I think it was in 1990 that Kate & I went to Turkey. We stayed in Istanbul but also got to explore some of the countryside while helping with deliveries in Faruk's fruit truck!

It was such a great trip & I have so many good memories. I spent a considerable amount of time sipping apple chi, loosing at backgammon and puffing on a hookah (nargile), just like the caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland 🤭

All the while I was fascinated by a totally new culture to me.

Faruk's brother Kamil had contacts everywhere & almost acted as our unofficial tour guide, prompting so many adventures I couldn't begin to write them all down here. He was the one who also organised our trip to Šila on the fruit truck.

Near the end of our trip, after I told him I wanted to buy some souvenirs, he suggested I went around the Grand Bazaar and made a list, and to include the best price for anything I wanted and to "haggle hard my friend."

I did as instructed and was pleased to manage to halve the price in most cases. However as instructed, I didn't buy anything.

The next day he took me and the list to revisit the Bazaar. The first thing I noticed was whenever we went into the "shop" we were taken into a backroom, offered chi and he would start talking to the owner.

We went to quite a few places, I had a long list! Mainly fabrics, rugs & kilims. At the end of the day I had way too much stuff, but it worked out at ¼ of the price.

I offered him a commission, he had certainly earned it. But he said no, he was just happy to help me. What a lovely man he was and I remember him and his friends so fondly, they made this young traveler so very welcome in their country. The hand of hospitality.

This triangle is based on one of those pieces of woven fabric I bought that day in Istanbul 🙏