We took a few days off and went down south to the Cappadocia area of Turkey.  Yes, the same Cappadocia mentioned in the Bible.  We were there a year ago, but was unable to do much that weekend.  This time we explored the area.  The best way to express how amazing this area of the World is, is to post a mess of pictures.  Images that are mind-boggling.  What you will see, are remnants of volcanoes back when man was just a sparkle in God’s eyes.  After millions of years of erosion, what was left was porous stacks of the volcano core. Now, I know what you are thinking…  “Mr. Nolte, there appears to be people living in these strange things!”

And I would reply, “Yes!”  And as a matter of fact, here is the one of the offices of the local Jandarma.  (police)And needless to say, places like these have tourist traps strewn all through, but that just makes the place more interesting.Including an occasional damn cat.

Next I will tell you about Ariif, friend of Halil, and the Selcuklu Evi Cave Hotel and the $6000 rug.

In past postings, I mention a pretty lady who works in the Embassy who first appeared shy, but gradually started feeling comfortable enough to talk to me.  Her job at the Embassy was a purchasing clerk in the Security Office, and she would come into our office to get signatures and deliver paperwork, then simply smile and leave.

Eventually, I got her to stop by and fill her coffee cup from time to time.  As I got to talking to her one day, I asked how her weekend was and she mentioned that she danced all weekend.  So, I asked her what kind of dancing she did, and she told me mostly salsa and was learning ballet and hip-hop.  After a few more discussions, I found out she dances in Turkey and all over Europe.  She is well known in all the dance festivals.

She and two others started a school of dance in which she teaches salsa and other forms of the art.  After two years of being around her, we started discussing her life and all it offered her.

Her expertise did not come easy as she has been dancing for many years.  She once told me she didn’t have a coach at first and had to learn what she could on her own.  She is to the point now that her joy is teaching, and she is only 27 years old.

She has a tattoo on her waist that you can see in her videos on YouTube which says, Dancing is my life.  And it is true.  On her back is the quote from Nietzsche, “You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star”.Image from her Facebook page.

About a month ago, she confided to me that she was thinking about moving on.  She said she was having problems with her dance partner but I think her soul was just restless.  She didn’t elaborate, nor did she need to.  She was looking for a change.  Then an individual she knew down in the Bodrum area offered her a job as the Dance Team lead at several of the resorts in the area.  She thought about it and discussed it with me.  She really didn’t need to, because I have learned that Selin gives herself a deadline to decide, then makes up her mind and never looks back.  Nor does she regret it.

So, she accepted the offer and today at noon, I caught her on her way out and gave her a hug and kiss on each cheek and reminded her how proud I was of her.  She tells me she will contact me the next time she is in town, but as busy as she is and the number of friends she has, I expect it will not happen.  That is okay though.  She has given me an insight on what a true success in Life is.  I wish her many years of continued success.  She deserves it.

I have met my share of Politicians and I was not impressed.  Sport Stars are overpaid.  Those on the Silver Screen are paid to pretend to be someone they are not and they irritate me.  Writers and Artists I consider to be my colleagues.  I have a respect for people of the Sciences.  But people like Selin who surpassing their goals is simply a way of life, are the ones who put me in awe.  She is doing what she loves and when she is ready, she moves on to another goal and never looks back.  People like her are few and far between, and I am amazed that she considers me as a friend who she can confide in.

I noticed a quote she posted on her Facebook page:  “My happiness in life is summed up in my ability to give people a shred of a smile that I can capture …”

I believe this to be so.Selin is a true success in Life.   … and someone I consider a friend.

Last Saturday we had another one of our WingFest.  We sent out about 70 invitations, knowing maybe half will accept.  With that number expected, about 35, we ordered 18 kilograms of chicken wings, which is about 40 pounds.  The cafeteria at the Embassy precooks them for us and then Terese finishes them with her sauce and a quick crisping in a hot oven.  We actually had about 40 adults and a few kids show up.  As they entered, I told them my mother is 900 years old and wants pictures, so “Is it okay if I get you in a picture?”  No one objected.

We especially wanted to invite some of the new people in the neighborhood, along with some Turkish friends of ours.  We also invited the Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission who is second only to the Ambassador.  He and his wife graciously accepted.  I was sure to be downstairs to greet them when his motorcade arrived.  Later that evening, when they left, I took a small tray of wings and gave them to his body guards.  They were most appreciative.   Additionally, at the end of the evening, when everyone had their fill, I took a tray of wings and a carton of orange juice down to the guard house of our apartment compound.  Then, what was left, the Marines took back to the other Marines who were not able to come.

So, I took a butt-load of pictures, picked the best and posted them with a few comments below.

Terese and I with the Deputy Chief of Mission and his wife.

