I still can’t believe that we were walking into the Blue Mosque just before prayer time to see the spectacular blue ceramic tiles in fifty different tulip designs on the interior walls, and ended up in a carpet seller’s shop!
It doesn’t matter how we got there but there we are sitting comfortably with a 36 year-old charming Kurd talking about his family, my deceased wife, and the state of the world, while we sipped on apple tea. Thirty minutes on, and my sprouting a string of lies so easily in response to his interrogatory sales skills, it looked like we were not going to be offered carpets. But you can guess. In a rather forceful dismissal of the inevitable suggestion that he show us his best, I use all the gravitas I can muster to tell him, “I don’t need carpets”.
Round 2 of the sales pitch moves to a dissertation on ‘needs’ as he says to me so wisely. “I agree, MIchael. The only needs in life are a glass of water, a piece of bread, some air to breathe, and a person for sexual relations. Our needs are no more than that, but my carpet will also bring you joy”.
And at that point I informed him we had to go and meet Edmundo’s wife at the Four Seasons Sultanahmet for lunch, down the street.
And off we went to the Four Seasons for a simple spicy lamb pide and a delicious glass of chilled Turkish Sauvignon Blanc from Izmir.
And, heading for home, we cleverly board a tram going in the wrong direction!
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From the teachings of Aristotle through Aquinas to contemporary Catholic teaching, sex is necessary for reproduction but is not necessary for happiness. It is a desire not a need, although it is a particularly strong desire in many people. It should also be noted that there are also many people with a very low level of sexual desire, if at all.
In Muslim countries where men and women are stictly segregated, and where a man may have his first sexual relation with the opposite sex at a marriage later in life, and probably an arranged marriage, two practices have evolved. Pedophilia with boys, and further, the practice of taking a “trophy” boy of extraordinary beauty to publicly accompany Muslim men of power and distincton even after they are married. Such boys get a good price from their parents, and are status symbols. The boys are discarded at puberty. In order for such practices to be rationalized and defended it is not surprising that sexual activity is regarded as a basic need on a par with water, and not a mere desire.
Dear Michaele
“There may be trouble ahead, but when there’s laughter and music and love and romance, let’s play the music and dance”. You may find things wild in Stalin’s back yard, and among those fierce bushy beards. Reports of disturbances as you know, Take care, my friend.
Wisdom from the carpert caverns of old Istanbul. Not bad. Enjoying life on The Peak with cousin Sarah and hubby Andrew. Three little boys getting trained to think logically is worrying me, as one of the essential ingredients in life is to have feelings and recognise the feelings of others. And a good dose of magic and wonder for the rest of the 99.9% we don’t know. Am on to Bangalore on Monday.
See you on my next visit to Sydney, or whenever another of my generation in the Murray Family goes to Heaven.
As always
Cardinale
I try send to your blog, but you no accept negative comment about the risk of taking old people to carpet sharks!
Sounds like you are having exciting time, loved the comments about poor Edmundo, I can imagine, frown and dark, dark glasses.
Keep enjoying, we leave in 2 days time,
L Vic
mick
2 comments:
– it’s not so much the sex that is needed, but what the sex means
– beware of carpet burn
nephew
Nephew,
To the point!
Spot on!
Thank you
Awesome uncle
Hallelujah..Musgrave has bought a new shirt!
Enough of the sex…. what about all those ‘white’ lies .. and tour guide extraordinaire taking the wrong tram … a case of the blind leading the blind, maybe? Keep the pics coming, we armchair travellers love them. Jennifer