RAYAN & A TIDE POOL
Rayan- She hated it! (The picture of her)—— Multilingual Rayan from New York was managing a hostel in Kaş, owned by her boyfriend’s family. We had met at Mike’s in Istanbul in 1999. She was a great friend that summer.
OLIVE TREE
KAŞ — Lycia was the first federal republic —Epic of Xanthos —- Beautiful warm sunset here at the top of the theater — Old stones & olive trees — 18 July 2000
HELEN OF TROY
Ayfer – Right off of an ancient amphora — She had no idea how beautiful she was. We had to rush out & find a photocopy machine so she could show her husband — 29 July ’00
HANIFE & HER SON
…in the ancient amphitheater — The Bakirci Family — Hanife — Emre — 18 July 2000—— The ancient Roman amphitheater in Kaş at sunset was a hangout place for the whole town. Hanife was decorating scarves with shells to sell to tourists.
SISTERS IN THE RUINS
Hurigül & her little sister Dilay in the ruins — Dilay Bakirci — Hamza & Cemile — Quite a party up here in the late afternoon with everyone sewing & gossiping & the few tourists staring – 18 July 2000 — As I drew these preceding page these girls were sitting on the left… as I drew this the old couple on the next page came to watch—— that would be Cemile & Hamza.
MARRIED FOR LIFE
Cemile & Hamza — Married 40 years! A nice Turkish guy nearby said, “He say they marry until they die -“ Hamza pulled affectionately on her arm. They seem pretty happy about it.—– Beloved by the whole town.
AT BAR CELONA
Anya — Happy Gabriela in her new earrings —— Anya and her husband owned and ran the cafe. We’re at the center table: Soo with her hair up, Andie & Rickie, Rayan and me.
GABRIELA & CEM IN KAŞ
They came up from Side to see me! Here they are at Soo’s restaurant over the bay. This was long before the present 400-slip marina was built.
BOAT TO MEIS
Only 2 1/2 KM away in the bay MEIS is Greece! — Pretty Ricky — Bronze sculpture in the square- Greek woman who raised & lowered the Greek flag every day from WWII on — [Her name in Greek letters] 1898-1982 — “We are Greek cats” — Erdogan sunflowers next to PO – Kekova — All day I have been remembering bits of a movie… now I learn MEIS is the actual island from the movie about Italian soldiers stranded & forgotten there after WWII… “Mediterrano” Best foreign film- 1980-something.—— The island is Kastellorizo in Greece. In Turkey it is Meis.
ON THE ISLAND
Meis, the island in the bay is Greece. — Hot, white, still – with cicadas — spent a good while with Soo ambling along in the salt heat & blueness — The water is indigo / The nets yellow-chartreuse / The boats green & turquoise / The houses pastel—-– The people are descended from the stranded Italian soldiers & the Greek girls they married. There was once an entire city here, but it burned over 50 years ago.