Ismail picks me up and we go to his friend who speaks English. I meet Ayhan Kara at his house. Ayhan runs the family business from Russia and is in Turkey for only a week or so. The family own the national bus line and run tours in 10 countries. They are seriously wealthy. We went up to the family apartment and I had Turkish food and tea. They were very interested in my reasons for being in Samandag. Ayhan drives us up into the mountains and we visit Gem and his family.
We are invited in for ......... yes you guessed it. Tea. After an hour or so we leave and go to the village of Lucy’s family. We find the original church and I take alot of photos of the village. There is a mosque built on top of the old church.
The church is not being used but is in very good condition on the inside considering.
After a photographic exploration of the village it is off the Gems house for dinner. I have been invited for BBQ. On the way we drive past the oldest living Armenian in the village. He was born in 1915 and was taken to the top of Musa Dagh by his parents as an infant. They escaped on the ship. He was very interesting via Ayhan's interpreting.
BBQ fish, chicken and the assortment of other foods served up for dinner was fantastic and the conversation was full of laughter.
A quick phone call to Jean and Hasmig brings Gems mother to tears. She is very happy. After dinner Gem takes me back to the Hotel for a well earned rest to digest the wonderful food.
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