Pic essay - Anavarza Castle, part 1

Anavarza, part 1








The second pic is my dad, who usually took the pictures.

As a child, I spent two years in Turkey, courtesy of the USAF. Among the castles we visited and the memories made there, this is the one that created a life-long desire to go back, back to the top of the hill.

I know most folks dream about riches or fame. I dream of sharing with my children what they didn’t have growing up: Exposure to life outside the US. Visions of other cultures. Standing at the bottom of a castle and wondering if the castle came from the Roman era or from Byzantium. Wandering through museums, taking note of the years gone by. Our nomadic lifestyle brought frustration at times, but it also brought a sense of wonder and awe, making it easier for our family to avoid all manners of prejudices by exposure. You see, this castle not only represents what was, but also what could be.

This is what Anavarza looks like from the beginning. The archway comes first. Then, welcome! Step into the castle grounds. Imagine the bazaars and houses. Incidentally, here, at this very arch, in 1981, some poor kid asked the only two families in the world who did not own televisions who shot JR. The show Dallas was a big deal all over the world, if you needed the proof! He barely spoke English, but wanted to know about JR. Lord-a-mercy.



Our little deprived JR-seeking friend was a goatherd. They’re plentiful, as are their goats. Buyer beware: If one of these little darlings offer you “ancient” coins, you can bet that they’re coins all right, but they’ve been thru the digestive system of said goats to give them that ancient appearance. We loved the little black goats. In fact, my mother wanted to bring one home for Max, our dog, whom we left behind before our sojourn to the other side of the world.

Anavarza begins at the arch. Next, we passed through a 10-house “village” at te foot of the mountain. Here, we met three individuals who did some explaining about the castle. This mosaic came as a big surprise. The gentleman tossed a bucket of water on it, and the dusty thing came to life.

One of the villagers went up the hill with us, to help with the kids. Between the two families, we had 4 adults, me, and four kids. I don’t remember the actual number of steps, and to say I knew for certain would be a lie, for many of them are missing. Still, it was quite a climb.

To be continued...