Where: The Pill, at Great Scott in Allston, MA.  If there's a better place to find Turkish consular documents, I haven't heard of it.

Source: A careless Turk would be my best guess

Destination: Was handed to Tim, the bartender in charge last night at the club.  So if you're a Turk that's short one passport, I'd start my search with him, before he clears customs in Istanbul.

We were greeted by a Scottish lady who led us into a beautiful, marble-floored room, the size of a ballroom. While she explained the procedure to us we were served with iced homemade lemonade.

We deposited our valuables in a locker and were taken to changing rooms where we put on swimwear and helped ourselves to large fluffy towels. Then it was off to the hamam - a high domed room where everything was marble: flooring, seating around the edge and a large slab in the centre. Dotted around the perimeter were basins, each with hot and cold water taps and a ladle beside. We were each assigned to a basin and instructed to pour the water over our bodies every few minutes, adjusting the temperature as we wished.

It wasn't as hot as a steam room: indeed it was clear, not steamy, in the hamam. After about half an hour of sitting and splashing, including a ten-minute interlude to a massive jacuzzi in an adjacent room, we were deemed ready for the serious matter of washing.

We must have sweated considerably, because the first procedure was to be body brushed with a loafer type implement; to remove all the dead skin that had seeped out of our pores. Our guide had told us we'd be amazed at the change in the colour of the loafer after we'd been brushed down. She wasn't kidding!

Then it was back to our basins to ladle more water over ourselves before our ‘washer' came to collect us and put us on the slab for a proper wash. He or she took a soapy mesh sponge the size of a palates' bouncing ball and rolled it up and down legs, arms and body. Then we were turned over on the slab for more of the same till we were engulfed in one massive soapsud. Final water ladling followed and we emerged from the hamam to collect our fluffy towels. Invigorated by the experience, we were ready for a long cool drink as we relaxed on comfy sofas by the bar.

Lots of other services are available such as massages, aromatherapy, manicures, pedicures etc. We tried a full body massage after the Turkish bath, which was a relaxing experience and not too expensive.

In last Monday's New York Times, David Sanger and William Broad wrote a front-page article about the CIA's involvement in the nuclear black market.

The article demonstrates (again) that the New York Times, Sanger & Broad in particular, has simply become a mouthpiece for the government (see my previous articles 1, 2, 3) but they did let one fact slip through to the readership. I can only presume that the slip was accidental, because they don't appear to have understood the ramifications of what they reported:

The US Government is covering up the fact that US citizens and entities are involved in the nuclear black market.

Background
Three members of the Tinner family in Switzerland were key suppliers to AQ Khan's nuclear black market ring. They were arrested in 2004 and have been awaiting trial but the US government has been trying to sabotage the Swiss trial because "compromising and embarrassing information about the CIA's activities with the Khan network" would be exposed if the trial were to proceed.

High-Level Visit
The New York Times reported that in July 2007, the Swiss Justice Minister came to the US to discuss the case with high-level US officials, apparently to find a mutually-acceptable arrangement regarding how to deal with the Tinner case.

According to an anonymous former Bush administration official:

"The State Department wanted the bomb plans destroyed as a way to stem nuclear proliferation, while the C.I.A. wanted to protect its methods for combating illicit nuclear trade."

Whether those two things are true or not I don't know - but the NY Times also notes, without elaboration, that the Swiss Justice Minister met with former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller (and Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence).

Domestic US Involvement
The US Dept of Justice and FBI have exclusively domestic jurisdiction. Why would the Swiss Justice Minister meet with Mueller and Gonzales regarding the planned destruction of evidence in a Swiss case involving the nuclear black market? The only logical explanation is that the case also involves US persons and US entities who have yet to be named and indicted. I presume that Gonzales and Mueller desperately argued that the Swiss needed to derail the Tinners' trial by destroying all the evidence because the FBI had an 'ongoing investigation' which would otherwise be exposed. What else could they have argued? Of course, there is no 'ongoing investigation, and there will not be any forthcoming indictments.

The AQ Khan network was officially exposed in 2003. Now we have proof that the Bush administration is well aware of the involvement of US persons and entities, and is apparently refusing to bring indictments against these people.

Sibel Edmonds Case
We know from the case of former FBI translator Sibel Edmonds that the FBI has long been aware of nuclear black market activities within the US and has failed to do anything about it, going to such extraordinary lengths to gag Sibel using the State Secrets Privilege, and to illegally gag congress involving Sibel's case.

