While up in the citadel area of Ankara one afternoon, I was invited by these women to photograph them, something that really surprised me given that they are normally very shy about that kind of thing. I think it helped that I had previously met some of their children, who had sold me trinkets on several occasions. It was pretty amazing -- they all ran to collect babies and kids for portraits -- altogether a very enjoyable time. I promised to print all the pictures and send or bring them up to them.

LATER NOTE: I brought the pictures up to the ladies a few weeks ago; talk about being mobbed! Instead of selling me things, they were giving me presents. What a change! Anyway, they wanted me to take more pictures of them, all over the area. I've been very busy of late but am now trying to get them processed and of course, bring the prints back up to them again.

UPDATE: I printed something like 60 5x7 pictures for all these ladies but had to finally mail them to one of the daughters as I simply haven't had time to deliver them in person (plus Ramazan, snow, Bayram, more poor weather intervened as well). I just received a lovely note from Merve, saying she had received the prints, had delivered them as requested and that they all miss me up there. She ended with a touching poem to me. I'm lucky to have such nice friends here!