More interesting things everyday. Started out nomally collecting bees in the morning early around 730 am seems to work well. We feed right after we collect and harness about 100. These bees will be ready for experiments for the next day. Finished my last recommendation letter today, at least for now. They never really get done. At 730 pm we met at the bus stop and Sami and Simi took us into Bursa, a part we have not seen before. We were going to see the Whirling Dervishes, a sect of sorts called the Mawlawi order. The were formed in 1100's out of the Ottomon empire period. When we arrived at this sort of compound with a large courtyard of benches and tables. A big screen where I found out later the Dervishe's dance is projected as there is not a lot of room in the mosque were the nightly ceremony takes place. We had cay and toast (melted cheese in bread). We sat for about an hour, people looking at our group with delight, little kids cutely trying out their english phrases on us. We then went into the mosque early so we could get a seat on the floor (shoes off of course) around the middle of the dance area. The women and children were in the upstairs balcony. The ceremony which is or will be chronicled using video that I took. It was sort of a progressive ceremony. Musicians coming in first, singers, Nay player, Bendar and other Turkish instruments too. About 10 singers. All dressed in black robes. A sort of older master takes charge does the chanting, the dancers paying homage to him and each other. They had roundish tall hats. The dancers had a long white dress under their black robes. The removed the black robe and slowly gained speed in therie twirling. There hands in the same position throughout the dance their head cocked just so to one side. The head man in the center circuling slowly the other each twirling and circling at the same time. Who would think that a bunch of men and boys twirling for 1/2 hour would be fascinating. That was what it was. A relaxing almost mesmorizing experience for me. I think that the visuals provided will help you a bit.
Cafeteria
Sign at the front of the courtyard
Sign at the front entrance to the mosque
Inside the mosque
The band arrives first with the singers
The dancers in front of the band, white dresses showing
Greeting each other in front of the head man in the back to the left, black robe
Sama dance
End of dance and go back to positions with robes back on, Head chanting
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