In April 2008 we visited Turkey and began our journey here, in Ankara. Ankara is the capital of modern Turkey and it was at once modern and historical. I felt comfortable her from the first. The people seem friendly with ready smiles on the streets. Turkey is a secular democracy crafted inside a muslim country and the tensions are showing a bit at the moment. More on that when we get to Istanbul.

These photos were taken in April 2008 mostly with a Nikon D3.
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DigitalQuixote > Kocatepe Mosque: I have traveled quite a bit in Christian countries and frequently visited churches and cathedrals. Having visited mosques in Morocco, Egypt, and now Turkey, I find them every bit as inspirational as a Christian cathedral.
DigitalQuixote > Kocatepe Mosque: Because of their domed architecture, there is a huge space inside for worshippers.
DigitalQuixote > Kocatepe Mosque: The walls, ceilings and domes are richly decorated.
DigitalQuixote > Kocatepe Mosque: The detail and design are truly impressive.
DigitalQuixote > Kocatepe Mosque: I was talking with a Turk who was less than impressed with this new Mosque. He said, "They've been designing mosques the same way for 400 years. You'd think after spending all this money on a new one, it could be a newer more modern design."
DigitalQuixote > Constitutional Crisis: As we were walking to the Mosque above from the center of Ankara, we began seeing riot police. At the time of our visit, women had been banned from wearing headscarves while attendig the University. This appears to have prompted the protests.
DigitalQuixote > Constitutional Crisis: The ban had been challenged in the Turkish supreme court. Although head scarves seem trivial to me, they had become a lightning rod for a larger issue. Should the government move away from a secular democracy toward an inslamist democracy (symbolized by women's head scarves?)
DigitalQuixote > Ataturk's Mausoleum: Before the second world war, Ataturk came to power in Turkey and formed what would become a secular democracy. He is revered for this accomplishment and for setting the stage for Turkey to emerge into the modern world. His place would be roughly equivelent to Thomas Jefferson in American history.
DigitalQuixote > Ataturk's Mausoleum: And like Jefferson, Ataturk has an impressive Mausoleum in Ankara.
Kocatepe Mosque: Because of their domed architecture, there is a huge space inside for worshippers.
> Kocatepe Mosque: Because of their domed architecture, there is a huge space inside for worshippers.
Kocatepe Mosque: Because of their domed architecture, there is a huge space inside for worshippers.
Gallery pages:  1  2  3  >  
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