We know that high-level US officials were directly involved in these activities. We know that the Pentagon and State Department actively shut down the investigations that Sibel was involved with, and they also actively facilitated the gagging of Sibel.

We even know at least 3 of the US persons/groups that were actively involved in the nuclear black market:

Marc Grossman
Former #3 at the State Dept, Marc Grossman, was heard on FBI wiretaps facilitating the theft of nuclear secrets "from every nuclear agency in the United States." Other participants in the ring include officials from Pakistan, Turkey and Israel who were operating out of their respective embassies. Once the ring stole these secrets they were sold to the highest bidders on the nuclear black market.

Could it be that the US government was desperate to sabotage the Swiss case because they were afraid that Grossman's role in criminal activity would finally be exposed?

American Turkish Council (ATC)
The ATC is a powerful Military-Industrial-Complex lobby, home to some of the most powerful people and companies in the US. It is also the "nexus" of nuclear black market activity in the US.

We also know that the CIA, via Valerie Plame's cover company Brewster Jennings, was investigating the ATC for its role in illegal nuclear proliferation.

Sibel Edmonds heard wiretaps of phone traffic between the Turkish embassy and the American Turkish Council involving dealings in the nuclear black market.

Could it be that the US government was desperate to sabotage the Swiss case because they were afraid that the ATC's role in criminal activity would finally be exposed?

Zeki Bilmen & Giza Technologies
Turkish businessman and US citizen, Zeki Bilmen, illegally supplied nuclear hardware to Pakistan's military program via Asher Karni, an Isaeli businessman in South Africa. Karni was indicted, but Bilmen was never charged, and his company, New Jersey-based Giza Technologies, continues operating to this day, with shipments to and from from proliferation hotspots "like Dubai, Spain, South Africa, Turkey."

Bilmen was also heard organizing the transfer of nuclear technology on wiretaps translated by Sibel, meaning that his FBI file is at least seven years old.

Could it be that the US government was desperate to sabotage the Swiss case because they were afraid that Zeki Bilmen's role in criminal activity would finally be exposed?

Summary

Former CIA official Phil Giraldi:

"Nothing deserves more attention than the possibility of ongoing national-security failures and the proliferation of nuclear weapons with the connivance of corrupt senior government officials."

The involvement of domestic US agencies in the decision to destroy evidence in the Tinner case in Switzerland proves that there is a domestic US component to the nuclear black market. Five years after the public exposure of the AQ Khan network, the US government still refuses to bring indictments against a number of criminal US participants.

Why not?

see

NY Times does it again: More ‘Judy Miller’ tapdancing (Part 3)

NYT does it again: More ‘Judy Miller’ tapdancing (Part 2)

NYT does it again: More ‘Judy Miller’ tapdancing by Luke Ryland

Sibel Edmonds (archive of posts)

Edmonds-Sibel

***

WordPress.com Political Blogger Alliance

But then when I got home I went to check on the chickens, and there she was.  Standing on the other side of the chicken yard looking pleased though slightly confused that she couldn't get back in.  Dumb bird.  But then whoever said chickens are smart?  At least she isn't to hard to catch, but it is such a pain.  I want her to be happy in her yard, and for the most part she seems to be, it just she likes to take off in the morning and do her own thing.  I am thinking she has a nest somewhere.  Why else would she be getting out so regularly and then is totally ready to go back in.  She's not broody at all.  I'm sure I wouldn't find her if she was.  I guess the grass is just greener on the other side of the fence. *sigh*

I had hopes of sitting out and watching the chickens tomorrow so I can see how Thelma escapes, but DH informed me that the guys will be harvesting wild rice.  I guess that is more important right now.  Just frustrating.

Meez doesn't have anything to do with farming, I guess they think farmers wont be cool enough to be on meez.  That is kinda how I'm feeling though, and a turkey is better then nothing.  Sheesh!

Fight against terrorism should be maintained with all organizations and institutions of Turkey, Gen. Başbuğ said.

"Turkish security forces have continued fight against terrorist organization with a great determination and they will keep fighting till terrorist organization is rendered ineffective," he said.

Source

Why two-rooms and a kitchen movies have replaced Italian neorealism? Or, better said: why two-rooms and a kitchen movies have become the new Italian realism? As Italians, we have to ask ourselves why indoor claustrophobic familiar stories have become our daily life concern, instead of looking outside and going outdoor, as neorealism directors did teach us a while ago.

