Hang-on

Hang-on

A sunny weekend after a "Highland" week

We rarely have a full day of rain in Izmir. When a morning is rainy the afternoon is usually sunny. But last week we had a full cloudy/rainy week, we barely saw the direct sunlight. The gulf waters went darkened by low flying grey clouds . Thanks all is back to normal: a windy sunny Saturday. Early in the morning (or not so early it's around 9 o'clock) the promenade is almost empty. Colourful balloon of the fire range survived the lack of challengers and wait for a better hand. Two hours later on my way back the chapmen start to fill the place and meet the first walkers. The soaked land is still no good to lazily lay down in the grass or for the kids to play but the seaside looks great.

Fishermen back from fishing clean the nets or have some rest. Someone shoes are drying under the sun. After the windy days workers have to clean up the shore of tossed wastes. A food&drink seller heat himself at the sun while a dozen of water-bottles and a bag of sunflower seeds await the client, not a big enterprise. Another prepare kites, sure to make good business in such days with a strong wind. The inflatable toys seller keep his breath and prepare his bike to expose his merchandises.

Ivy

Ivy

Cold Winter Day

It's not always sunny in Philadelphia. Actually we are not at Philadelphia, just a couple of hours away from Alasehir, the modern name of the biblical city. But here too it is not always sunny and when the day are cold the seashore is deserted. Some couple share their concerns or their passions, a man sit alone or a chapman sits by his cart being his sole and own client. I confess I miss March and the early Aegean spring.

Fishermen, the cormorants and the city

Izmir is not only a “millions people” city. She is also a large port with some thousands of years of history shared with people of the Seven Seas. This legacy tends to be forgotten by city planners. Fishermen once living close to the city center are now repelled to the last suburbs. Cormorants drying their wings watch the still hand-made carvel-built double-ended “kayik” crossing in front of modern buildings. Good to have still them here bringing daily fresh fish back to our markets.

Friendship

This week-end gave us a very nice weather and witnessed a strange friendship between two homeless creatures: a cat and a dog. The cat approached his friend and started to untangle his matted hair, helping with his teeth when his nails proven not efficient. When I get to a close-up the cat left its companion and ran on me readying nails and teeth to another purpose. We all have seen dogs and cats sharing the same roof and bed but I never expected such a friendship between two roofless creatures.

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