My last post from Turkey.  That is the bad news.  The good news is that we fly to Nice, France today through Istanbul.  Yesterday in Ankara (and today) was quite hot - at least 90 in the afternoon.  But the nights are much cooler so the heat is not too oppressive.  And, it is a "dry" heat.

Randy and I walked an hour in the morning to get the muscles working other than those required to eat and digest food :-) .  We then went to the city where we unsuccessfully tried to find a health club that Randy could possibly have reciprocity rights from his health club in Auburn.  We then drove to the Sumer apartment house and met one of Cevahir's young students, Ege.  Ege will attend high school next year and was practicing his graduation speech as valedictorian.  We invited him to visit us in Auburn so he could experience America so we hope some year he can come.

We met another friend Sofia (or Zulfiya, the Turkish version) Sahin, a lady originally from Russia who married a Turk and teaches Russian at Ankara University (and is finishing her Ph.D. there in Russian).  We met her about five years ago when we she was staying with the Sumers in Auburn and had her third (and last) child, a daughter.  She took us to the Ankara castle area which is the very old historic heart of Ankara.  This is now an interesting mix of upscale shops and restaurants (and a newer museum) and apartments and shops as you might have found them 100 years ago.  The pinnacle is the fortress which is open - no admission fee and no guard - and a few tourists go while local children play in it.  The views are amazing.
We bought quite a bit - kilim pillow covers and purses, silk and cotton scarfs, a few ceramics, a wooden bowl, etc.  The prices were actually quite good and, as Randy has extra suitcase space, we loaded up.

Randy, Ege (Cevahir's young student) and Alice on the balcony of Casa Sumer

Sofia and Randy at the Ankara castle area in front of a shop we bought some treasures from

Sofia and Alice in the castle shop area

Our kilim shop owner after making the sales - to us and to Sofia

Randy, Sofia and Alice chilling at the kilim shop after making the selections - note stacks of stuff on the floor (the unchosen items) - buying any kind of carpet is a long but fun process in Turkey

Randy with shopping bags at the entry to the Ankara castle top

Typical Ankara castle street scene

Randy walking up the castle fortress for the view

Randy on top with Ankara and the Turkish flag in the background

The feast prepared by Cevahir - lamb kebab, special pilav, eggplant, salad, purslane in yogurt (my new favorite - Dilruba made it also but added cucumbers), green beans, red peppers, stuffed artichoke bottoms

The master chef with her creations

Ozge and Sofia are happy to be at the table

Alice and Randy with chef Cevahir also very glad that our last full meal in Turkey is one of the best

Three beautiful ladies on the balcony after dinner

Dinner was created by master chef Cevahir and it was a masterpiece of quality and quantity!  Four ladies (Cevahir, Sofia, Ozge and myself) and Randy enjoyed Turkish wine and cuisine at its finest.  The setting of the Sumer apartment was fitting to the occasion.  As we finished our wine and ate baklava with ice cream on their balcony watching the lights of Ankara turn on, it was a fitting end to a wonderful and memorable 2 1/2 weeks in Turkey.