Home visit

Our very long day ended with dinner at a Turkish family's apartment.  Our hosts were a husband and wife.  He was a pharmacist and invited a younger couple (also a pharmacist) to join them in hosting our group.  The younger couple had a boy who was 1 1/2 who was adorable!  The older couple had two grown sons, one who had just taken his medical boards and one who was headed to law school.

The hospitality was wonderful and we had a variety of interesting conversations.  I was asked at one point if the US thinks it will stay on stop globally or not.  I was also asked what Americans thought about President Erdogan who is from a mildly religious political party.  I answered honestly that most American wouldn't be able to tell any difference in his policies from those of his predecessors because they are simply ignorant of Turkish politics.  The conversation turned another direction and I wish we had been able to talk more.  Perhaps at another home stay.

These were the appetizers, along with a bowl of manti (?) soup which is tomato based with pasta in it.  On the table are stuffed grape leaves and stuffed peppers.  We enjoyed all of this and were then told the main meal was next - we are already feeling a little full, but there was room for the rib meat, rice and veggies (below).

We visited in the living/dining room area before and after dinner.  The decor was beautiful.  Lavender (or should I say "amethyst" couches, a beautiful rug, silver serving sets.

The host's son was 1 1/2 and Kay had taken a picture of him and showed him.  He thought this was excellent and was giggling looking at his picture.  He kept trying to finger scroll the image on her camera.  Someone with an iPhone took another picture and gave it too him to play with.  He would scroll through the photos and then come back to his own photo and laugh!

The two phramacists are on the left, their nephew is on the right.

After dinner we were served Turkish coffee and chocolate coated coffee beans.  My clumsy self broke this lovely coffee set shortly afterwards!

Our excellent hostesses!  They didn't sit much during the evening and our guide told us this was very normal in order to provide excellent service.

After the Turkish coffee we were served tea and three giant pieces of baklava.  It was delicious!  I was surprised I still had room by the time this final course came around.