of us arrived looking a little green, but otherwise we were well.

As of today, we've been here 4 full days, and they have been FULL days. Full of activities and full of food. My, oh my! I've never eaten so much in 4 days. The Turkish people are wonderful hosts.

It's amazing how one can be in a home for 2 days and feel lýke a brother or son, sister or daughter, in so short a time. My hat is off to our hosts from the Aniteppe and Eregli Rotary clubs.

The Oxford Hills Rotary club banner states "Eight towns, One Community". Rotary is definately "Many Countries, One Community."

Until next time...

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Barry demonstrates his hidden pantomine talent.

BARRY:
I stayed with Ilhan, the chief mechanical engineer of the local steel mill (Erdemir) and his family in the spacious and beautiful apartments set aside for factory management. Katie and Kristen and their host families from upstairs joined us for a wonderful dinner of MANY dishes, followed by the beautiful karaoke renditions of the Kocoglu's daughter Beril.

For the first time in many months, I could sleep with the windows open and no covers, it being that warm. I was woken up, however at 5:15 to the haunting chanting of the local muezzin calling worshippers to prayer, followed by the growing chattering of birds over the subdued hum of the steel factory below...

This morning Ilhan, his wife Tuzin and I took an early morning walk around the neighborhood. Steep winding streets led up around deep ravines filled with budding trees and individual homes perched on the slopes. Ilhan pointed out the sound of canaries which are a local bird and not an exotic pet store animal to them.

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KATIE:

Waiting for the group to arrive.

Eregli 's imprint on my mind will be of the jagged Black Sea Coast and the best fish, hand-woven linen and hillside villages, the steel mill towering over the town, early morning basketball, cruising the harbor, laughter with new friends, Turkish and English tongue twisters.

Sherefe until another day.

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SHARON:

We are in a steel town, which reminds me a little of my hometown Cleveland, except the landscape is rich with different shades of green and there are mountains all around.

Riley will be jealous.

The mill (Erdemir) is a source of great pride and employs most of the residents here. Erdemir even supplies housing for its workers.

Last night we had the great opportunity to eat at a fish restaurant that served plate after plate of different regional fishes. Some were a little bit strange, but all were sooo good. Our hosts also arranged to have a musician play traditional Turkish tunes for us and the whole restaurant joined in singing. The music was wonderful and the warm camraderie was cok guzel (very nice).

Favorite foods so far:
1. Pide (brick oven fired bread with meat or cheese filling)
2. Manti (meat-filled pasta with garlic-yogurt sauce)

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Waiting for the group to arrive.

KRISTEN:
Hello from the coast of the Black Sea! So far I have been able to observe and talk to people about some of the major environmental issues of the area - some of them similar to what we have at home, some very different. It was fun to travel from Ankara to the coast and see how the landscape became so mountainous and forested. This is a very beautiful country!

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Dinner at the fish house

 

Eregli cruise.

 

Weaving linen

 

View from Sharon's homestay.

 

Kristen shows her basketball moves against Sam in an early morning game.

Visit to a village shrine.

 

The professional at work

 

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