Handling 8,000 cruise-ship tourists a day, the bus lot at Ephesus (my favorite ancient site in Turkey) is a busy place. I was told local carpet shops provide these buses and drivers to the cruise companies at no charge. And guides, who accept less than the standard pay here, are given work according to how enthusiastically and effectively they sell carpets. I guess there’s no question that each group will get to the shopping stop on time.
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In Turkey, cigarette packages come not just with printed warnings, but with graphic photos making it clear ‘ your lungs will turn black, your skin will wrinkle and turn yellow, you’ll be imprisoned by your addiction, and your sex life will suffer. Macho Turkish men prefer the “smoking causes cancer” packs to the “smoking makes you impotent” ones.
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Exploring another rustic village market in Turkey, I make some fun discoveries.
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At one point, these people were considered important enough to capture in stone. Today, in this Turkish museum, few remember their names.
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The 13th-century Muslim cleric Mevlana (better known to Westerners as Rumi) believed that spinning in a circle allows one to become part of the universal harmony. Turkey’s famous Whirling Dervishes carry on this tradition today. Nearing the end of a two-month European journey, it occurs to me that traveling ‘ like spinning ‘ can be a broadening, spiritual experience that connects you with the world.
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