Sunday, September 28, 2008

Sunday, September 28, 2008 - No comments

The Ramadan Pazar


















Guys selling cigarette-roller-like gizmos to that will make your sarma (rice rolled in grape leaves) a snap, evil eye candles and half-priced Qu'rans, and enough Turkish Delight to make your teeth hurt - it doesn't get any more festive than this! For the entire month of Ramadan, the seaside boardwalk is transformed into a dizzying kaleidoscope of colours, smells and sounds. It's a fun place to browse through during the day, but it really comes alive at night when everyone has broken their fast and turns out to live it up at the amusement park, spend their cash on useless trinkets and take in the free concerts and other entertainment. Oh, and don't forget the snacks - you can cram your mouth full of sunflower seeds, cotton candy, sugary pastries and corn doctored with everything from barbecue sauce to chocolate syrup. (Go figure.)

I took a stroll through the pazar a few days ago hoping to get a few fun shots, and I was not disappointed. I even found myself with a temporary "job" when a girl I'd been chatting with asked me to watch her jewelry stand while she went to the bathroom! (Gotta love the trust level around here. :) )

I am so glad I live amongst a colourful people who know how to celebrate!

0 comments: