Caravanserai and Whirling Dervishes

Drove out from Ankara to Konya, then to Antalya

This morning we left Cappadocia behind and drove to Antalya, in Southwestern Turkey. On the way we stopped at a Caravanserai.

A Caravanserai is a `hotel` for merchants who were traveling across the land, thousands of miles, with their camels loaded down with goodies for the market place. Caravanserais were located every 40 miles over a distance of 1,000 miles. They were safe places where these nomadic merchants could stop for the night and rest.

This Caravanserai was built in 1228. It was about the size of a football field. Outside of the building was a local marketplace, filled with locals selling their homegrown fruits and honey. There were a bunch of donkeys hooked up to their carts, munching oats while their owners were selling their wares. Old, wrinkled women covered in veils and long dresses sitting on blankets selling. Swarms of kids around. One little girl came up to me (I was also wearing my scarf purchased at the Grand Bazaar and a long skirt) and practiced her English on me. Another gave me a postcard picture of the Caravanserai.

We continued our drive to Konya, a fundamentalist Muslim community. (We had been warned to dress conservatively - thus my attire.) This community is turning extremist and against the TUrkish government. THey are getting funds from extremist Islamic movements in other countries, so the buildings were a little less shabby, the people dressed a little better.

This is where the poet-mystic philosopher Rumi lived. He is also known as Mevlana. He lived in Konya in the 1200s and was a powerful influence. After he died, his son organized his followers into the brotherhood known as the Whirling Dervishes. These are pious followers of Rumi, who dress in very tall fez-like caps, white jackets and white skirts, which twirl around as they whirl, eyes closed, arms positioned just right, for up to a half hour at a time.

We went to his grave and there were many artifacts displayed. I got to see more Koran illuminated manuscripts, one transcribed by Rumi himself. To prove their devotion, followers would transcribe the Koran into tiny, tiny versions, and also put verses on grains of rice, etc. Also here in an ornate silver box is the beard of Mohommed. Orthodox followers gathered around in the presence of the box and prayed fervently.

We drove over beautiful mountains with forests and streams. There were no visible houses to see, but occasionally along the side of the highway you could see a family selling the vegetables and honey they had eked out from the land. We also saw several car wrecks!

We made it into Antalya. I am on my way to swim in the Meditteranean!