In Italy, it was the common name given to the slaves from the Constantinople, today's Istanbul, Caterina.
Her son traveled to Turkey and Azerbaijan to discover his Caucasian roots. His findings as well as researches say his mother was hailed from... Azerbaijan and a Muslim. This very well-researched novel about the mother of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), slave mother Caterina da Vinci, is the best work I have ever read in a long time!
A very colorful story of her relationship with her son who was destined to change the world forever; from his growth, his creative and inventive side to how daring is why his mother felt she had to protect him so long.
Warning: Anyone not interested in historical romance, Turkey and Renaissance Florence will not enjoy this truly captivating book.
"All other cities are doomed, but I imagine that as long as people exist, Constantinople will exist." ~Petrus Gyllius French scientist, (Albi, 1490 - Rome, 1555)
These questions arise. Do you have any idea? (1) Where am I going to?
(2) What's stopping me now?
(3) How do you measure delight?
(4) What fuels you?
As how we look matters, it is important how something looks matters. Being a woman or a man, looking younger or older, that matter as well. Whether I like it or not, I use my senses to make decisions. Personal to environmental conditions, things have an impact on maximizing the flow of my creative juices.
Within a few minutes walking from my home, I face to a pretty nice pink dressed this building that is located in the corner like a candy seller. Most of the time, I forgot its commercial identity because I love pink! I love the old house converted, renewed identity, smart money house:
Göztepe branch of a leading Turkish Bank, Türkiye İş Bankası. Actually the Bank's logo color is dark blue, not gold as seen above. But the outlook is very nice pink, you see. Looks like there is no logo that the Bank hides behind. Other branches of the Bank are in logo colors, but this one in my neighborhood is different having a freedom to look and dress as the management pleases.
When I look at things that we can change like how we wear, many questions come in my mind. The take home message for me is that we should be true who we are, and also remember that how we wear changes how we feel to impact what we do.
!mportant
The Asian side of Mega City Istanbul is becoming a financial hub as of new year 2011! Capital Ankara headquartered Turkish Central Bank, the Istanbul Stock Exchange, many financial institutions, headquarters of all Banks will be moving in my living zone to Ataşehir that is ten minutes drive from my home. So Gov't is aiming Istanbul to make the strongest candidate as a regional and global financial center in the region between London and Tokyo. As you can imagine, buying up lands in this area are boosting the prices. Is there any country which is seriously quickly changing each new day with a different headline on the news, one of the fastest rates of recovery from the worldwide recession?
Riotous colors. Mad geometric patterns. You can skip the annoyance of reading a book, and knit a pair of Colored Happy Feet for yourself! Happy face is the mirror of happy feet, don't you think so:)
Sock knitting in Turkish way is very pretty and fun to what I know from knitters. And, it could be something new if you like sock knitting. Knitting from cuff down in Americas and also western Europe countries, however in Turkey mostly sock starting is at the toe, increasing until the foot width is well fitting, and going on up from there.
Here are five traditional patterns to knit; all wonderful, all great Turkish designs:
Those above the most unusual and vintage Anatolian socks are coming from my Antiques Collection. "Too beautiful to be true"! I always adore our folkloric wovens, but knitting is something like a Russian mountain for me, in particular above richness in no way I could make, nowhere else you could see.
First impression: surprise! When we reach the edge intense whiteness gives us a freezing sensation. Glinting light to the west and gorgeous view..
Second impression: adjustment our feelings! Crystals look deceptively like snow and ice.. but are we sure about it, snow?
Third impression: convinced! Oh, not snow crystals like we guessed, but salt. That is really salt beneath our feet. We start to think about salt, that's one of our life's most important ingredients. Makes up 3.5% of a human body,and did you know...the proportion of salt in the world's seas is also 3.5%. Yes, it is extraordinary testimony to the balance of nature!
Located in Central Anatolia, 150 km SSE of (capital) Ankara, on the way to Cappadocia, visiting Lake Tuz (Turkish: Tuz Gölü) should be included in the itinerary of every Cappadocia traveler! I saw the same lake twice during my two Cappadocia trips that I took this year, in august and october. Everytime I am amazed by the strange sight of the salt gleaming like silverline beneath the clear lake water. We did not mind sinking occasionally into the "interesting" patches of mud and took long walks across the lake. I enjoyed very much the sensation of wading through this unearthly pure white wonderland disregarding the splashes of water on my bermuda and blouse. Because it was much more romantik than walking on snow:) Also called Tatta in the past, Tuz Gölü it is the 2nd largest lake in the country. Characterictically, it's shallow. Also one of the richest salt beds in the world! Due to its high salinity (33%), 300 thousand tons of salt is obtained here per year, and this is 60% of the total salt production in Turkey. From July to August, the lake evaporates into reflective white salt. After dirty layer is removed, the clean salt is gathered into mounds and loaded manually onto the wagons of mini trains. So it is how the {TUZ=salt} comes on our tables:)
However, there are some "very sad" alarming rates about this beautiful Lake that are dampening our mood! The water surface of the Lake Tuz decreased to:
216,400 hectares in 1915 92,600 ----"----- in 1987 32,600 ----"----- in 2005 ---- no Lake? ---- in 2015
Due to the global warming, the Lake has shrunk by 85% over 90 years. If urgent and necessary measurements are not taken to protect it, TUZ GÖLÜ will no longer exist within 5 years.
