Monday, July 16, 2007

A Little History, Food and Culture

Recently we went to a classical music/opera concert held inside some caves called "The mouth of Hell." The concert was wonderful. We especially enjoyed listening to the young lady on the left sing Mozart's "Queen of the Night." Our surroundings were somewhat eerie. This is the legendary place where Hercules entered into lower Hades and captured Cerberus, the hound of hell. These caves were also used as a secret worship place of Christians during the 7th century Arab invasions. Bats abound.



Traditional Turkish folk dancers during a local festival. You can listen to some Turkish music here.



This is my favorite Turkish dessert. It is called 'Pismaniye' and looks like spun cotton, but it melts in your mouth. It is made from helva.


10 comments:

  1. Anonymous16.7.07

    Wonderful post! I am enjoying listening to the music as I write this.
    Tarheel Mama

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  2. The kids enjoyed this post as much as I did.

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  3. Linda Muse16.7.07

    Linda Fay, I am going to try out your recipe for Kisir this week that you recently posted. It looks and sounds good. What do you serve with this? I'm not sure how my family is going to like this (they are not as adventurous as I am food wise) and I need something else on the table. What do you serve with it or do you just serve the one dish?
    Linda in Ecuador

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  4. I love these peeks into life in the Middle East! You give us views into customs, food, and the people that we would not otherwise see. As another commentor said, my kids enjoy this too.

    Thanks for visiting my blog and for your encouraging note.It's good to know there are friends out there.

    Jenn

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  5. Jocelyn16.7.07

    Oh, YUMMY! The last one looks excellent! I think I've heard of something like that before...

    When I come over to visit, I'll hafta have some! lol

    And, thanks for your comment! That's really neat about Mr.'s family blood!

    Jocelyn

    Read my latest posts:
    Life Goals: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Jocelyndixon/357849/
    A Day In The Life Of A Milk Maid: http://www.homesteadblogger.com/Jocelyndixon/62748/

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  6. So very interesting AND different than here!

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  7. Oh, I so would love to come for a visit! Thanks for sharing this. I love halva, but have never had it spun like that.... mmmm!
    Blessings,
    Rebeca

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  8. linda muse, we usually serve kisir as a a side dish with just about anything- soup or a meat dish. I plan to post our favorite Turkish soup when I get around to it. I am just busy, busy, busy right now.

    warmly,

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  9. Anonymous17.7.07

    Hi, I am a longtime reader of your blog, not sure if I've commented before...but I absolutely LOVE all the wonderful information I gain from your blog. Thank you SO SO much from the bottom of my heart! Our homeschool is a better place because of your blog! :)

    I have a random question that doesn't really go with this post, but thought you might see it here first. My daugter is doing 1st grader work, kindegarten age, 5.5 years, and has just started really enjoying writing her own little "stories." She likes to use that paper with lines on the bottom half and open space on the top to draw her pictures. She loves drawing pictures and I think this is what got her into enjoying this. My question is about her spelling...she asks me to spell nearly every word for her. Which is fine, but I wondered if I should be "letting" her try and spell things on her own, even if she messes up, which is fine too, lol! I just don't know which way is better! She is reading fairly well now, maybe at a 1st grade leve, not sure of levels really...but we're moving steadily along anyway. :)

    Thanks for any insight you can give me!

    Candace
    www.homeschoolblogger.com/CandaceC

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  10. Oh. *happy sigh* How I would have loved to have been privy to such a concert, and dance...and dessert! ;)

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