turkish delight on a moonlit night

For you crazies, asking for my ever-moving address, there is hope. I will be at the Hotel Silva in Rome (Hotel Silva - Via A. Bosio 20/a, Rome 00161, Italy) off and on from 4/6-4/24. You prolly want to allow up to 1 or 2 weeks airtime, so jump on it. jump on it.

present time = Northern Greece.
W 3/28 = Sicily
F 4/6 = Rome for Easter
Tu 4/10 = Sorrento
M 4/16 = Rome

Tuesday Night.
Athens, Greece.
Saw Zach Snyder’s film 300.
Based on the graphic novel 300 by Frank Miller –- plot = Battle of Thermopylae.

Wednesday Morning.
Thermopylae, Greece.
Saw the site of the Battle of Thermopylae.

Movie Highlights –
-Slow-mo fight scene
-the oracle scene, which was filmed underwater
-Toumazou’s [my prof’s] commentary throughout the movie
-the locals laughing when Spartan King Leonidas called the Athenians “boy-lovers” [saw it in Athens]
-movie intermission – all the Greeks took a smoke break
-quotes from the director
• “That’s awesome. That’s awesome. That’s awesome. Every shot is awesome.” –his commentary when reviewing scenes
• “Frank was really awesome. For instance the swords…like in the book they’re really kind of hard to see. So I said, ‘Frank, knock me up a good drawing of the sword.’ Boom, boom, it’s done.” –on working with Frank Miller

Turkey was really terrific. great eats. great weather. great hotel room.
-They Might Be Giants: Istanbul Not Constantinople. Circled through my head for 4 days straight, while staying in Istanbul.
Leave it to Tin Pan Alley to turn centuries of ethnic and religious struggles into a catchy ditty:
-ran in to 6 other davidson spring break travelers
-saw erasog on multiple occasions. refreshingly offensive. very nice.
-“Unfortunately, you did not come at feeding time, or we would have let you feed all our silkworm their mulberry leaves.” -the car salesman of a guy at the Turkish carpet factory
-the view from the hotel was stupendous –the roof top restaurant = perfect view of hagia sophia, the blue mosque, the golden horn, conjunction of europe and asia
-a BBC debate was viewed on tv. why’s this interesting? cause they argued over whether women should be allowed to wear a full head covering or not. one side (the majority vote, ironically) argued this was keeping muslim societies from advancing like non-muslim cultures because it creates a physical barrier. the other side argued freedom of choice.
-turkey is in the process of banning youtube in their country cause there are some vids that insult Ataturk - the founder of the Turkish Republic and its first President.
-went to a turkish bath
-turks have a stupendous sense of humor. they are especially great at pick up lines.
• Are you real? Are you from heaven?
• I have weight loss tea. I think you need some.
• You dropped something. I think it was my heart.
• Friend. My dear, dear friend. I have handicrafts.
• Are you looking for me? I am here.
• Can I help you spend your money?
• I bet your mother ate many, many desserts. Come eat some here.
-a dessert-- named either irmik pie or tatlisi.
boil 1 liter milk. Add 10 T semolina (similar to cornmeal, available at groceries in the states). Add 2 turkish tea glasses* of sugar. Pour half into pie pan, followed by walnuts or pecans or whatev, followed by the last half. Cool to room temperature, then fridge it. or eat hottish.
*Turkish glass is maybe ¾ cup. Made that one up.
-for a finger food – cut tomatoes into slices (2” tomatoes = perfect size). Lay them out on a big plate. Sprinkle lotsa feta, walnuts, chopped fresh basil, and drizzle olive oil and pomegranate juice.
-“but I don’t want a donkey.” –chris beeston in a confused voice, as Greek men pester us to ride a donkey up the cliff in santorini