At the end of July, I began a journey to go to Central Asia for multiple purposes. On the way to Central Asia, I made a stop in Izmir, Turkey, the third largest city in this natiion. The purpose was to meet a couple (Mark and his wife), who had been living and serving for the past 25 years. They were Germans and have been engaged in several businesses to sustain their living as well as to justify their visas. They have been serving as the founding members of the BAMer Network in Turkey. They were scattered in several cities, including Izmir. I was supposed to meet up with Atesh, but he had to travel and I was advised to meet Mark instead. I was invited to stay at their house.
The day I arrived, I took them out to dinner. They took me to a seafood restaurant where we bought fresh seafood in the market and took it to a nearby restaurant for cooking as we requested. The ambiance was really inviting and pleasant. The food was excellent! Our conversation was very productive as well as pleasant. They were a nice couple.
The next day, they treated me with a wonderful breakfast at their home. I felt so grateful for their hospitality. After the meal, I decided to follow them as they carry out their Saturday routine.
After that, we went to Cesme Market, a popular place many expats and locals alike visit on weekends for their grocery shopping. We went there a little early and were able to avoid the crowd. By the time we left, the market was packed.
The evil eye is the longest enduring "protective symbol" in the world, popular in the Mediterranean Sea, Middle Eastern, Aegean, and even South Asian cultures. I found a tree covered with the evil eye decorations.
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