MEHMET IN HIS SHOP
We went to buy me a phone, down on the tramline below Gulhane Park. Mehmet later moved up to a shop behind Sultanahmet tram stop and became a very good friend, keeping my phones working until he retired.
RAT-FACED CHEAPSKATE
Active Laundry – Rat-faced cheapskate! – Ömer—— Overcharged me on laundry, and after I drew his picture, too. Probably still skinning tourists in Sultanahmet. His friend was okay….
NIZAM BREAKING UP
Nizam 2004——Handsome and worried.
ERKAN IN 2004
The first of many drawings of handsome Erkan, who came to work at Kybele at 13 and still runs The Yörük Collection gift shop. He speaks a gazillion languages including Japanese, has a lovely family, and still has those swoony eyes.
HOT BROTHERS
Brothers Hasan & Vefa “Jim Caviezal & Montgomery Clift”—– Although it has changed hands, Hasan & Vefa are still at Kybele Hotel. Vefa’s the manager and Hasan runs the excellent cafe. They’re still hot.
VEFA OUT FRONT
Vefa, Manager, Kybele——-Still out front.
SERDAR TAKES A BREAK
Serdar worked at Kybele Hotel from the time he was 17, a few years before this was drawn, until he was 30. Now he’s married and a well-employed father in Canada.
PARTY AT MIKE’S WITH NORWEIGANS
7 Norweigan visitors – 3 American professors from Qatar – & Sam & his wife who followed the lamps in from the street – went home to San Francisco – Sam’s Hands – Billie – Brit unmasked——One of many raucous gatherings at Mike’s Museum. He’s sanguine at center. All these people were as always having a very good time and buy-ing lots of goodies to remind them of it back home. I’m at center left in a hat.
RAYMOND & AJATA AT MIKE’S
Raymond & Ajata from Paris. A few months away from the birth of their daughter. 9 April 04——Somewhere is a very cool French-Korean teenager. I hope.