Camel train consists of a "thousand camels", was each carrying up to 250kg salt in the ancient times
Behind expectations!Turkish economy grew 5.5% in the 3Q, and 8.9% in the first 9-months of 2010.
Türkiye is one of a few countries that is still able to make very good progress in a post-crisis environment that left many trying to recuperate from serious losses. Indicators say that we are Europe's the 2nd fastest growing sizeable economy after Sweden which grew 6.9%.
What could I see happening in 2011?
Well, no prediction. Because Turkey's role will be bigger than usual in 2011. To be the #1 economy in Europe and in OECD is what I expect. Follow us, or follow me:)
Irrevocable cold, undesirable white of the Istanbul.
=getting closer possible with double click on my photos=
And now, all snow painting the town is making me think of warm and being warm. I am averse to cold and cold places either. So I was just browsing. Because it's the only way to move ahead without baggage...
Bodrum, my summer @2010
Supportive posts about Bodrum can be reached here: B1 - B2 - B3 - B4 - B5
- In Vienna there is a park called "Türkenschanzpark", means Turkish trench park. The words inscribed in Turkish and German on the fountain that was erected in this green area exhibit the traces of Ottoman influence: "The heart is the home of the friend, I came to give heart."
Combing the golden pages of our great history, of our great the Ottoman Empire.
Beginning of the 17th century. Stretching from southern Hungary to Jerusalem, to Mecca, to Cairo, and to the earternmost frontier in Algeria. The most powerful state in the world, the Ottoman Empire reached its largest historical size! Famed for its strong and efficient central government, military power and extraordinary wealth at its height. The Ottoman's ambitions extended all the way to Austria...
The 1st Siege of Vienna in 1529, led by Sultan Suleiman l the Magnificent.
1600's... Sadly those years marked the beginning of a long and slow decline that would lead to the dissolution of the Empire 300 years later, after World War I.
Then again in 1683, the 2nd Siege of Vienna. Ottoman leaders was hoping a new victory might restore the Empire to its full glory. After this 2nd siege of Vienna City, the figure of Turk and also Turkish Culture -exotic clothes, harems, to waterpipes- became popular throughout Europe. Turkish characters cropped up in all sorts of plays and operas.
Although in Mozart's time (Salzburg, Jan 27, 1756 - Vienna, Dec TODAY, 1791), the Ottomans ["Turks"] were no longer a serious threat to the Viennese or all Europe, it was still a recent memory. Made Mozart inspired by the Ottoman siege, above you played his famous Turkish March.
I like our March, the great Musician's piano sonata A major, a gift to Turks in highest value. So Turks are important for Mozart. And, Mozart for us. TODAY remarks the day of a man's 219th death anniversary that is highly avant-garde piece of music. Thank you, Mozart, we all love you.
(i wrote a haiku for it) Every single leaf, in the hopes for fresh, A brilliant star.
} i like spraying silver powder {
It is more than a holiday icon for me! My most favorite. Because nothing dresses up my home like its vibrant bi-colors... çok çekici ve bambaşka güzelsin sen ya!
Our Father figure, founder of modern Turkish Republic, Atatürk loved so much this flores de noche buena, and pioneered for the plantation and recognition of this fantastic poinsettia all over the country. Since then, we call it with his name as Atatürk Çiçeği in turkish, meaning the Flower of Atatürk. Rarely we may also call it Noel Yıldızı, meaning Christmas Star.
Is there any plant in the world that is being called with a statesman name? I did not hear, except ours!
23MIO+ tourists enjoyed TÜRKİYE in 2010 (Jan-Sep). 6% increase compared to the same term in 2009 (J-S). Most visitors from: Germany 15%, Russia 12% and UK 10%.
My enlargeable 'Visitor' photographs are from the trips that I took in various spots at home this year. If you break your promise, no matter how small or big your travel plans about TÜRKİYE, you will be angry and upset, so be decisive and tactful:)
Long-time dreaming African Safari (particularly in Kenya), Pyramids and Nile in Egypt and Iran are in my plans for next year. Oh come 2011 come quickly!
In Istanbul. Engineer. Detail-oriented. Enthusiastic. Self-motivated. Good at cross-cultural communication. Business, history, art, travel, design, nature and music that make up most of her life.
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