Listening to Türküler while watching Konya

 

Today I watched Konya as I walked around the city streets, listening to music, and while sitting 42 stories above it, watching all the motion of its people on a busy Friday afternoon. I was reminded of how much I enjoy the city, and the beauty of motion. 'Telli Turnam',by Izzet Yıldızhan, 'I Plan to Stay a Believer' by Curtis Mayfield, 'Gone Baby Don'be Long' by Erykah Badu, and 'Üflediler Söndüm' by Olgun Şimşek were some of my walking tunes, and they help shape my energy for the day. After many weeks of running hard to work, today was a good reset of my focus. Now I want to get off of this machine and practice my bağlama. What will you do to enjoy life today? --mjf 18:06 hrs Friday, Meram YeniYol.

Atlanta to Frankfurt to Konya

 
Our trip from Atlanta to Frankfurt to Konya was long but enjoyable. It is good to see the students again, and I hope this year is a marvelous one!

Toumani Diabate was marvelous in Konya.

 

During the Mystic Music Festival in Konya, Turkey, September, 2010, Aundreta and I got to meet and hear the performance of the magnificent Toumani Diabate, internationally-recognized Kora player, and we were thrilled to listen to him. He is a 71st-generation musician, and his energy is marvelous.

Summer at Kozaağaç Park in Konya

 

Aundreta loves it when she sees people fanning the coals for the mangal (barbeque grill). I caught this shot as a surprise for her.

Summer here is hot, but when the sun goes down, some beautiful cooling happens. That's very different from Atlanta, where the days and nights have the same temperature -- TOO HOT!

I do miss Piedmont Park in downtown Atlanta, though. Our park here is quite nice, well-trafficked, and very flat. Easy to take in the whole vista at once!

July, 31st, on Aundreta's birthday.

Konya's TramWay: A Day in the Life

 



It's summertime. I am making my way around town with as much enthusiasm that the heat will allow. I do like the option of taking the tram around town; the time to sit (if foot traffic is not too heavy) and read is wonderful. In June I took this photo while I had a moment, and I think I captured most of the atmosphere of the tram, although I didn't catch anyone staring at me trying to figure out where I was from. The best part about the city heat is that it dissipates so quickly when the sun goes down. (July 2010)--mjf

Near Konya Valliliği: My Town is Busy

 

Konya is a great place. Here, in the City Center (Şehir Merkezi) I am taking a brief moment on the date of the photo to look towards Mevlana, and the effects of that presence in this place.

The Green Turbeh in the distance is Mevlana's resting place, physically at least. We hope also he walks in your thoughts and in your heart.

This busy day also saw a lot of traffic, and the entrance to the Gold Bazaar was full of people. You can see a tiered entrance that goes underneath the main level of the city.

I am standing across from the City Hall (what Valliliği means in English) and I am near a camii whose name I forget at the moment, but is near the City Square.

Day in the life: KulturPark, Konya, Turkiye