Anthropology and Archeology for the Turkey Traveler
Aug 16th, 2017, 01:03 PM
#21
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Sad news OC. I have happy memories of many trips to all parts of Turkey in the past 10 years. Usually solo. Is it all over now?
And I love your mention of my aesthetic wisdom. Wherever did you get that idea from??
And I love your mention of my aesthetic wisdom. Wherever did you get that idea from??
Aug 17th, 2017, 12:52 AM
#23
Sad news for lovers of Mesopotamian Antiquity:
The builders of the Ilisu Dam, almost ready for flooding the 400 or so known unexplored ancient sites and the well-known ancient city, Hasankeyf, have started dynamiting and bulldozing the four thousand year old or older caves on the hills leading to the city for the fill. A photograph and article in Cumhuriyet newspaper (the only readable paper). I hope you can find an English translation.
Author says, "compare the significance of a dam with a lifetime of fifty years to four thousan years of history."
When we were at the area in 2009, there were still some caves which were occupied at Hasankeyf but not the approaching hills. The expected water level was already drawn over the ancient structures and rocks.
Two more people of Turkish origin and German nationality visiting Turkey were detained yesterday. Seems that the government is upping the ante for an exchange of prisoners. Hostage taking was a very common practice in this region and is back with a vengeance.
The builders of the Ilisu Dam, almost ready for flooding the 400 or so known unexplored ancient sites and the well-known ancient city, Hasankeyf, have started dynamiting and bulldozing the four thousand year old or older caves on the hills leading to the city for the fill. A photograph and article in Cumhuriyet newspaper (the only readable paper). I hope you can find an English translation.
Author says, "compare the significance of a dam with a lifetime of fifty years to four thousan years of history."
When we were at the area in 2009, there were still some caves which were occupied at Hasankeyf but not the approaching hills. The expected water level was already drawn over the ancient structures and rocks.
Two more people of Turkish origin and German nationality visiting Turkey were detained yesterday. Seems that the government is upping the ante for an exchange of prisoners. Hostage taking was a very common practice in this region and is back with a vengeance.
Aug 23rd, 2017, 06:45 AM
#25
There are slightly lower than fourteen thousand known archeological sites in Turkey and nine thousand are first degree.People have been building on the unexcavated ones with a little help from friends.
Just this week, the United States State Department purchased a part of the Ataturk Forestry Farm which was willed by Ataturk to be always open to the public for the use of the people. This is not archeological land but may well be in two thousand years as the public land bequeathed by the founder of a country to the people bought by the greatest power on earth disregarding the the sensitivities of a people in a region of the world fast slipping into further chaos.
That is why we need to look at the anthropological perspective to understand the sellers and buyers of this tract of land and those who allow and build modern structures on antique physical foundations anywhere in the world.
Just this week, the United States State Department purchased a part of the Ataturk Forestry Farm which was willed by Ataturk to be always open to the public for the use of the people. This is not archeological land but may well be in two thousand years as the public land bequeathed by the founder of a country to the people bought by the greatest power on earth disregarding the the sensitivities of a people in a region of the world fast slipping into further chaos.
That is why we need to look at the anthropological perspective to understand the sellers and buyers of this tract of land and those who allow and build modern structures on antique physical foundations anywhere in the world.
Sep 2nd, 2017, 10:36 PM
#27
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An article in Hürriyet:
"Hittite capital Hattusha: A victim of the Germany-Turkey diplomatic spat".
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hit...&NewsCatID=375
"Hittite capital Hattusha: A victim of the Germany-Turkey diplomatic spat".
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hit...&NewsCatID=375
Sep 2nd, 2017, 11:37 PM
#28
The Germany - Turkey situation is quite a bit more than a "diplomatic spat"
After almost fifteen years of supporting the Islamist authoritative leadership in Turkey, Germany decided that the cost of not supporting the great chief and his party was less than the benefits to come from taking an opposing stance. The over two million people of Turkish origin in Germany who were freely subjected to Islamist missions and threatened by Turkish intelligence elements apparently needed to be protected to reduce the total ethnic tension in Germany and ease the important task of handling a more and more divided Germany.