These days Italian media are unanimously applauding Italian movies at Venice film festival. Everybody seems to agree with the alleged fact that there is a re-birth of Italian cinema (a re-birth coming from a two-rooms and a kitchen delivery).

I am not a cinema expert but an eager “eater” of each kind of images. And these days I would have a question for Ferzan Ozpetek, a Turkish director who has been living in Italy for many years (and who’s now presenting in Venice his new movie Un giorno perfetto).

Turkey these days is a vibrant country in a great mood. And this great energy reflects on its audiovisual industry too.

As an Arab media watcher, I was charmed by the raising of the Turkish soap operas phenomena. Doubled in Syrian dialect, Turkish soap operas like Nour or Lost years are gaining an incredible audience success all across the Arab world. There are many reasons for this incredible boom –and many of them concerns some internal characteristics to Arab markets and Muslim societies- but I just would like to point out one thing which should be important for other countries, Italy too.

Though being tv works (which means serials), aimed at gaining audiences and ads time (which means commercially oriented), these soap operas have something more. They tell about a society which is in evolution, which is trying to bridge globalisation and local culture, progress and tradition, religious belief and liberalization, just as the charming Bosphorus river is bridging East and West in beautiful Istanbul. They are shoot in poor neighbours and luxury 5 stars hotels, in popular traditional coffee houses and brand new malls. They show the poorest working class and the richest one. They talk about illegal immigration and struggles against local and foreign mafia as well as foreign investments in the booming real estate industry in Istanbul. Their protagonists work in a cafeteria to pay their university studies or in the family fashion company just to have fun, drink champagne and go to trendy parties while they are making money indeed.

Why a clever Turkish director like Ferzan Ozpetek should do two-rooms and a kitchen movies instead of doing soap operas like these? I really don’t know. Maybe cause we still consider cinema as a work of art while tv is just a “bread-gaining” work? Maybe. But I don’t think so, especially when tv is well done.

And why our fellow Italian journalists (and all the media industry in Italy) are applauding the alleged re-birth of Italian movies inside this claustrophobic and self-referential space instead of going outside to see what’s happening in this big globalized world?

Maybe it’s because there are still stuck in two-rooms and a kitchen. And have lost the key to get out of it.

Source: www.boutiquehotelsofturkey.com ]]> http://ephesushotels.wordpress.com/?p=9 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:17:57 +0000 izimbozada http://ephesushotels.wordpress.com/?p=9
Terrace Houses is a family run enterprise consisting of 3 heritage cottages overlooking the magnificent valley of Sirince . Olive House, Fig House and Grapevine House all have their own distinctive character and were lovingly restored over 6 years. Our visitors come from all over the world to enjoy these fully furnished homes full of rustic antiques from around Turkey. The cost for a private cottage is 260 ytl per night and this includes a generous breakfast basket served at your convenience. Each house has a wood burning fireplace, luxurious bathroom, comfortable furnishings, a well equipped kitchen and large double beds. Music, filter coffee and a selection of teas are provided to make you feel at home right from the start and we supply our own organic olive oil for you to use in the kitchen. In the summer you can enjoy candlelit dinners under the sky in Terrace Café with unmatched views across the village to the hills beyond. In the winter you will be greeted by a fire and the cottages make an ideal romantic weekend break. Terrace Houses are a perfect base from which to explore the surrounding hillside providing endless walks as well as being ideally placed for guests to visit the many historic sites in the area.

İzim Bozada

Source: www.boutiquehotelsofturkey.com ]]> http://sirinceguide.wordpress.com/?p=9 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:16:55 +0000 izimbozada http://sirinceguide.wordpress.com/?p=9
Terrace Houses is a family run enterprise consisting of 3 heritage cottages overlooking the magnificent valley of Sirince . Olive House, Fig House and Grapevine House all have their own distinctive character and were lovingly restored over 6 years. Our visitors come from all over the world to enjoy these fully furnished homes full of rustic antiques from around Turkey. The cost for a private cottage is 260 ytl per night and this includes a generous breakfast basket served at your convenience. Each house has a wood burning fireplace, luxurious bathroom, comfortable furnishings, a well equipped kitchen and large double beds. Music, filter coffee and a selection of teas are provided to make you feel at home right from the start and we supply our own organic olive oil for you to use in the kitchen. In the summer you can enjoy candlelit dinners under the sky in Terrace Café with unmatched views across the village to the hills beyond. In the winter you will be greeted by a fire and the cottages make an ideal romantic weekend break. Terrace Houses are a perfect base from which to explore the surrounding hillside providing endless walks as well as being ideally placed for guests to visit the many historic sites in the area.

