There are two things in this world that scare me. Nuclear wepons...and carnies!

So, every night during the month of Ramazan there is a carnevale that goes on here. For those people reading this from Pagosa, it is just about as awesome as the 4th of July carn that comes to town. Let me tell you guys somethin' if you haven't experienced a Turkish carnevale you are missing out in life.

First things first, the rides. The flagship ride was one called the frisbee which was a giant wheel that swung you back and forth and around. It took me all of twenty seconds to get sick on this ride.


There were also bumper cars. In case you are wondering, yes, it is a great idea to bring your infant on the bumper cars with your other child driving.



Also, there was a concert for the kids going on which consisted of creepy imatation Mickey and Minnie Mouse dancing around and singing songs. I don't have any pics of this but believe me it was a bit creepy.

On to the games. There were really only two carnevale games that you could play, one was a ring throw game and the other a shooting game, but instead of winning stuffed animals, posters, goldfish, or sick rabbits (if you are from Pagosa) you win packs of cigerettes...totally awesome fun for the whole family.



Get a ring around a pack and it's yours!!!



Look closely and you can see that this kid won some cigs for his dad...nice!


I, unfortunately, was not able to win Lisa a pack of cigarettes.

Ramadan in Turkey

Ramadan is is full swing here in Turkey. First thing I notice is how different it is here compared to Jordan. In Jordan, every restaurant was closed during the day for the month. It was illegal to eat or drink on the streets (even if you didn't get fined by the police, I think the dirty looks and comments from peers would be bad enough). Here, being a secular government, life and work goes on as usual. I would say that more people keep the fast than don't, but as one person told me "I don't do Ramadan in the summer", which I can completely understand. To go without water in 100+ heat sounds almost demonic to me. Our poor friend Ali, who is our language tutor, rides his bike to our house in the heat and can't drink a cool glass of water when he gets here. We have offered to have classes at his house but he declines saying "It's more enjoyable here, my mother isn't around always watching" Oh to be a teenager.
The thing I am always surprised by is how blatant some people are with not keeping the fast. I see people just munching on some food and drinking sodas right on the sidewalk, or in buses. Its crazy.
Fasting or not, Ramadan (its actually called Ramazan in Turkey, no idea why) is a special month of purifying yourself with God. Please keep the Turks in your prayers this month, the our Father would reveal Himself to those who seek.