There is a concert outside our window!!!

Last night there was a live concert in a random side street in our neighbourhood. Playing traditional Turkish music it was blasted through the streets so we could enjoy it in our apartment. Jack and I went out to investigate, a lot of the neighbourhood parents and children gathered around while the band played and women danced. One large woman in a huge sparkly ball gown danced while people threw bills in the air around her. It was quite interesting. Our landlord, Yilmaz, always reiterated every time we see him that it is 'a very colourful neighbourhood'. Our street is mainly Kurdish people, we really stand out as some of the only westerners. We were introduced to a few of the women but I cannot remember their names nor how to pronounce them! So many kids playing outside all the time, large trucks rumbling down the narrow, steep cobbled streets hawking their wares (everything from plastic clothes baskets, tables cloths, fresh produce, propane to suitcases). there are also a plethora of stray cats everywhere!!! and once in a while a stray dog sleeping which looks well fed!!!!

We spent the rest of the evening hanging out with our upstairs neighbour, Koran, an American grad student writing his thesis on Turkish media censorship versus Iran. We had many political debates with him (right up our alley) and we share some similar views. We are hoping to make a dinner with him one night, he bragged about his cooking! We are thinking curry, I have been dying for some, and he says he is pro ( his parents are from India) so I am looking forward to that!

Gonna play some cards and annihilate the boys hee hee!

-D