Anamur ruins and village life

One afternoon Chris and I biked out to the Anamur ruins, a cluster of 3rd century buildings and walls set out on the most southern tip of Turkish soil.


Anamur ruins

The three coolest things about these ruins that atually made them interesting to me (I get sick of the same amphitheater and agora scene after awhile) are:

1. The tiny entact odeon, haven't seen one around yet

2. The giant hamam actually had a roof and walls, enabling us to explore the old sauna and imagine what it would be like back in the day to come here and get nekkid


Bath house

3. There are bits of mosaic tiles popping out of the dirt everywhere! Usually mosaics are protected under tarps or moved to museums, it's cool to see these inkblot blobs of colorful squares the way they have been left, completely forgotten for centuries.


Mosaic blobs

Afterward we went swimming in the last cove, at the most southern tip of Turkish soil. There were a few groups of young boys around and some older guys skin diving, hoping to catch some balik.


Tiny cove at the very most southern tip


Local kids show Chris how to bucket shower

On another day Behlul and Arzu took us out to her parents' house in the village, just outside anamur town. Flashback to Albania! They live in an old do-si-do two story house, close to the camii (mosque), surrounded by plenty of kompşu (neighbors, kompşi Albanian) and gardens.


Nearby kompşu house with a grassroof

Peaking in through the window

Their house was built in the 60's, with many Ottoman features such as thick stone walls and automatic door locks with quick release buttons, similar to houses in Gjirokaster.

Rua, Behlul, and Chris

Arzu prepares the ekmek, thin sheets of tortilla style bread

However instead of a stone roof theirs was covered in grass! Arzu's parents sat on the roof terrace tearing up bits of sheep wool to stuff into pillows and floor pads, stopping only briefly for their separate prayer sessions.

Arzu's mother tearing up bits of sheared wool for pillow stuffing

Chris helps out

After thoroughly exploring and hanging out awhile we sat down for a feast, including dolma (stuffed peppers), homemade cheese, yogurt, fig jam, tomatoes, etc. Butter my butt and call me a biscuit this is soooo Albania!! No difference whatsoever.

Is this Albania? Sure tastes like it!

Ok that's a lie. The fig jam was really carmelized figs with almonds mixed in. Nese!

Chris and the family