It wasn’t my birthday but I have to say I really enjoyed this lusciously chocolate cake!

Zehra and Gwen lighting the candles

Sune with arm around Gwen;  Mine posing for me; Mary and Alex looking on.

Sune and Mine blow out the candles.  Sue, Heather , Gwen, Alex and Diana look on.

Dishing up the cake!

Happy Birthday Mine!

There were about a billion people at our potluck.  Many were in Marmaris awaiting the arrival of their boats that had been shipped from Thailand to avoid the Somalia pirates; still a problem for cruisers.

I had made some smoked mussel hors d’œuvre and amazingly they were all eaten.  You slice mostly peeled cucumber.  Then you slice hard boiled eggs and put a piece of egg on each cucumber slice.  Top them all with one or two (out of a tin) smoked oysters.  We used our brand new super duper egg cooker that Stella had given to Randal while he was in China.  It worked perfectly and the eggs peeled really easily.  As it was really crowded and the weather was warm I spent most of the evening outside with several folks I’d just met, two from Providence, RI.  I ran back in for the cake ceremony.

Tuesday Morning

This morning Mary and I walked to the Arts and Culture Center to check out the new exhibit.  Adding together all of the time Randal and I have been in Marmaris, never has the small historical site near the Arts Center (once the public fish seller’s place) been open.  Today it was and I had my camera so here are some photos.

  “Marmaris regained a new park. This is an archeological park. 8,342 m2 area known as the İyilik Kayalıkları (Rocks of Goodness) and 2,100 m2 area on the slope of the hill in town centre declared as protected area and opened for visitors under the name İyilik Kayalıkları Archeological Park. Some remains from 4th century BC are being exhibited in the park.” http://www.suprememarmarishotel.com/marmaris2.php

4^th Century BC is the most important part…

Mary with two huge pots…maybe original?  Maybe replicas? 

Pink and blue knitted vests… and blowing dandilion fluff.

It seemed their mom was cleaning up a bit in the park but the gate was open before they arrived.

The looked like sweetpeas sort of and smelled like spring.

Lots of cactus surrounding the rock hillside behind the park.  Mary and I climbed up one day during the winter but I didn’t have my camera.  Good views of the whole area from there.

The new exhibit at the Arts and Culture Center I think throught he 17^th.

I think it says Friends of the Marmaris Photo Association…but don’t quote me.

The photos were of some stunning scenery around the Marmaris and Fethiye area; many snow-capped mountains.

Sema Nohut was monitoring the exhibit.  I asked if I could take a photo and she thougth I was asking her to take my photo.  I should have let her as her photos are really good!  I didn’t want to take photos of the photos; didn’t seem fair

In the hallway is a permanent display of old photos of Marmaris before the quayside and the marina were built.

Avanos street art as seen from the bus one morning..

Cavusin Seramik

Kapadokya, and particularly Avanos is famous for its pottery.  You can tell we visited this workshop at the end of a long day because the moon was up as we were leaving. 

Hittite type wine vessel  and a “master potter” demonstrating how it was made using a traditional kick wheel that he turns with his feet. 

This man became a master because as a boy he “hung around” an older master indicating he wanted to learn.  So he was taken on as an apprentice.  His son maybe will learn. 

Some of the pottery of Avanos is made from red clay and some from white.  “Here, they produce two types of ceramics; the white clay ceramics which contains silica and the red clay ceramics which is high in iron. The river is the source of the red clay, while the white clay is drawn from the white volcanic soil.” http://olivejourney.blogspot.com/2011/11/avanos-ceramics-at-its-best-avanos.html

Pottery shop owner showing a finished piece.

This actually isn’t how they are really made.  The circular central part is made first and then the spout and base and handle but each piece must dry before they are attached or they will break.

Showing how it is hollow to hold the wine.

Why the design of the circular vessel…to make pouring the wine easier.

Now it’s Katie’s turn!

Not bad for a very first attempt!

The artists decorating the wine vessels in more modern designs.

Paints and brushes

These were in the room of less expensive pieces.

As were theses.

The room of the most expensive pieces where I just peeked in so not to destroy anything with my backpack.

Explaining the patterns.

Between Mary and me we remember that the number of rows and the designs had something to do with the family of the potter…or something along those lines….or maybe the family it was created for? 

Pattern book of traditional designs.

Earthquake balls

My souvenir, a 5 TL handmade  little bowl!

This is not a bowl, this is a nomad hat with attached scarf which I bought the second day we were in Kapadokya.    It was my other souvenir and when I wore it lots of locals gave me a “thumbs up.”  You’ll see photos of me wearing it in later emails

A cookie bouquet!

Irina and Leslie taking photos.

Not sure who was inside, but having once worn one of these bunny costumes for a Literacy Volunteers program at Tanglewood Mall years ago, I know how roastlingly hot they can be.

Joan, Collin and Irina in their Easter Bonnets

Leslie, Craig, Collin and Penny

Penny Irina Collin and Joan took part in the Easter Bonnet Contest while, Penny’s dog Lucy looks on.

And the winner is?

I got stuck being one of the judges which I pretty much wimped out on and just went along with Ginny who had a pretty good argument for her choices.

4^th place, 2^nd place, 3^rd place and Joan the winner.

She had emptied the eggs and then put them back together which we all thought was a pretty difficult thing to do.

Joan and the Easter Bunny who was really eyeing her hat!

Easter Egg contest winner!

ὄzgὕr, the Harbor Chief’s son found some eggs too.

I taught him how to turn up the bottom of his shirt into a basket to carry his loot.

Showing off his Easter Eggs to Gwen.

And there was food

Lots of food

A proud dad with his son

I had taken a photo of the dad but he asked if I’d take a photo of them together.  Of course!!

Music

Everyone, everywhere in the world knows, “almost heaven, West Virginia.”

And dancing

An Edward Hopper scene with the lone woman up on the balcony

Actually just proof that non-electronic books are alive and well in the world.