İzim Bozada

Source: www.boutiquehotelsofturkey.com ]]> http://ephesusguide.wordpress.com/?p=9 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:16:30 +0000 izimbozada http://ephesusguide.wordpress.com/?p=9
Terrace Houses is a family run enterprise consisting of 3 heritage cottages overlooking the magnificent valley of Sirince . Olive House, Fig House and Grapevine House all have their own distinctive character and were lovingly restored over 6 years. Our visitors come from all over the world to enjoy these fully furnished homes full of rustic antiques from around Turkey. The cost for a private cottage is 260 ytl per night and this includes a generous breakfast basket served at your convenience. Each house has a wood burning fireplace, luxurious bathroom, comfortable furnishings, a well equipped kitchen and large double beds. Music, filter coffee and a selection of teas are provided to make you feel at home right from the start and we supply our own organic olive oil for you to use in the kitchen. In the summer you can enjoy candlelit dinners under the sky in Terrace Café with unmatched views across the village to the hills beyond. In the winter you will be greeted by a fire and the cottages make an ideal romantic weekend break. Terrace Houses are a perfect base from which to explore the surrounding hillside providing endless walks as well as being ideally placed for guests to visit the many historic sites in the area.

İzim Bozada

Source: www.boutiquehotelsofturkey.com ]]> http://ephesusguide.wordpress.com/?p=7 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:15:36 +0000 izimbozada http://ephesusguide.wordpress.com/?p=7
Welcome to simple elegance in the heartland of Anatolia…

SIRINCE EVLERI is the first boutique hotel of Sirince, a place referred to by Dido Sotiriou as “paradise on Earth” in her famous novel “Farewell Anatolia”. Opened in 1993, this smallest hotel of Sirince has only 6 rooms and 14 beds. The owner is from İstanbul: Ahmet Kocak.

SIRINCE EVLERI consists of two rustic Greek houses, Altınyaprak and Karadut, restored in keeping with local architectural characteristics, in every corner of which you will find traces of 19th century Anatolian culture. Altınyaprak, located in the center of the village, is the first house which the owner Kocak “fell in love with at first sight”. Built by the Greeks before the Turkish-Greek exchange in 1924, the house is now 97 years old. With its doors and hall ceiling carved in rosewood, remains of the Greek era, Altınyaprak is full of ancient furniture collected from Anatolian villages and cities by Ahmet Kocak during his years of work as a tourist guide. The building carries the 19th century traditional characteristics of a provincial mansion with its bathroom designed as a Turkish bath (hamam) and the oriental hall with fireplace. It was recently registered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as a sample of cultural heritage to be preserved in its original state. Karadut, the main unit of SIRINCE EVLERI, was built as a mansion 107 years ago by Vassili, a rich tobacco merchant from Kirkica. Today it has 4 air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms. The welcoming terrace also hosts breakfast with a picturesque panorama of magical beauty.
SIRINCE EVLERI invites its distinguished guests to discover the atmosphere of an ethnographic museum with ancient furniture and authentic decoration selected with great care. With its unspoilt cultural mission of bringing its guests together with the practical and ancient values of the Anatolian people, SIRINCE EVLERI provides the expected comforts of modern daily life with hot water, heating and air-conditioning. Starting 12 years ago as the first provincial example of the “boutique hotel” concept, SIRINCE EVLERI is now a place of international renown. The owner, Ahmet Kocak, explains the secret of this success as due to his management formula, consisting of: - maintaining principles… In order to continue providing quality service, we have decided to remain the smallest hotel in Şirince now and in the future. In other words, despite the increasing number of guests and requests we receive every year, SIRINCE EVLERI will always be a boutique hotel consisting of two houses, limited to their original capacity of 6 rooms. - knowing that smiling, friendliness and sincerity are the basics of boutique hotel management... That is why we employ friendly and open-hearted young people from the village who are natural communicators with our guests, rather than numerous multilingual service personnel. - providing customised service... We welcome you on our panaromic terrace and arrange your breakfast at the time you set, reserving the place for you only, ensuring your privacy. - protecting the environment... We are the custodians of the natural beauty of Sirince. We, therefore, do our best to ensure that all organic and inorganic waste from our establishment is recycled. We re-use fax and printer paper. We collect our garbage, separately packed for plastic, metal and glass, and carry it to İzmir for re-cycling. Tomato and orange peels are given to neighbours’ cows, and left over cheese, sausages, and milk are for the cats and dogs, a sign of responsibility and awareness of the fact that life on Earth concerns all those who dwell upon it. - acting upon your comments... We know that we are not perfect, despite our meticulous care, and depend on your comments and recommendations to be even better in the future. - knowing that the small details can make a big difference… We look forward to seeing you among our distinguished guests at SIRINCE EVLERI.