Macron, on the other hand, said in an interview he saw the calls he received from Turkish president every ten days as a nuisance and adding to the difficulty of his post. I have always wondered how the Turkish president who does not speak any foreign languages can communicate through interpreters on the phone and how the two sides can really understand each other when the choice of even a single synonym can change the meaning of the whole conversation.
12 more German nationals were arrested and detained in Turkey, to build up the ante on the hostage game that Turkey tries to play like the Ottomans and earlier European kingdoms.
I very strongly recommend that nobody of any visible or even possible connection to Western media, any Human Rights group or government should visit Turkey until the Turkish government stops treating any critic as an enemy to be punished with no recourse to justice.
Telephone conversations, social media posts going back even a decade or more can be used against anyone they do not like if the person has any public visibility domestically or internationally.
On the other hand, the cooler days have arrived in Istanbul, making it a delight to saunter to interesting places (while avoiding the large numbers of Middle Eastern tourists with hijab covered women and mistreated or spoliled children.
Some more of my favourite places have been turned into concrete jungles like Kas. If We can manage it, another driving trip to that region from Letoon to all the way to Mersin may give us some ideas for a local and friendly vacation with reasonable lodging.
We need to combine that with two free nights at a Hilton hotel in Turkey that we have to use before end of this year.
The daily news I read and watch constantly remind me of the time in
1997 when we had to leave Myanmar out of our travel plans and replace those days with more of Thailand, because of the human rights abuses of the Myanmar dictatorship.
I thought I was being satirical or sarcastic when I tweeted last year that Turkey was looking for subcontracting prisons in neighbouring states. Currently, the local gaols are running at 30,000 over capacity although thirty two new gaols were built in the last two years.
After almost fifteen years of supporting the Islamist authoritative leadership in Turkey, Germany decided that the cost of not supporting the great chief and his party was less than the benefits to come from taking an opposing stance. The over two million people of Turkish origin in Germany who were freely subjected to Islamist missions and threatened by Turkish intelligence elements apparently needed to be protected to reduce the total ethnic tension in Germany and ease the important task of handling a more and more divided Germany.
Macron, on the other hand, said in an interview he saw the calls he received from Turkish president every ten days as a nuisance and adding to the difficulty of his post. I have always wondered how the Turkish president who does not speak any foreign languages can communicate through interpreters on the phone and how the two sides can really understand each other when the choice of even a single synonym can change the meaning of the whole conversation.
12 more German nationals were arrested and detained in Turkey, to build up the ante on the hostage game that Turkey tries to play like the Ottomans and earlier European kingdoms.
I very strongly recommend that nobody of any visible or even possible connection to Western media, any Human Rights group or government should visit Turkey until the Turkish government stops treating any critic as an enemy to be punished with no recourse to justice.
Telephone conversations, social media posts going back even a decade or more can be used against anyone they do not like if the person has any public visibility domestically or internationally.
On the other hand, the cooler days have arrived in Istanbul, making it a delight to saunter to interesting places (while avoiding the large numbers of Middle Eastern tourists with hijab covered women and mistreated or spoliled children.
Some more of my favourite places have been turned into concrete jungles like Kas. If We can manage it, another driving trip to that region from Letoon to all the way to Mersin may give us some ideas for a local and friendly vacation with reasonable lodging.
We need to combine that with two free nights at a Hilton hotel in Turkey that we have to use before end of this year.
The daily news I read and watch constantly remind me of the time in
1997 when we had to leave Myanmar out of our travel plans and replace those days with more of Thailand, because of the human rights abuses of the Myanmar dictatorship.
I thought I was being satirical or sarcastic when I tweeted last year that Turkey was looking for subcontracting prisons in neighbouring states. Currently, the local gaols are running at 30,000 over capacity although thirty two new gaols were built in the last two years.
Sep 3rd, 2017, 02:05 AM
#29
How will the regime explain the loss in income from tourism, OC? I had understood that Turkey is very popular with Germans but they are unlikely to visit if German newspapers are full of Germans being subject to extra-judicial kidnapping. Though perhaps the increase in middle Eastern tourists to which you refer will take up some of the slack. [they are omni present in Switzerland too, where we just spend a couple of week]
Good to know that the cooler weather has arrived in Istanbul - but I suspect that our ideas of "cooler" are rather different.
