Monday, January 9, 2012

Cat-a-Blog!

That's right--it's the long-awaited, highly anticipated cat-a-blog entry!!!  It's focus is on the cats that I've met in Istanbul and around Turkey and it's inspiration is the concept: CATS ON THINGS...so let's begin!

Turks love cats!
Cat hedge sculpture in Taksim square (that's like the main square!)

And they have loved cats for centuries...

Inclusion of fake cat in ethnographic exhibition on Ottoman Turkey

And the cats here are very, very healthy :)




And people take really good care of them!

milk, water, dry food, bread...



maybe they feed them a little too well :)

They even make houses for them...






The fellows, researchers, and other Americans are no different--we love cats too :)


Merih covered in cats on Buyukada

Alexander in Antalya

Yasemin hanging with Tunel cat

Petting Bursa cat

Naomi checks out this Sultanahmet cat

And of course I love the cats!!! 



They've really fully integrated themselves into the fabric of the city.
They line the streets and sidewalks...



Under cars

on the side of the road

with the street sellers

literally integrated into the fabric of the city :)

They are even sold in the street!

They sit on the walls...






And sleep on the walls... 

They wait on the stoop...

Just waiting to get in

or go to mosque


gossiping on the stairs


They wait at the windows...



They check on the electricity...sort of




Everywhere in the city!

And the cats are a lot like people.
They love to go shopping and visit all the different stores...






this cat is spoiled.  he goes back and forth to different stores on Istiklal and sleeps in their window displays.


Reflection cat!

Cats love music--note the record  :)

And just like other Turks, they love to hang out at cafes...



When you;re tired, you have to resst where you can




I think they are waiting for their tea!

But they also love nature...at least the little of it you can find around Istanbul
small pieces of nature...

Playing with the birds

Hanging in the grass


Sitting on the roof with pomegranates

Or going for a dip (credit to Merih for the amazing photo)

They know how to get from place to place...

on motorcycles

cars

and boats! oh my

But they also have their tourist side.  Cats here cannot get enough history...

they visit the cemetery at the Suleymaniye mosque

they check out the fountains

The columns of Byzantine churches in Antalya

pay close attention to historic walls (been there before!)

Visit the military museums

Go to the Blue Mosque

And of course they have to visit the Haghia Sophia!

Especially the inside!

And just like everyone else in Istanbul, Istanbul cats love cats!




And why do I love them...

Because they remind me of my Wanda!



But just in case, you're not a cat lover (if so, I'm not sure how we are friend) other animals in Istanbul are also to be found on things--living it up :)

Chicken on car

Duck on street

Dog on man on bike :)

dog on me

Sleeping dogs...

And don't worry there where be many more photos to come!!!!
(Thanks to Merih, Yasemin, and Naomi for the photos I stole)








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