Şirince, şirince accomodation, şirince guest houses, şirince hotels, şirince pensions

Source: www.boutiquehotelsofturkey.com ]]> http://sirinceguide.wordpress.com/?p=7 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:15:14 +0000 izimbozada http://sirinceguide.wordpress.com/?p=7
Welcome to simple elegance in the heartland of Anatolia…

SIRINCE EVLERI is the first boutique hotel of Sirince, a place referred to by Dido Sotiriou as “paradise on Earth” in her famous novel “Farewell Anatolia”. Opened in 1993, this smallest hotel of Sirince has only 6 rooms and 14 beds. The owner is from İstanbul: Ahmet Kocak.

SIRINCE EVLERI consists of two rustic Greek houses, Altınyaprak and Karadut, restored in keeping with local architectural characteristics, in every corner of which you will find traces of 19th century Anatolian culture. Altınyaprak, located in the center of the village, is the first house which the owner Kocak “fell in love with at first sight”. Built by the Greeks before the Turkish-Greek exchange in 1924, the house is now 97 years old. With its doors and hall ceiling carved in rosewood, remains of the Greek era, Altınyaprak is full of ancient furniture collected from Anatolian villages and cities by Ahmet Kocak during his years of work as a tourist guide. The building carries the 19th century traditional characteristics of a provincial mansion with its bathroom designed as a Turkish bath (hamam) and the oriental hall with fireplace. It was recently registered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as a sample of cultural heritage to be preserved in its original state. Karadut, the main unit of SIRINCE EVLERI, was built as a mansion 107 years ago by Vassili, a rich tobacco merchant from Kirkica. Today it has 4 air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms. The welcoming terrace also hosts breakfast with a picturesque panorama of magical beauty.
SIRINCE EVLERI invites its distinguished guests to discover the atmosphere of an ethnographic museum with ancient furniture and authentic decoration selected with great care. With its unspoilt cultural mission of bringing its guests together with the practical and ancient values of the Anatolian people, SIRINCE EVLERI provides the expected comforts of modern daily life with hot water, heating and air-conditioning. Starting 12 years ago as the first provincial example of the “boutique hotel” concept, SIRINCE EVLERI is now a place of international renown. The owner, Ahmet Kocak, explains the secret of this success as due to his management formula, consisting of: - maintaining principles… In order to continue providing quality service, we have decided to remain the smallest hotel in Şirince now and in the future. In other words, despite the increasing number of guests and requests we receive every year, SIRINCE EVLERI will always be a boutique hotel consisting of two houses, limited to their original capacity of 6 rooms. - knowing that smiling, friendliness and sincerity are the basics of boutique hotel management... That is why we employ friendly and open-hearted young people from the village who are natural communicators with our guests, rather than numerous multilingual service personnel. - providing customised service... We welcome you on our panaromic terrace and arrange your breakfast at the time you set, reserving the place for you only, ensuring your privacy. - protecting the environment... We are the custodians of the natural beauty of Sirince. We, therefore, do our best to ensure that all organic and inorganic waste from our establishment is recycled. We re-use fax and printer paper. We collect our garbage, separately packed for plastic, metal and glass, and carry it to İzmir for re-cycling. Tomato and orange peels are given to neighbours’ cows, and left over cheese, sausages, and milk are for the cats and dogs, a sign of responsibility and awareness of the fact that life on Earth concerns all those who dwell upon it. - acting upon your comments... We know that we are not perfect, despite our meticulous care, and depend on your comments and recommendations to be even better in the future. - knowing that the small details can make a big difference… We look forward to seeing you among our distinguished guests at SIRINCE EVLERI.

