Yesterday, I got to spend a bit more time seeing Gaziantep. The new parts of the city are generally filled with 5-6 story housing. Eveybody appears to have their own satellite dish, as the cable infrastructure just isn't here. It is similar how in some lesser developed countries they have greater cell phone penetration than the US because their traditional phone systems were inadequate. It is also interesting to note that every one of the apartments has external water heaters with solar heating on them to reduce energy costs.
I actually saw several men walking around with stacks of bread they were selling. I have had several deja vu moments seeing things that looked so much like the preparation studies we did.
I did get a chance to go through the old town bazaar but didn't spend much time there. I look forward to going back and taking some more time to find some gifts for friends and family.
Speaking of family, I missed my wife's second 39th birthday. I think my mother had 7 or 8 39th birthdays but I still felt bad missing this one. A friend of mine from school that moved away told me whenever he missed the central valley, he walked into the produce section of the supermarket and he didn't feel like he was all that far away.
Lo and behold, in the bazaar in Gaziantep, I should see a bag of walnuts for sale with my name on it. It really is a small world.
Today, I will be seeing a little more of Gaziantep and will have a bit of free time to explore the city a little more. This is a cool place with a lot of history and I look forward to our leadership sessions here.
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