Photos

(photo taken @ ISO100 [+ photoshop] when sitting on a veranda under green grapes ; I was in front of them on cushions on the floor, the hands on my knees).

This is a long story and for the ones who don't have time to read the whole of it, here are the basics : the 3 gentlemen on the left are Kurdish, during the conversation they told me how many children they had. The 1st on the left is the champion : he has... 15 of them ("and maybe more to come !") ; the 2nd one has 11 children and the 3rd, "only 10".
The guy on the right OTOH has married a younger sister of the man in the middle but he is a Turk and has a very poor record with a mere 8 children, aged between 22 and 2.

(As an additional photo to the story, I've added a WS photo of the women in the sitting room, to compare : I'd like to know what you think about it, IMO it is interesting but probably not much value apart from documentary... Still, your ideas are welcome !).

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This is also a travel site, so I'd like to tell more : I was kindly invited to stay for 2 days and nights in this group of houses although there were many visitors and 1st I was told that the reason for the crowd was because a 1st child (and a boy) had been born (+ part of the family living in Adana was there too because of summer holidays).

Following is the other reason for their presence, but sorry if the tale is a bit long and if the start is very personal (but necessary to understand the whole story).

Everywhere in Turkey, the 1st questions I'm asked are my first name, why I'm travelling alone, what is my age, what have I done of my husband and how many children I've got ; I am now used to it and about my husband, if I feel in danger (rarely !) I tell that he is coming soon but otherwise, nowadays I dare explaining the truth : that I simply *forgot* to marry because my life was so interesting and busy with my job that I did not want to quit and my regular travels to India & around ; I always thought that I would marry at some point, but much later : "I still have time"... then later on, I realised that it was a bit too late but no regrets, so I'm still travelling, - at which the ladies often approve, telling me : you did the right thing, you are free and without worries and you can see the world ! The men though never seem to understand and I've got already many marriage proposals in Turkey which are often coming from so unlikely persons ! Sorry for this long tale about me...

Hearing this, the 2nd man on the left (my host actually) told me that he was a widower but wanted more children "to compete with his neighbour" (not really serious !), and as I was single, I would be welcome to join him ; I replied jokingly that I regretted not to be available, anyway I did not want a boss now and liked my freedom, so for the rest of my stay there, he called me "my lioness" :)))).

Only just before my departure did someone by accident explain to me the main reason of that big gathering : they were mourning the death of the wife of my suitor (she had died a few weeks ago), but he did not want to appear to suffer in front of a stranger (and brave enough to crack many jokes) : another proof to me that people in Turkey go very far in terms of hospitality and dignity !