Celebrations

upper body exercise...sort of

The last day of Bayram was unexpectedly busy.  Nephew Ali showed up to take me and mark to the beach. Ah, the Aegean Sea!  While it was too cold for mark's tender body, Ali and I enjoyed swimming around and watching the tourist party boats come and go.  I kayaked (I think that's what it was) for a while to look around the coast line. Turquoise waters were beautiful- but our beach was rock and that was a bit challenging.

beach bums

Boreks for dinner! made outside in the fire oven just for this purpose, accompanied with ayran - Turkish yogurt drink. Lots of relatives stopped by - it was their last chance for a Bayram appearance. Then I find out we've been invited to a couple of celebrations taking place in the neighborhood.  Because families are already together, a wedding and a going away party (son and his friends were going to serve their Army time) were scheduled.

Fatima leads the crew of borek makers

fig eating supervisor

picked figs between dinner and street party

These kinds of parties require the street to be closed for dancing, sitting, eating. Both had loud music, live or DJ, and there was ONLY Turkish music.  These celebrations are typical and the whole neighborhood takes part.  The young mens' party was interesting to me.  These guys were all being 'guys', hanging out and joking. But they were also wearing Turkish flag scarves, jumping up to dance traditional dances (guys dance together), or to welcome adults coming to the party with the traditional kissing of the visitor's hand and placing it on their forehead. There was a lot of respect shown which was refreshing to see. This is the typical Turkish way.  Respect is a large part of family and friend relationships and there are certain protocol that is followed. If broken, the meaning is unmistakable. 

boys do their best...need experience!

Ibo - mustache - and men show the boys how to dance

The wedding celebration was actually the PRE wedding party. There are special girl dances for the bride which prepare her to have henna put on her hands (which are then wrapped through the night so the henna will stain the hands for the ceremony the following day). These are not detailed henna designs you see with Indian weddings. The palm is basically colored. The guests are all sitting around the dancing - yes, in the middle of the street - while a DJ plays Turkish music. Some was traditional, some modern Turkish music - but no American music!