Below is our resident Seabee and above is his wife and two quiet kids.  They are expecting a third little one within the month. Then three of the Marines showed up.  Above is when they first arrived and below after they ate and was relaxed.  Now, don’t get them mixed up with Serkan, the crazy Turk in the colorful shirt.These two beautiful ladies come to our WingFest every time, and I if don’t watch them, they will start cleaning the kitchen.  Left is Zeynep and right is Sezin.  Sezin can’t keep her eyes open for flashes.  Never did get one of her with her eyes open. Above is my boss and his pretty wife.  When the kids are at home, the stress on their faces go away.

In the following pictures you will see Serkan.  If you remember last year, we attended the wedding between him and our friend Allison.  She is from the Texas Panhandle and he is a Turkish Guard at the Embassy.  He is a vibrant individual who has more energy than anyone I know.  I am convinced I lose weight just being around him, but I also age faster.  So you will notice I look much older when I am with him.                      His Texas wife is the pretty lady on the right, below. Allison is currently working in Iraq and will complete her mission in June.  Afterwards, she and Serkan will move to Virginia.  They will take a vacation down to Texas to see her parents and friends in the Panhandle and are planning to make a trip to Lubbock to see what a 900 year old woman looks like.  I have a feeling she will actually become a few years younger around him, unlike me who aged.  It will also be good for Serkan who considers himself to be a Texan.  Rightfully so, as Texas has many characters like him and he will fit right in.

I added another book report.  It is a little late because I always hate writing them.  But I did finally complete it.  Actually, I find reading a book easier than writing the report on it.  Click here:  https://www.dknolte.com/page-two/i-hate-book-reports/

I took a trip to Adana last week and stopped at one of the roadside vendors selling oranges and grapefruits.  I picked up a bag of oranges for 10TL, which is about $3.50.  I will set them in the office and let people take some when they come in.  After paying the man, I told him my mother is very old and wants to see pictures of the crazy Turks here.  He didn’t understand, but he knew I wanted to take his picture, so he obliged, although reluctantly.  For some reason, he was uncomfortable with it, so I figure he must be a wanted man.Every morning when we drive in, our car goes through a quick inspection for anything that shouldn’t be on it.  This takes place at any embassy or consulate in the world.  One of the guards will always ask me, “Nasılsın?” which is “How are you?”  I would answer, “çok iyi.” which means “very good.”  Then he would instruct me to instead say, “Bomba gibi!”  Which means, “Like a bomb!”  The idea is, “I am so full of energy, I am about to explode!” (like a bomb)

So, I took his picture this afternoon, again saying my mother is very old.  I’m not sure he understood, but he tolerated me.And then there is Mahmut!  This little guy is one of the Guard Supervisors.  Several years ago, I was giving a training class on a certain piece of equipment I work on, and Mahmut was the interpreter.  During the class, all the guards started laughing, and he turned to me and said, “I told them you said I was a handsome man.”

So, every since then, when I see him, we will always shake hands and I will tell him how handsome he is.  And he will tell me. “I am the handsomest man in the vorld; no, in the universe! (notice the “V” in vorld).  And he will say, “And you are the second handsomest man in the universe!”

So, this morning I saw him and said, “Mahmut, you are the handsomest man in the vorld; no, in the universe! (notice the “V” in vorld).  And he replied, “And you are the second handsomest man in the universe!”

Then I told him about my 97 year old mother who wants a picture of him, and he stated, “I bet she looks 18!”  I said, “No, she looks 97.”  So, below is a picture of the first and second handsomest men in the vorld.  No, in the universe!Okay.  Enough of that.  Visit again later and in the meantime, Kick Butt.      D.

Talking about the armored vehicles… I forgot to mention an interesting experience with one of those.  Our vehicles have diplomatic license plates to make us look and feel special.  They are either CD plates (Corps Diplomatic) or CM plates (Corps Maintenance).  All the Embassy vehicles have the CD plates, whereas those of us lower in the chain have CM.

So, the armored vehicles are CD plates.  But when these vehicles enter an area where the bad guys are thought to be, they do not want to advertise with the CD plates.  So, the Embassy or Consulate will exchange the plates with a regular automobile license plate to hide the fact it is a diplomatic vehicle.

One of the drivers told me a story about being stopped by the Trafic Policia.  The trooper approached the vehicle and the driver opened the 300 lb door and presented his drivers license and the vehicle’s registration.  The officer walked around to the back side of the vehicle and noticed the license plate did not match.  He radioed in and then told the driver, this license plate says it is a 1987 Lada (cheap Russian car).  The driver says, “Yeah.  We swapped it out.”  Then he reached in the back of the vehicle and handed the officer the original CD plates.

The Officer looked a little stunned, then asked, “Are you allowed to do that?”

The driver said, “Yeah!”

“Well ….  okay then.”  He handed the CD plates back, shook his head, got back in his car and drove off.  That was it.

Gotta love countries like this!      D.