Snapshots of Turkey linger in the mind

Sunday, October 23, 2005
By Marilyn McDevitt Rubin, post-gazette.com

Leaving Istanbul, we moved around Turkey pretty fast, trying to make as many significant stops as possible in the dozen days we had left. There were 21 in our group, and every day was an adventure.

One morning, checking out of the Savanna Richmond Hotel in Western Anatolia near Pamukkale, famous for its gleaming white travertine pools in which visitors can wade and this visitor did, I passed the maid in the hall. Seeing her, I was reminded that I hadn't left a tip for our overnight stay. Rummaging through my purse, I found a couple of dollars and walked back to put the money in her hand. We couldn't speak each other's language, but our eyes met and locked. With her hand she made a fist, and putting it to her chest, she then pressed it to mine. Leaning forward, she brushed my cheeks with hers. Such a deeply felt response brought tears to my eyes. What better way had I ever spent my money?

Complete article - Snapshots of Turkey linger in the mind

Thanks for wanderful article, Admin
It reminded me at great time I spent in Turkey.
Especially part about feeding animals, because I had "Babette" with me: my friend loved cats and always wanted to feed them. Very soon, during the meals, all hotel cats (and I'm affraid cats from all neighbourhood) were around our table. People from hotel asked us not to do this, so we had to save food until dark, then went around hotel, look for cats and feed them in the garden.
When I close my eyes, I still can feel scent of "gece sefasi", plant with beautiful smell, growing in hotel garden…
I could write lots of snapshots as this…