I hope for better times for all of us, OC.
[and yes your grandchildren are indeed adorable]
Good to know that the cooler weather has arrived in Istanbul - but I suspect that our ideas of "cooler" are rather different.
I hope for better times for all of us, OC.
[and yes your grandchildren are indeed adorable]
Sep 3rd, 2017, 11:46 PM
#30
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"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."
I can't make any sense of this:
Foreign tourist arrivals into Turkey soar nearly 50 pct in July
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/for...&NewsCatID=349
I can't make any sense of this:
Foreign tourist arrivals into Turkey soar nearly 50 pct in July
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/for...&NewsCatID=349
Oct 5th, 2017, 09:53 AM
#31
There used to be a syndicated daily cartoon panel called, "Grin and Bear It" running for over seventy years.
Both grinning and bearing are tough for many Turks, Brits, Americans from a political perspective, as it is for you Annhig for finding yourself in a personal situation requiring to grin and bear it.
A new draft decree passed the commission to go to the Assembly where the Party votes will push it through with very little debate, to allow regional or district representatives of the Directorate of Religious Affairs to conduct official marriage ceremonies.
Government is conscripting air force pilots who have retired or transferred to private airlines and still does not have enough experienced ones.
All military hospitals and other medical facilities have been transferred to the Ministry of Health and the military doctors and other medical staff were forced to relinquish all military rank, seniority and privileges, thus leaving the army with no field hospitals or medical facilities, in occupied Syria or proposed occupation of Northern Iraq. Wounded soldiers need to be taken to a suitable hospital where there will probably be no one trained in bullet or shrapnel wounds.
In the meantime, all students from third grade up to 12th are required to study Islamic morals and jihad.
Both grinning and bearing are tough for many Turks, Brits, Americans from a political perspective, as it is for you Annhig for finding yourself in a personal situation requiring to grin and bear it.
A new draft decree passed the commission to go to the Assembly where the Party votes will push it through with very little debate, to allow regional or district representatives of the Directorate of Religious Affairs to conduct official marriage ceremonies.
Government is conscripting air force pilots who have retired or transferred to private airlines and still does not have enough experienced ones.
All military hospitals and other medical facilities have been transferred to the Ministry of Health and the military doctors and other medical staff were forced to relinquish all military rank, seniority and privileges, thus leaving the army with no field hospitals or medical facilities, in occupied Syria or proposed occupation of Northern Iraq. Wounded soldiers need to be taken to a suitable hospital where there will probably be no one trained in bullet or shrapnel wounds.
In the meantime, all students from third grade up to 12th are required to study Islamic morals and jihad.
Oct 8th, 2017, 01:46 PM
#33
Turkey suspended indefinitely all visaa to American citizens, including E-Visa and Border Visas as of October 9, 2017.
This came as a reprisal to the State Department announcement regarding the suspension of all non-immigrant visa applications at all United States Missions in Turkey.
The relations between the two countries have not been moving well recently, and this is the culmination.
- Iranian embargo and the Razzab and Halk Bank cases
- Turkish purchase of Russian missiles
- Turkish admonishments to US for partnering with Kurds against IS
- Turkish requests for repatriation of Fethullah Gulen and his retinue
- Court cases against Turkish President's body guards in Washington DC.
- Turkish support of Moslem Brotherhood
- Turkish support of Al-Nusrah in Syria.
- Turkish meetings and agreements with Iran and Russia regarding Syria.
- The arrest of a Turkish national US Consulate employee on charges of attempting to act against the Turkish State.
- American state of the art arms given to Kurdish fighters in Syria but withheld from Turkey.
What happens to all the American basketball players who play for Turkish teams, especially Fenerbahce, and their families is what worries me!
This came as a reprisal to the State Department announcement regarding the suspension of all non-immigrant visa applications at all United States Missions in Turkey.
The relations between the two countries have not been moving well recently, and this is the culmination.
- Iranian embargo and the Razzab and Halk Bank cases
- Turkish purchase of Russian missiles
- Turkish admonishments to US for partnering with Kurds against IS
- Turkish requests for repatriation of Fethullah Gulen and his retinue
- Court cases against Turkish President's body guards in Washington DC.
- Turkish support of Moslem Brotherhood
- Turkish support of Al-Nusrah in Syria.
