Day 10 & 11 of the presentation tour of the book of Silo’s Message in Turkey, June 12 and 13, 2012



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Hello friends,

Yesterday there was no report because we were travelling all day from Izmir to Antalya, arriving at 19:00 hours at our hotel. There was a problem with the internet connection, so we couldn’t update the blog.
Anyways, we went that very same day to the Alevi Center to see if we could meet somebody. We had to take a taxi since the center was pretty far away from the hotel. Eduardo, Alvaro, Judit, Ismael, Salva, Carmen and Peter went. The taxi driver spoke English well and went with us inside the building. There was a man guarding and after introducing ourselves with the help of the taxi driver, he went to look for another person who introduced himself as the vice president of the place, named Ayhan. He gave us the impression he didn’t know who we were and he called Tufan, the president of the Alevi association who confirmed they were waiting for our arrival and that there would be a meeting on the next day. So everything went well and they offered us chai and water and we talked about the book and showed them the book, the Comments and the press kit. He invited us to visit the building and showed us various places and the hall where they do their Semas, their ceremonies. He told us that they were still moving into a new and bigger building they had just finished building.
After beautiful conversations translated by the taxi driver, Ayhan offered to take us with his car to the hotel and we set a date for tomorrow at 11:00. He also told us that Tufan would be there and an English-speaking person.
In the meantime, Yüksel called Eduardo announcing he would be arriving at 6:00 a.m. from Ankara bringing books. So we reserved a room in the hotel so we could sleep a little bit until the date with Tufan.
We finished the day with a beautiful seaside walk, talking among ourselves and before going to sleep we did a service and a well being ceremony for our loved ones.
Today, June 13th, we went to the Alevi Center at 11:30 with Eduardo, Judit, Aurora, Yüksel and Peter. We were received by Ayhan in his office were there was also his secretary Sultan and another woman behind a table. They offered chai and sweets and a very animated conversation started, books in hand and also looking at the book on the Parks. While they read passages of texts they continued repeating that it was very similar to what Alevi’s say and v alue. So quickly a friendly atmosphere was created. We didn’t have a translator, so dictionary in hand we did what we could, but all went well. They gave us 2 objects with the small statue of Haci Bectas Veli and we gave them the book. Ayhan told us he had read the booklet of the Commentaries the night before and liked it very much. They told us that there are 300.000 Alevis living in Antalya, one third of the total population.
In the meantime we were waiting for Tufan who was late but arriving. At a certain moment, around 13:30 they arrived and we went to another office, Tufan’s. There we met the vice president of the Haci Bectas association, his wife and 2 kids, one of them spoke some English. We sat down and the son translated the conversation. A while later, another woman arrived, also called Sultan, who spoke German perfectly. So we continued with her and the wife and two kids said good-bye. Sultan tells us about the present situation of Alevis in Turkey, which is not so good due to the obstacles put upon them by the government. In this report there is no room for going into detail but the conversation was very long, we were listening and once in a while introducing something from our side. It was clear that they were worried and that they want to divulge the existence of approximately 20 million Alevis in Turkey, 25% of the population, of whom the Europeans are not even aware of. Sultan also affirmed that there is affinity in thoughts between the Alevis and Silo’s Message and that she wants to collaborate with our message.
Finally Tufan arrived, a very amiable and calm man, always in a good mood. Until that moment we hadn’t talked about a possible presentation of the Book in his center. It was clear to us they needed a lot of time to explain their situation and their worries. They were very happy because we already have good relations with other Alevi centers in Ankara and Istanbul and were delighted we would attend the Alevi festival in Tuncelli at the end of July.
We also gave Tufan a book and a press kit and showed them to book of the Parks. He arrived with another person who spoke English well. So we continued with English translation which was easier for everyone.
Again, lots of tea and sweets, we were very well treated once more and are very thankful. Other men also arrived, all of them had duties in the association.
They also finance their things by themselves and buy their buildings with voluntary donations of their members, who are more than 2.000.
Finally, it seems that for them it was very difficult to organize a book presentation in 2 days, because they want all their members to be informed and invited and they want to receive us according to the good customs of hospitality, with social dinners and more. So we agreed to do a presentation at the end of September or in October, staying in touch for more details.
At 16:15 we said good-bye and Tufan and another person took us to our hotel in two cars. Yüksel had a date with Tufan tomorrow at 10h to go to the bookstore in the center which appears to belong to a friend to see if he is willing to display the books in his library. If this goes well, tomorrow and Friday we can do an invitation action in front of the bookstore. We hope it will work out. A big box of books from the Alevi center also arrived for this bookstore. We think that Tufan and Yüksel talked a lot about this issue.
As you see, everything goes as expected, but many things happen and it was a real pleasure to see so many people interested in the book of the Message.
There is another possibility for this Saturday offered by Sultan who speaks German. She has a meeting with a group of women at the center each Saturday and wants us to go to interchange about the book and ceremonies with them. So Ariane and Zoë will stay in Antalya for two other days. So tomorrow we will call Sultan to confirm Ariane and Zoë will be attending the meeting.
At night, after eating together in the hotel restaurant we went for a walk on the beach and spent some beautiful moments of happy companionship. Back to the hotel we did another service and well being. In the service, we asked that Silo’s Message expand from city to city in our tour, awakening the hearts of people. In the well being we asked again for dear friends who need it.
We are all well, with a luminous spirit and lots of friendship. It is a great pleasure living together this adventure with all the unforeseen events and surprises. It seems that obstacles are unable to influence our mood negatively.
From the beautiful and sweet Antalya we send you a strong and happy hugs,

Yüksel, Aurora, Isabel, Carmen, Salva, Nacho, Ismael, Judit, Eduardo, Ariane, Zoë, Alavro and Peter

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