We are back from our 2 day visit to Masada, the Dead Sea, and Jerusalem.  I took fewer photos than usual but soaked up lots of feelings; some expected and some not.  You will eventually see them but I really want to finish the North Cyprus stories first.  We had such a wonderful time when we visited Heidi and Kalle and went off on lots of adventures in the few days we were exploring the western side of North Cyprus.  We crammed in lots in the two days we were there.  Our first top was DIZYN 74 Pottery.  Our small pitcher and olive dish were made here.  It was fun to see where it was made.  If we’d had time Randal wanted an entire set of dishes but alas, it would have taken longer than we would be in North Cyprus and I didn’t trust shipping it.  Some things are just not meant to be. 

  Ru

Girne and West

First stop Dizayn 74 Pottery where our small pitcher and olive pit dish were made.

“Dizayn 74 Pottery was established on 13th of October in 1974.

It was founded by two potters; Hasan Eminağa and Tomrul Tomgüsehan. Both of the potters are graduates from Tatbiki Güzel Sanatlar Yüksek Okulu (Applied Fine Arts Academy) Department of Pottery. Today it is known as Marmara University in İstanbul, Turkey. Since 1974, the potters have developed many different designs and motifs, mostly re-establishing the traditional arts of Cyprus.” www.dizayn74.com

Hasan Eminağa when we met him at the Tulip Festival in Avtepe.

While at his shop we learned about his children, one who had earned graduate degrees at both Harvard and Yale!

Tomrul Tomgüsehan and Heidi in the pottery shop in Girne

A new craftsman learns the trade.

Success!

Everything must be done precisely to make beautiful pieces of pottery.

“The clay which is known as the ashes of volcanic eruptions extracted from Northern Cyprus. All the work is hand-made and the pots are free hand painted.”  www.dizayn74.com

Decorating the pottery pieces.

Creating the proto-type for a ceramic yogurt container which some companies use for their yogurt.

I actually have a ceramic yogurt container from when I first bought yogurt; but one is enough when you live on a boat. Wonder what the ones from Dizayn 74 will look like and if they will be reusable which would be better than all those empty plastic containers.

Created by children on a school visit and waiting to be fired.

Linda and Charmaine having a wonderful time.

These small pots were being made for a wedding…guests inserted money and gave them to the bride and groom. Neat idea!

Charmaine and Linda have a memory of North Cyprus.