The Pera Museum had an exhibit from School of Visual Arts, which is in Manhattan. I have a few friends there, but didn't see anything of theirs on exhibit. The works varied in different interests. I particularly liked one piece because of a newspaper clipping. The piece did little for me, but I started to read the article and some names jumped out at me - like Dick Morris. I had the pleasure of having lunch with him when I was invited at the last minute to a Bar Mitzvah. A few glasses of wine and the stories got very good. It was only afterwards that I came to understand who Dick Morris is, or rather, was (president Clinton's consultant).
It was enjoyable, and I particularly liked that finally somewhere recognized my ISIC card. I like when it pays for itself (the difference in price is merely cents, but still appreciated on principle.
After that I hopped on the boat, because you do that in Istanbul - no one waits for the boat to dock, as soon as it is close enough, passengers just start hopping off the boat and running. The first time I saw this I thought something terrible had happened. Now, I realize it is the norm. So, I arrived at Ciya where the manager recognized me. He took me on a virtual tour of Turkey for a while, showing me some places I have to see. I agree, after seeing photos, I do need to see most of these places. They were amazing.
After an incredible lunch of soups that were beyond amazing, I headed to the other Hamam. It was a little more expensive. I still prefer Moroccan Hamam, where they bend you just before breaking bones, and scrub just to the point before drawing blood. I like the pain - good pain that is.
I went shopping afterwards, I was hoping to find a mezzuzah with Turkish influence. Something that would combine artistic motifs from Judaism and Turkey. Unfortunately, what I could find was slightly more than I was willing to spend, and they were mostly gold. I thanked the shopkeepers, and continued my journey.
I was just heading home when I thought that I haven't been in a rug store, and I should see one. I was just curious. I went in, looked on the walls and was about to leave. Now, I should tell anyone interested in going - don't go unless you have at least 2 hours.
They invited me to sit, and I explained that I was still just looking, I am not ready to buy anything. The owner insisted however on showing me some styles and giving me a history and some rug lessons. We saw hundreds of rugs, in both directions of course, because hand made rugs change colors when you rotate them. There, now you can avoid spending an evening looking at rugs. I learned about single and double knot, embroidered, turkish versus other types.
My rug dealer (well, I didn't buy, so I guess he's not my rug dealer per se) is a sephardic jew whose family arrived in 1493. Selling rugs pretty much since. He tried to pull the we are brothers connection through judaism, everything. Very good salesman, and if I were in the market, there were some beautiful pieces I might have considered. But, not having a place, as I had told him at the beginning, yet, I am still just learning for future. They were beautiful works of art though.
Anyway, three cups of tea and one sandwich later, I convinced him that it wasn't about the money - he kept wanting me to name a price, and I refused as that is the beginning of the negotiation and I clearly am not interested at this time in purchasing, it was simply that I wasn't ready to buy a rug. I was just looking to learn a bit, as I had told him at the very beginning, before accepting his hospitality.
I have become hungry after Hamam, and looking at so many rugs. I am off to find something, but needed to come back to my hotel room for some reason which escapes me now, and since I was here, decided to put down my experiences today before going back out.
Tomorrow is my last day. If I awake in time, I think I will try a straight razor shave in the morning. I met an australian couple for a moment as I was coming from Hamam, and they were going. The guy couldn't stop talking about how amazing the shave was, so I feel like I should try it while I am here. We shall see how my schedule looks in the morning.
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