- Turkish meetings and agreements with Iran and Russia regarding Syria.
- The arrest of a Turkish national US Consulate employee on charges of attempting to act against the Turkish State.
- American state of the art arms given to Kurdish fighters in Syria but withheld from Turkey.
What happens to all the American basketball players who play for Turkish teams, especially Fenerbahce, and their families is what worries me!
Oct 8th, 2017, 02:08 PM
#34
Wow! That is a surprise.... Missed the State Dept announcement, wonder what caused that.
Have now found it:
https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/201...ed-states.html
Have now found it:
https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/201...ed-states.html
Oct 9th, 2017, 12:36 AM
#35
What happens to all the American basketball players who play for Turkish teams, especially Fenerbahce, and their families is what worries me!>>
I should think it will worry them as well, OC. What the link posted by Thursdaysd does not make clear is whether this applies to existing visas or only to applications for new ones - an important difference, but even if it's only the latter, it must be a very worrying situation for all americans presently living and working in Turkey.
I should think it will worry them as well, OC. What the link posted by Thursdaysd does not make clear is whether this applies to existing visas or only to applications for new ones - an important difference, but even if it's only the latter, it must be a very worrying situation for all americans presently living and working in Turkey.
Oct 9th, 2017, 12:38 AM
#36
Turkish Airlines is now offering full refund or free extensions to Turkish and US citizens with reservations and tickets between Turkey and US points.
I do not know if other airlines are doing the same.
Today, Turkish armed forces invaded Syria across from Idlib, based on what they say is "Engagement Rules" They seem to be supported by Russia and Iran. The local line is that Turkey will never allow the Kurds a corridor to the Mediterranean. It is not clear if this is to help non-IS Sunni fundamentalists or to fight them.
Turkish president cancelled press meeting at airport on the way to official visit to Ukraine.
This morning, Turkish Lira lost 3-4% against major currencies.
I do not know if other airlines are doing the same.
Today, Turkish armed forces invaded Syria across from Idlib, based on what they say is "Engagement Rules" They seem to be supported by Russia and Iran. The local line is that Turkey will never allow the Kurds a corridor to the Mediterranean. It is not clear if this is to help non-IS Sunni fundamentalists or to fight them.
Turkish president cancelled press meeting at airport on the way to official visit to Ukraine.
This morning, Turkish Lira lost 3-4% against major currencies.
Oct 13th, 2017, 02:22 AM
#38
While the visa reprisals are causing havoc with all travel plans between USA and Turkey, another and earlier reprisal is still in effect.
Last year the Turkish government cancelled all archeological research by the Austrian Archeological Institute which had done wonders for Ephesus. Apparently the bureaucratic mentality cannot understand the loss of free funding and services.
They have, instead, opened the square in front of the famous square for weddings and official receptions not considering the potential damage to the delicately restored structures. What remains of the Temple of Artemis is now in a swamp.
A canal from the sea is being built to lead to a port for Ephesus, but most of the construction is being conducted without any concern for the necropolis they will be building over or the many sunken ships of the former port which they will have to destroy.
Last year the Turkish government cancelled all archeological research by the Austrian Archeological Institute which had done wonders for Ephesus. Apparently the bureaucratic mentality cannot understand the loss of free funding and services.
They have, instead, opened the square in front of the famous square for weddings and official receptions not considering the potential damage to the delicately restored structures. What remains of the Temple of Artemis is now in a swamp.
A canal from the sea is being built to lead to a port for Ephesus, but most of the construction is being conducted without any concern for the necropolis they will be building over or the many sunken ships of the former port which they will have to destroy.
Oct 13th, 2017, 04:09 AM
#40
Croesus, even if we assume that cruise ships can manage a narrow canal, they will not clear the depth. Also not much reason to try it for the 4-7 mile trip.
But the main issue is that Turkey seems to have turned off Americans which make up the majority of cruise ship customers. Also, cruise ships have almost all stopped using Istanbul and Kusadasi as part of their itinerary since 2015.
But the main issue is that Turkey seems to have turned off Americans which make up the majority of cruise ship customers. Also, cruise ships have almost all stopped using Istanbul and Kusadasi as part of their itinerary since 2015.
