I had a wonderful time with these girls in the Eastern Orthodox Church. They were very pleasant towards me. The girl above, Mika, studying English and speaking it quite well shared a bit about her life in this community. 
Perhaps a bit blurry but I took these quick shots. This photo of a little boy is a priceless shot. Just on his way home from school he comes to church to light a candle and kiss an icon. Dov was very impressed with the piety of the people. Crossing themselves with intention at the door and kissing the side of the door which had the varnish worn off. One young man biking past the church made the sign of the cross three times and continued. 
One of the women sitting outside the Eastern Orthodox Church selling a few things like flowers to people going inside.
All the sidewalks are like this...or worse. 
Tobacco is a big thing here. So also is gambling...many small gambling shops. This woman is selling very ornate sausages. I thought they were candles. It made a lot of people laugh. 
I really enjoyed interacting with the street vendors. The best way to do so is to buy some simple thing from them. This stooped old woman sold us black sunset seeds. When we gave her 1 euro ($1.50) she kept pouring scoops of them into a paper cone bag until we told her to stop. She was ecstatic with the money we gave her! Her face was lit up like the sun with appreciation. How little did she know that she gave me the gift of connection. She blew kisses as we walked away, hand on her heart! Memories...like that will last forever in my own heart and are the priceless gifts I bring home. 
A typical scene...sitting...in a world of their own.
A woman selling a few things on a box, and she gave me these flowers; would not take any money....what can you say?
A little boy walking to his home. A pathway into a very different life than ours. 
This woman spoke German to us which Dov knows something of. She had quite an out-going personality. Selling a few things on a box.
Mom - I love the pictures of the women! You are an amazing photographer. The close-ups on those elderly women and that one young woman. You are truly gifted. This sounds like the kind of experience that you were aching for. Truly amazing!
ReplyDeleteMara, you are an excellent photographer. I loved looking at all your photos and reading your comments. It brought me back many memories to see the photos of Turkey. What a fabulous adventure you two are having!
ReplyDeleteThank you Wynn and Jennifer for your appreciation of my photography. As you well know as 2 experienced travellers, it is not always easy to get that special connection. I absolutely love to get to that place to take a photo and then to spend that extra time to show the person. Perhaps they have not seen themselves for a very long time...or ever, in a photo. It is gift I can give. Mara (On the Road Again)
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