Şirince, şirince accomodation, şirince guest houses, şirince hotels, şirince pensions

Source: www.boutiquehotelsofturkey.com ]]> http://ephesushotels.wordpress.com/?p=7 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:14:48 +0000 izimbozada http://ephesushotels.wordpress.com/?p=7
Welcome to simple elegance in the heartland of Anatolia…

SIRINCE EVLERI is the first boutique hotel of Sirince, a place referred to by Dido Sotiriou as “paradise on Earth” in her famous novel “Farewell Anatolia”. Opened in 1993, this smallest hotel of Sirince has only 6 rooms and 14 beds. The owner is from İstanbul: Ahmet Kocak.

SIRINCE EVLERI consists of two rustic Greek houses, Altınyaprak and Karadut, restored in keeping with local architectural characteristics, in every corner of which you will find traces of 19th century Anatolian culture. Altınyaprak, located in the center of the village, is the first house which the owner Kocak “fell in love with at first sight”. Built by the Greeks before the Turkish-Greek exchange in 1924, the house is now 97 years old. With its doors and hall ceiling carved in rosewood, remains of the Greek era, Altınyaprak is full of ancient furniture collected from Anatolian villages and cities by Ahmet Kocak during his years of work as a tourist guide. The building carries the 19th century traditional characteristics of a provincial mansion with its bathroom designed as a Turkish bath (hamam) and the oriental hall with fireplace. It was recently registered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as a sample of cultural heritage to be preserved in its original state. Karadut, the main unit of SIRINCE EVLERI, was built as a mansion 107 years ago by Vassili, a rich tobacco merchant from Kirkica. Today it has 4 air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms. The welcoming terrace also hosts breakfast with a picturesque panorama of magical beauty.
SIRINCE EVLERI invites its distinguished guests to discover the atmosphere of an ethnographic museum with ancient furniture and authentic decoration selected with great care. With its unspoilt cultural mission of bringing its guests together with the practical and ancient values of the Anatolian people, SIRINCE EVLERI provides the expected comforts of modern daily life with hot water, heating and air-conditioning. Starting 12 years ago as the first provincial example of the “boutique hotel” concept, SIRINCE EVLERI is now a place of international renown. The owner, Ahmet Kocak, explains the secret of this success as due to his management formula, consisting of: - maintaining principles… In order to continue providing quality service, we have decided to remain the smallest hotel in Şirince now and in the future. In other words, despite the increasing number of guests and requests we receive every year, SIRINCE EVLERI will always be a boutique hotel consisting of two houses, limited to their original capacity of 6 rooms. - knowing that smiling, friendliness and sincerity are the basics of boutique hotel management... That is why we employ friendly and open-hearted young people from the village who are natural communicators with our guests, rather than numerous multilingual service personnel. - providing customised service... We welcome you on our panaromic terrace and arrange your breakfast at the time you set, reserving the place for you only, ensuring your privacy. - protecting the environment... We are the custodians of the natural beauty of Sirince. We, therefore, do our best to ensure that all organic and inorganic waste from our establishment is recycled. We re-use fax and printer paper. We collect our garbage, separately packed for plastic, metal and glass, and carry it to İzmir for re-cycling. Tomato and orange peels are given to neighbours’ cows, and left over cheese, sausages, and milk are for the cats and dogs, a sign of responsibility and awareness of the fact that life on Earth concerns all those who dwell upon it. - acting upon your comments... We know that we are not perfect, despite our meticulous care, and depend on your comments and recommendations to be even better in the future. - knowing that the small details can make a big difference… We look forward to seeing you among our distinguished guests at SIRINCE EVLERI.

Şirince, şirince accomodation, şirince guest houses, şirince hotels, şirince pensions

Source: www.boutiquehotelsofturkey.com ]]> http://sirinceephesus.wordpress.com/?p=7 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:14:23 +0000 izimbozada http://sirinceephesus.wordpress.com/?p=7
Welcome to simple elegance in the heartland of Anatolia…

SIRINCE EVLERI is the first boutique hotel of Sirince, a place referred to by Dido Sotiriou as “paradise on Earth” in her famous novel “Farewell Anatolia”. Opened in 1993, this smallest hotel of Sirince has only 6 rooms and 14 beds. The owner is from İstanbul: Ahmet Kocak.

