We haven't felt this good since our last massage with Misha! We arrived at Antalya on the Mediteranian after driving through Turkey's highest mountains. We stopped in a grove of high cedars for a fresh trout lunch Some hiked through a cave. Jerry and I played Hearts - Jerry shot the moon and won. He's feeling much better.
The mountainsides were covered with these cedars until they reached above the tree line. Cedars from Turkey were said to have been used by Mark Anthony to build ships for Cleopatra.
Antoyla is a big city of a million people. We are staying in a 1920 home in The Inner Castle District with narrow cobbled streets and much charm.
Last night we went to the Hamam for our Turkish bath Wrapped in towels, a lady poured warm water over me and I laid down on a raised warm marble platform with other women until an attendant led me to a marble slab and told me to lie down. She then began to scub me with a loofah- that was a little rough- but then she poured warm water over me and covered me with bushels of bubbling suds. Her hand slipped like silk over my body as she massaged it. She poured more warm water over me and wrapped me on a dry towel. I was told to sit with other ladies from our group and given a glass of apple tea while they painted our faces with a green concoction. We all looked like the Wicked Witch ! After a bit, we washed it off and were led upstairs for an oil massage. By the time that was over we were completely relaxed and glowing. The evening cost $35 US dollars and was definitely a highlight of our trip.
On the bus, the guide answered some questions. Formal schooling begins about 7. Both public and private school cildren wear uniforms, but public is going to do away with them next year. Compulsory schooling is 8 years. For the 1,200,000 kids who finish high school, all must takes a university exam. Only about half are accepted the a university. It is a very tense time and produces many suicides both before and after the exam.
Exams have to be taken after university for state jobs. Recent scandal when 85 people got perfect scores-questions had been leaked somehow.
Unemployment is a big problem in Turkey - about 2 1/2 million - 10.89%.
Military service is compulsory for men 1/2 year for university grads - 1 year for others.
A teacher would make. About 1500 lira before 14% deductions for healthcare etc
A retiree makes about 1000 lira for 3 months - take home pay, cam go direstly to hospital for health issues and pay only 10% for prescribed medicines. Others pay 20% and have much red tape to get hospital services.
There are many women doctors, they only make up 9% of Parliment.
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