Ascending out of Serinova

Yesterday’s walk was the first day of the real ascent off the Çukurova plain. It was also the first day I’ve walked with snow nearby (I was lucky enough to escape it just in time coming off the Central Anatolia plateau). Photo courtesy of Joy Anna...

Is this thing on? Oops, it kind of is!

Last night I went with Alperşan, one of my new Osmaniye friends, to a local radio station (RadyoRenk, 96.3 FM) to record some jingles for his show (“On the air with Alperşan,” stuff like that). While we were getting the studio equipment ready for the...

Süleyman and Mutlu

The two old friends outside Süleyman’s shop. By the way, İlgi, Dilara, and Mutlu turned me into an expert user of colloquial phrases like "hacı, ne yaptın?" (hey man, what’d you do?). However, I’ve spent years trying to figure out when to,...

With my long-lost brother Süleyman

After downing the şalgam, İlgi, Dilara, Mutlu, and I went looking for some pepper spray for me to carry on my walk. We stopped off to say hello to Mutlu’s old friend Süleyman, whom the others suspect is my long-lost brother. You tell me if you see a resemblance....

Shake it off…

…there’s still a half a glass to go. Drinking şalgam with Mutlu bey.