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| June 3. 2012 - Istanbul |
Hello friends,
Today, June 3rd was our first day on the tour,
starting with Istanbul. In the morning we had to settle a series of issues such
as preparing invitation pamphlets for the presentation in the library,
preparing the folders and various other things. In the meantime with Altug and
Huseyin’s help on the phone, we managed to clear up that there wasn’t going to
be a book presentation like we had imagined it. Just a table with the author
signing the book for the people buying it. So we had to adjust the image and
imagine what it would be like. We did an asking that everything go well. Since
we were clearing our ideas, we took some time to verify some other things and
it came up that nothing was going to happen in Bursa. Neither the bookstore
where the book was at, nor friends waiting for us. So we quickly change cities,
trading it for Izmit, which is an hour and a half from Istanbul and we could go
and come back on the same days. Yüksel assured us he had friends and was
organizing something with them. We also talked about Antalya where we have a
friend of Saadet’s from Holland and whom Yüksel had talked to from Ankara. Yüksel
told us that Tufan will organize something with the Alevi association of
Antalya which he is the president of. But, since we are never sure we fully
understand Yüksel, we sent a message to Saadet so that she can get in touch
with Tufan to know if he is organizing the event and on what date. This is
important because, as of now, we don’t have a bookstore in Antalya either. It
seems that, after all, it wasn’t so easy to find bookstores interested in
having the book, many said that it was not compatible with the kind of books
they sell. So we are now waiting for Saadet’s answer and we hope it will arrive
tomorrow.
At 13:30, Peter went to pick up Ariane, Zoë and
Aurora at the port, they had visited Haya Sofia, to take them to the meeting to
start our action to invite people to come to the bookstore using pamphlets. We
arrived at the meeting place but didn’t see our other friends. So Peter called
Eduardo and it seems that there was a women’s protest against an anti-abortion
law the government wants to pass. So they went there to invite the women to the
library. In the meantime, we were hungry and agreed to eat at our usual place.
It was very hot.
At 16h, after having satisfied the needs of the
stomach, we started inviting the people on the streets to the bookstore. We
managed to talk to lots of people, all very amiable and at 16:30 we finished,
ending up at the coffee house in front of the library for a drink. Alvaro went
to his hotel to pick up the recording camera. At 17:30 we decided that it was
time to prepare the ambit in the bookstore, and we talked to the boss, asking
him to allow us to put a big poster with Silo’s picture in a very visible place
for all those entering. He was very amiable and helped us arrange it like we
wanted to. After, we asked if we could put a table for the book signing. He
also helped us with that and we managed to put the table in the entrance of the
bookstore where everyone could see it well. This due to the insistence of
Aurora who had a very clear image and managed that the owner agree
good-naturedly. So at 18h, the beginning time, we were ready to receive those
interested in buying the book. Eduardo behind the signature table with the
function of being authorized to do this if someone asked for a dedication,
signing with his own name, of course. Lots of fun.
Two people entered, a woman with her husband, they
immediately bought the book and wanted a dedication. When they left after a
very friendly contact, we realized we hadn’t given them the calling card with
the address and telephone of the salita/house. While we were thinking “what a
pity” we saw them come back in and buy another book, but which they wanted a
dedication. Very quaint, because now we could talk to them and give them a
calling card and invite them home. It was quaint also because the woman told us
she was telling her husband she wanted to go to Spain and visit Granada. They go inside the bookstore talking about
this and she sees the book and has to buy it, without knowing anything. The
contact with her was very beautiful, she was talking in English. So we will see
how it goes. They left their number.
Of course, Jöntürk and Elim, also came, but the
book and wanted a dedication.
We talked to many people at the entrance of the
bookstore, inviting them to the table. We answered questions they asked,
everything was very friendly. Some said they will read the flyer and if they
like it, will come back tomorrow at the same time to buy the book. Most of them
spoke English, which is also unusual, but helped the communication a lot.
So a very beautiful atmosphere was produced in the
bookstore, talking to people, everything very joyous and with lots of human
warmth. In the meantime, Alvaro was filming. It was very good that the
bookstore personnel saw all this movement and were very glad. At 19:15 the
event ended. The books stayed on one side in a box close to the , together with some pamphlets so that
people can see them all day tomorrow. Tomorrow at 18h, we will repeat the same.
We left very happy to take Jöntürk to eat something
and then we went to a beautiful garden of a big café we know, to have tea and
cake. A while later, two young friends of Jöntürk joined us. Animated
conversations, Jöntürk reading coffee grounds like they are used to doing here
and being very much at ease after a hot day, overcoming some problems and with
strong intentions that good things happen.
At 22h we went to a supermarket to buy melons we
took to Jöntürk’s house where we did a ceremony and an asking for our tour,
asking for its good and luminous advancement. We had other beautiful moments.
Right before starting the ceremony, another friend of Jöntürk’s arrived and
found himself in a house full of surprised people. But he quickly integrated
himself in the group and participated in the ceremony.
At 23:30 we
decided to call it a day.
As first day of
the tour it wasn’t so bad. Tomorrow it seems that 5 friends of Yüksel’s are
coming to the library. Hüseyin is also coming tomorrow and will help us very
much.
In the pictures
you will be able to follow today’s process. We are sending the rest of the
pictures in separate messages.
Tomorrow we
will continue!
Big hugs,
Judit, Eduardo,
Nacho, Yüksel, Aurora, Isabel, Zoë, Ariane, Alvaro and Peter
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