SIRINCE EVLERI consists of two rustic Greek houses, Altınyaprak and Karadut, restored in keeping with local architectural characteristics, in every corner of which you will find traces of 19th century Anatolian culture. Altınyaprak, located in the center of the village, is the first house which the owner Kocak “fell in love with at first sight”. Built by the Greeks before the Turkish-Greek exchange in 1924, the house is now 97 years old. With its doors and hall ceiling carved in rosewood, remains of the Greek era, Altınyaprak is full of ancient furniture collected from Anatolian villages and cities by Ahmet Kocak during his years of work as a tourist guide. The building carries the 19th century traditional characteristics of a provincial mansion with its bathroom designed as a Turkish bath (hamam) and the oriental hall with fireplace. It was recently registered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as a sample of cultural heritage to be preserved in its original state. Karadut, the main unit of SIRINCE EVLERI, was built as a mansion 107 years ago by Vassili, a rich tobacco merchant from Kirkica. Today it has 4 air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms. The welcoming terrace also hosts breakfast with a picturesque panorama of magical beauty.
SIRINCE EVLERI invites its distinguished guests to discover the atmosphere of an ethnographic museum with ancient furniture and authentic decoration selected with great care. With its unspoilt cultural mission of bringing its guests together with the practical and ancient values of the Anatolian people, SIRINCE EVLERI provides the expected comforts of modern daily life with hot water, heating and air-conditioning. Starting 12 years ago as the first provincial example of the “boutique hotel” concept, SIRINCE EVLERI is now a place of international renown. The owner, Ahmet Kocak, explains the secret of this success as due to his management formula, consisting of: - maintaining principles… In order to continue providing quality service, we have decided to remain the smallest hotel in Şirince now and in the future. In other words, despite the increasing number of guests and requests we receive every year, SIRINCE EVLERI will always be a boutique hotel consisting of two houses, limited to their original capacity of 6 rooms. - knowing that smiling, friendliness and sincerity are the basics of boutique hotel management... That is why we employ friendly and open-hearted young people from the village who are natural communicators with our guests, rather than numerous multilingual service personnel. - providing customised service... We welcome you on our panaromic terrace and arrange your breakfast at the time you set, reserving the place for you only, ensuring your privacy. - protecting the environment... We are the custodians of the natural beauty of Sirince. We, therefore, do our best to ensure that all organic and inorganic waste from our establishment is recycled. We re-use fax and printer paper. We collect our garbage, separately packed for plastic, metal and glass, and carry it to İzmir for re-cycling. Tomato and orange peels are given to neighbours’ cows, and left over cheese, sausages, and milk are for the cats and dogs, a sign of responsibility and awareness of the fact that life on Earth concerns all those who dwell upon it. - acting upon your comments... We know that we are not perfect, despite our meticulous care, and depend on your comments and recommendations to be even better in the future. - knowing that the small details can make a big difference… We look forward to seeing you among our distinguished guests at SIRINCE EVLERI.

Şirince, şirince accomodation, şirince guest houses, şirince hotels, şirince pensions

Source: www.boutiquehotelsofturkey.com ]]> http://sirinceephesus.wordpress.com/?p=5 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:13:40 +0000 izimbozada http://sirinceephesus.wordpress.com/?p=5

Kırkınca Hotel invites you to witness the miracle created by nature and history hand in hand; to rest and enjoy yourself far from the chaos of the city... Ayasuluk Castle, Mother Mary’s House, Church of St. Jean, Celsus Library, İsabey Mosque, Grotto of the Seven Sleepers, Ephesus Amphitheatre, Hillside Houses, Hadrianus Temple and other historical landmarks surround the village of Sirince, with its lovely nature at an altitude of 350 meters and its various activities... Our rooms, designed for the perfect vacation, and our houses which welcome you instantly, will both make you feel at home, at the place where you were born... To deserve your attention and to match Sirince’s charm, Kırkınca Houses offers you the best service, along with a smiling face and the warmth of friendship since 2000. Thanks to Kırkınca Houses, you will leave your heart in Sirince...
Şirince, şirince accomodation, şirince guest houses, şirince hotels, şirince pensions

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SIRINCE VILLAGE IN HISTORY

The village of Sirince referred in ancient sources as the Ephesus on the Mountain suggests long established settlement. Although there seems to be no concrete indication of how it came onto the stage of history, the dominant theory is that a small group of people resettled on the mountain, following the fall of the city of Ephesus and its harbour being moved to Kusadası (Scala Nova). The people might have preferred to move and settle in the mountains due to problems caused by the silting and the flooding of the river Meander.
It is told in the village today that this new village on the mountain was called Cirkince, meaning rather ugly, with the intention of drawing less attention and interest of outsiders, thus ensuring security. One of the principal anecdote abput naming of the village tells that a group of Byzantine Greeks who were freed from the dominion of Aydınogulları and sent away for re-settlement, were asked by the neighbouring villagers whether the new place they had settled was nice or not. The answer was rather ugly.

