hanging out

Sara and I walked some back streets of Istanbul where it was pretty poor, but somehow not too intimidating. Kids where playing and groups of friends (sisters?) were hanging out chatting and laughing. There was no sense of desperation that would drive one to crime (thank Islam for that, [...]

thinking about the sultan’s concubines

My beloved reflecting over the concubine quarters in the Topkapi Palace harem.

newly circumcised

When young boys (4-7-ish) in Turkey are circumcised, thus becoming officially part of the religious community (not unlike Catholic communion), they don these flamboyant outfits. This boy was being photographed by his mother in the courtyard of the Blue Mosque.