Kastamona

We had an amazing opportunity to deliver wheelchairs to the beautiful town of Kastamona.  This is the hometown of our interpreter, Seda.  She had told us she wanted to take us to her hometown, but never let on about how wonderful this place is.  While there she took us into the mountains to the family farm, that they call the Village.  We found out that this farm is famous throughout Turkey.  Dignitaries and visitors come from all over Turkey to eat at the home of her Aunt.  She had prepared dinner for us and now we understand why she is so well known.  You can't even see the end of the property it is so large.  All of the food you eat there was prepared and grown on this farm.  She must have put out ten varieties of jams and jellies.  Seda told us she spend much of her childhood there.  All the cousins come and help with the ranching duties, the farmhouse, and the serving and preparing of food in this home. 

In the days of the silk road, they didn't have hotels, but did have caravansaries where both the people and the camels stayed.  This one has been converted into a modern facility that we stayed at.  In this first picture you can see the castle which is on the hill above the Caravansary.  The patio is completely enclosed.  You enter through some very large doors.  There is a small one for people and a very large one for the camels.  The dining room, which is very beautiful, was once the place where the camels slept. 



There is a beautiful fountain in the center of the courtyard, it is hidden a bit by the umbrella.  It used to be the watering trough for the camels - maybe for the people too.  But it is very beautiful.  The big round thing by the stairs used to hold water and it sat over hot coals to heat the water.



We thought these little doors were very unique and fun.  We couldn't decide if people were just smaller then, or if they just liked small doors.



This veranda went all around the top floor and looked down into the courtyard.  All the guest room were off of this veranda.  I loved the arches in the architecture.  We also found on each door - the Star of David.  Very interesting.

This is the stable/now dining room.  You can see the buffet set up around one of the pillars.  A typical Turkish breakfast is several varieties of cheese, several varieties of olives,  lots of different jellies, breads, fruit juices, and sometimes salami.

Another view of the inside of caravansary

Close-up of the big big pan used to heat water.  You find these in many old gathering places.  Although, they are not used today.

The legend is, "if you drink from this natural fountain, you will visit this place again 7 times".  I quickly had a drink, because it was very cold and good water, and because I wanted to come back here again.  Duard wouldn't drink the water.  Oh well, I hope he misses me.

Our darling Seda and her son Barkin

This little boy was so excited to have this wheelchair that he would not stay still for the picture.  He was laughing and wheeling around.  Everyone was enjoying the delight of this little guy.  He just couldn't go fast enough or smile big enough.

This young man told us he is going to start a wheelchair basketball team in Kastamona.

Some of the wheelchairs lined up and ready to go.  The names of the recipients are on all the chairs so there is no question as to who they will go to.  All recipients have to be pre-certified that they really do need the wheelchair.  So we have all the names ahead of time.

Duard gave a beautiful speech telling about the church, by its real name, and about how the monies are raised to be able to provide these wheelchairs.  Great job!  Seda is by his side interpreting.

Time out for a picture

One of the women who live at the farm house making some of the breads and food.

I can't say enough about this wonderful woman.  She is as gracious and wonderful a person as I have ever met.  She has a dignity and beauty that is rare.  She grows all the food used on the farm.  On the upper floor they have changed the rooms into places to eat.  The walls are filled with history in pictures and artifacts from the farm.  You just can't quit looking.  They have ducks, chickens, dogs, cats, birds.  She said she has seen bears and a few years ago a pole cat came down out of the mountains and killed some of the birds she had in cages.  She felt so bad that she opened the cages and let all the rest the birds go and then broke apart all the cages. 

The family took us over the mountain to a place where they have started a state of the art dairy farm. 
For my Taylor cousins:  This whole farm gave me a nostalgia trip, remembering Cokeville and all the great stories from there.  I thought of all the milking days.  While we were there, they began their first day of milking the cows.  They were all excited for this event.  What an amazing heritage both there and in Cokeville.