Anatolia sojourn

 

I have just returned from a wonderful trip to Istanbul and an adventure in Anatolia.  While in Istanbul, books were signed at Nakkas Bookstore the afternoon of 21 April.  My good friends Aydin and Faruk from Ernemet Carpets & Kilims were able to join in the festivities along with many others.

For all who have enjoyed the grandeur of Istanbul, a wonderful reminder of this is the beautifully illustrated book by Trici Venola, Drawing on Istanbul-Istanbul Izleri, now available on Amazon.com.  Others, who have never had the fortune to visit this great city, can feel as though they are there while wandering through each engrossing page experiencing the night life, tea houses and people as well as the wonderful architecture brought to life by Trici’s brilliance.  We met two years ago at Kybele Hotel where there is always lively conversation and interesting people in Mike’s salon.

I took my first road trip through Anatolia as a chauffeur, an experience not to be missed.  My father, at eighty-eight, could not manage the ‘on-off’  and long waits that a bus journey requires.  After many trips to Turkey there were sites he had not visited and driving afforded him the opportunity of seeing some.  

The Phrygian ruins near Afyon provide days of adventure but for a quick visit the wonderful carved animals as well as a relief called “Midas’ Tomb” gives the visitor a hint to its past.  On to Konya near Cumra is the 9000 year old Catal Huyuk, one of the oldest established cities yet discovered and the small museum on site is a treasure. 

The southeast brings one to Gaziantep where the new addition to their museum houses the fantastic mosaic collection from the Roman city of Zeugma.  Unfortunately most of that great city was recently lost to the waters of the Birecik Dam.  Heading north to Nemrut Dagi, one discovers King Antiochus who decided royalty was not enough and that on his death he would become a god.  His likeness near the summit of Nemrut is accompanied by the gods Mithra, Ahura-Mazda, Ares and others once sitting on thrones greeting all who came to pay homage. 

God Teshub embracing King Tudhaliyas [cir. 1500 b.c.]

Traveling west to Hittite country is their capital Hattusa, home to the intriguing rock carvings of their gods Teshub [weather] and Hepatu [sun] opposite the hillside of rock outlines, and other remains of their city.  The final site at Gordion was another capital, that of the Phrygians which is located southwest of Ankara where King Midas is thought to have been buried in the large tumulus there.  Across the street from the tomb,  the museum adds greatly to the interest of the site and provides knowledge of Phrygian life.  The ruins are reached by a short dirt road just before arriving at Gordion.

Ending our adventure at the lovely city of Iznik to investigate what had been the Ottoman’s tile industry, we discovered the Kaynarca Pansiyon where we were warmly greeted by Ali Bulmus who insisted a picnic dinner on the roof terrace was the best way to relax after a long journey.  He was right.  

Amazon arrival

Amazon.com now lists Sinan Diaryz.

For those traveling to Istanbul in April and the residents of the city, there will be a book signing at Nakkas Bookstore, a short walk from Sultan Ahmet Mosque down Nakilbent Sokak, on Saturday the 21st [3 p.m. to early evening, time to be determined.]  See you there.

Aah, book cover

Well, even though the book has not arrived, we get a look at the cover.  This close up shot is of what some consider to be Sinan’s masterpiece, the Selimiye, in the Ottoman’s summer capital, Edirne.  Just a three hour bus ride west of Istanbul, Edirne can be a day trip or a few delightful days enjoying this antique city.  With many examples in the lexicon of Ottoman architecture, one has the chance for a quick course in the development that led to Sinan’s inspirations and innovations.

Click image for larger view of back cover

About to Be Shipped

The Sinan Diaryz is back from the printers and soon will be distributed to the book shops in Istanbul. I am told that it takes 3 to 4 months to reach the U.S. market.

Book at printer

The publisher, Citlembik, informs me that the book is being printed. It will be available first in the Turkish market and coming later in the spring to the U.S.

Introduction

Buyukcekmece Bridge, 1566-1568

[boo yook chek may jay]

Due to the nature of my book, a walking tour of Turkey’s quintessential sixteenth century Ottoman architect, Sinan, the work is being published in Istanbul. It will be available mid 2007.

Captivated by Sinan’s work on a trip to Istanbul, I investigated further discovering many monuments besides the usual mosque that the master had designed. His interesting plans for these as well as baths, caravansaries, schools, bridges and other buildings intrigued me. Although he is listed in the many guides and even more have written scholarly works on his buildings, it was surprising that not one guide was solely for this architectural genius. I undertook the challenge.

To make the details of his life more immediate, I write from Sinan’s point of view in diary form. Introducing many buildings with his description of the patron, I compliment this with a discussion of the master’s architectural development and innovations. The walking tour is not limited to Istanbul for many of his monuments are in neighboring towns. The guide includes my illustrations and photographs, and blank pages for the visitor’s own diary.