Ancient city remains near Karatepe....

     We had another spectacular excursion yesterday to Karatepe where there is a group of women who operate a rug-making cooperative.  After a very long bus ride whose last leg was down windy, dusty roads we arrived at a small compound where long tables were set up outside ready to serve us a traditional Turkish lunch under the trees.  Our guide picked fresh peppers for us to eat with our stew, bulgar and salad, and a rooster kept crowing nearby.  Inside one of the buildings, rugs were stacked everywhere, draped over benches and hanging on the walls.  An adjacent building held the big looms and then yarn dying was in another area.  We shopped and then got back on the bus to drive up to walk in the through the woods overlooking a gorgeous lake and check out the lion's heads and other stones that were discovered in the 1940s and excavated.

Ogling rugs in the rug room with Nicole

Up the hill at Karatepe Park

More gorgeous rugs

Cody, Athena and Nicole at the top of the trail.

Snake Castle--look closely for the Turkish flag at the top

One of the Lion's Heads


Lots of sweating and walking later we were back on the bus headed for the ancient city and remains of Snake Castle.
Anyway, it was quite the epic trip.  Extremely hot and humid and our first experience at just about every stop with the not quite so lovely Turkish-style bathrooms.  Even at the rest stop along the highway we had to squat and make it work! Now another week of teaching and then it's off to the beach next weekend.  Peace and love from Turkey!

The remains of a 2,000 yr. old amphitheater...mostly in tact.