5-22-2011

We started off our day by heading to Oz Turkman carpet shop.  There we were shown the process of carpet weaving.  There are several types of carpet material combinations such as cotton on cotton, wool on cotton and silk.  The friendly workers gave us a demonstration on how to tie the knots on the rugs.  After seeing how to make the rugs they showed us how they harvested the silk from the cocoons.

Then the Turkman gave all of us our very own silk cocoon to take home.

We were then herded into a room where we were shown all the different types of rugs.  They literally threw the rugs at us.

One of the coolest rugs we saw was the cotton on cotton that changed colors depending on the direction you looked at it.

After the demonstration we were given the opportunity to buy a rug if we wanted to.

The bus then dropped us off in downtown Kusadasi where we broke off into our own groups.  Some people chose to go shopping, get coffee and tea then go take a dip in the Aegean Sea while others went exploring in the city and found their own private peninsula and food.  Later in the day everyone reconvened at the pool to "brochill" (verb: to hang out with your friends).
After dinner we all went out to experience the night life.  While out Turkey was going crazy because their soccer team Fenerbahce won the Turkish League Championship.  They were driving around, waving their flags and having a parade at the Bazaar.  So some of us went to see the action and got to partake in the parade.  It was an exciting day for everyone and we are all having fun in Turkey.