Fun Times With Huseyin (March 22-25)

(Best Picture I Have)

On Sunday of March 22, I went with Caroline and Lessa to go see the Archaeology Museum and the Cistern in the old city in Sultanhemet. We started the morning early so that we could see both in one day. However, when we got off the Tram in Sultanhemet a man who could speak english started talking to us gesturing us to come into the Carpet shop for some tea. We ignored him but Caroline then asked the man for directions and he told us where the entrance to the Museum was. Before we could start walking in that direction he asked us if we were Americans. We all said yes and then he asked us where we were from, and we all gave the general area in which we came from (I said near Chicago). And then the manager of the shop came by and asked me in a sarcastic manner, "Who did you catch this time." He introduced himself to us. His name was Huseyin, and from first glances I knew that he was a very colorful and interesting character. He asked us where we were from and we repeated. Lessa responded with "Norman, Oklahoma," Caroline responded with "San Jose, California but I study in Boston" and I responded "Illinois, close to Chicago." He responded by saying something along the lines of "Ouch, Chicago is way too cold for me. Which suburb do you live in?" Never in all of my introductions to Turks have I met one who was familiar with Chicago. I had to explain more precisely where I was from and he understood that I lived in town along I-55 between St. Louis and Chicago. Needless to say I was impressed but I was even more impressed to hear that he was familiar with the small hippy commune of Norman, Oklahoma, because, honestly, who has ever heard of Oklahoma. Aparently he was even more familiar with San Jose and was a little familiar with Boston. He struck me as a guy who has been around.

He then invited us inside his store for tea. The girls were a little hesitant in doing so since we just met him and he was a little off for a regular Turk. Caroline has also been dying to see the archaeology museum for quite some time and she wanted to see all of it before it closed. She is into archaeology in a big way. However I egged them on, got in between them, and pushed them all towards the entrance while encouraging them by saying that it will be fun. I really wanted to get to know this guy, and he turned out to be quite an interesting character! He was basically a Turkish Hippy! Dad, you would love him. He grew up in Cappadocia and was born, bred, and raised to design, make and sell carpets. That is what his family does. He has this awesome dog by the name of Zulu which he convinced the previous owner of letting him have her since Zulu loved Huseyin more then any other Turk. It was a cool story, but it is a story that doesn't get passed on well (at least not by me). He also is a backpacker at heart, and he has seen it all! He backpacked all throughout Africa going down the Nile and then going further south until hitting South Africa! He's also been all throughout America and Europe extensively of course, and still plans on going back to America in order to expand his business to the largest group of consumers in the world. He has even been to Central Asia, India, South East Asia, and Australia. This guy has litterally seen, explored, and immersed himself in so many different cultures. He even told me that when he goes some place, he doesn't just go there for a week. He goes there for months at a time. He has good friends from all around the world, and he even has a fictional character in a book that is based off him. I envy this man's life! The girls were also very glad that we got to meat Huseyin. I am very glad. It was as if he was just a crazy American living in Istanbul due to all the places he has been to. But he is not. He is still very much Turkish.

We had to go to the Archeology museum before it closed, so we parted ways but not before he showed us his shop and asked us to come back on Wednesday. He invited us to go to Kumkapi for fish and live music that Wednesday. We told him that we would get back to him on that. The carpets he sold were really cool and very beautiful. The Archeology Museum was really cool though. It had stuff from archeological dig sites all over the Middle East from when the Ottomans Ruled and before. Finds from the ancient Sumerian culture, all the way up to Middle Ages. Here are just some of the pictures of the museum. The rest can be found following this link:
We got to see relics from Troy, the Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great, the statues of Greek Gods and Goddesses, and my personal favorite, the carved out statues from the Babylonian and Sumerian Empires. We couldn't go to the Cistern since it was closing by the time we finished up the Museum. I like museums though. After leaving them I get a high knowing just how far Humanity has come, and it gives me a new sense of purpose.

On Wednesday, I called up Huseyin to tell him that me and Lessa were going to take him up on his offer. Caroline couldn't come due to a midterm regrettably. We took the bus to Kabatas and then onward towards Gulhane by Tram. When we got there we were treated, and greated like family. He served us tea and turkish coffee as he showed us his new carpets that he has completed, and his future designs for business. He is an Economic Hippy who certaintly understands the concept of Demand and Supply. We then took a short cab ride Kumkapi and he showed us this place where it seemed that everyone knew him. It was a great dinner. Basically it was one of those restaurants that would serve you small dishes of everything on their menu and you get to try them out. I loved it. Huseyin also taught me and Lessa how to drink Raki, the strongest Turkish drink you will ever encounter. It does kind of grow on you, but I still would rather have something else. We then got to the fish, which was like always amazing. Fresh fish is a must to have in Turkiye. However this fish was awfully expensive. I think I will stick to the fried fish that they offer in Eminunu. It's cheap and delicious. FYI: If I die of Mercury poisoning, it is because of my large intake of fish while I have been here.

Then the live music came. It was traditional Turkish folk songs that many Turks knew by heart. Huseyin was even singing and playing a drum to some of them. The cool part was when they brought out a violin, and Lessa introduced to them Irish tunes to the Turks. However, it was foreign to everyone except Huseyin and I. It was a great night. Huseyin then offered us to come back anytime we wished, and he told me specifically that he could look around and see if there is any job oppurtunities around Turkiye that would be suited for me. This guy is like a gateway to living a dream for me.