The oldest building in Sirince is from the Hellenistic period, initially built as a tower initially, and most probably left from the Lysimakhos era corresponding to the time when the city of Ephesus was established. It was part of an early warning system built in the Klasseas Valley which was of strategic military importance. The building has had some alterations during the Byzantine period and is locally thought to have been a monastery.
A ceramic seal with the name of Georgeos used to brand bread in a bakery was found in a peach garden indicating the existence of a community life in the region in the Byzantine period.
The oldest travel notes about Kirkica are in the book of memories called A Visit to Turkey and Return to Britain, written by a scholar priest Edmund D. Chishull , who lived in Izmir during 1698-1702. Leaving Tire, Chishull reached the ancient city of Ephesus on April 30,1699. As the book reveals, the place to stay for the night around Ephesus is the village of Kirkidje. Chishull and his guide arrived in the village at around eight oclock in the evening tracing along the Klassen Valley in the east of Ayasuluk hill. Lets now listen to Chishulls words:
... Accompanied by our guide and on horseback, we went along a river with small springs, a long but pleasant journey of about an hour and a half, riding between the two hills below the Ephesus fortress and accompanied by the cooling shadows of myrtles, oleanders, Judas trees, Scots brooms, lilacs and others.
Spending the night in the tents of the muleteers, they visited the village on the next day, on May 1st. Chishull states that all the inhabitants were Christian.
... The village priest wanted to show us the supposedly hand-written pages of the Bible. It was a Bible believed to have been written by Prochorus who was one of the seven assistant priests mentioned in the book called The Achievements of the Apostles. We examined it and found out that it was either a copy of the Bible or a prayer book from the 6th or 7th centuries.
It is recorded that Chishull and the group left Kirkinca village for Ephesus the same day in the afternoon.
Kirkinca was a village of 1800 households of Byzantine Greeks during the Ottoman reign in the 19th century.

World War I started in 1914 with all its violence in Anatolia. The Ottoman government registers the young Byzantine Greeks of the Kirkica Village to join the Worksmen Battalion. However, those running away from the battalion either go to he mountains to live as a gang of brigands or took refuge in Greece to boycott. Those who could survive the war return to their village when the war ends. Dido Sotiriyu reflects about those years in her novel called Farewell Anatolıa writing:
The Germans had left behind their munitions stores in the ancient Ephesus. The Turkish gendarme appointed by the Mondros Armistice to hand them over to the allies had run away. Following the night fall, the villagers of Kirkinca carried all the weapons and explosive materials to the village pacing the roads of Ephesus. It was then that they felt independent. Hunchbacks immediately became straight.

On May 15, 1919 the Greek army occupying İzmir was welcomed with excitement in the village of Kirkica. Identifying themselves as Greek, the young people of Kirkica, Urla, Bornova and Kusadasi volunteered to join the independent regiments headed by Greek officers. The Sevr Agreement signed on 10 August 1920 encouraged these young people with the hope to share the eastern Anatolia with the allies.However, the success of the Great Assault ending the Turkish Independence War, and the rescuing of İzmir from the Greek occupation on 9 September 1922, caused the Byzantine Greek villagers of the region to migrate to Greece. Kirkica then turned into a deserted village like the others, with a few elderly inhabitants left behind.
In 1924, a Population Exchange Agreement was signed between Turkish and Greek governments. Thus,the post-war Kirkica was revitalized with Turkish newcomers from Salonika, Kavala and Provusta. The words of Kazim Dirik Pasha, the governor of İzmir at the time, about the name of the village are still quoted in the region. During the first years of the Turkish Republic, he visited the village and suggested changing its name from Cirkince -meaning rather ugly- to Sirince meaning charming, saying such a nice place should not be called ugly, but could only be called pretty.

Natural environment
Sirince stands at the end of the valley which goes along the Çirkince mountain-pass from Selçuk to the east. The river flowing in the valley was called Klasseas in antiquity. The mountains in the north are called Elemen. Selahattin Mountain is the current name given to the hills stretching to the east. Beylik Hill, 508 meters in height, is to the west of Şirince, overlooking the sea and the Selcuk plain.
The hills around Sirince are covered with pine trees and on the rocky cliffs with scrub. Marshmallows with violet flowers are the most striking plants on the climb to Şirince. The town is surrounded by olive groves, tangerine and fig gardens, and vineyards.

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