I have just gotten some great news. Ridley Scott's latest endeavor called "Life in a Day" in collaboration with YouTube has selected my video "Give me TV or Give me Death" as  something they are considering for their new film. This was great fun to hear because they had 80,000 submissions.

As I left the post-office from mailing him my DVD, I was looking for a sign and there in the clouds I saw this face. Now, I had read you can ask water molecules to shape to your heart's desire and indeed I like seeing faces in the clouds, so there it was. I am not sure what it means but anything positive is always worth cherishing.

 I am on a personal spiritual trip here in Turkey and after answering to the call of the Cats in Moda, I continued on my merry way doing what I do. That mostly pertains to making photographs and building my self portraits in stone and looking for mimetoliths. I make all the unusual stops and eventually find myself in the neatest of places all through word of mouth and the hospitality of strangers who take me to places that they think I will like.

  I impress a Chinese tourist with my ability to speak several chinese dim-sum phrases. The best being  Fung Chow Hosay......which is The chicken feet are delicious.

 Here in Bergama, I managed to make a number of sculptures in an ancient location  where I think Herodotus  was born. A Greek historian known as the Father of History.  

 I enjoy the fact that some folks find my muse for making these free standing stone sculptures worth photographing as well. This lady eventually made photographs of the five sculptures I made there that day.

                                 The top three images are all the same sculpture.

                          Artür Buyuktasciyan photographer extraordinaire

    who brought me here and to other amazing places

                                                                  Photograph by  Artür Buyuktasciyan

 The top image and those just below are from the Bergama Asclepion which was an ancient hospital. One would sleep here and and incubate and await dreams which were then analyzed by the Seers.

  This is the Asclepion's symbol, which was two snakes around a wheel. It symbolizes how like a snake sheds its skin, you too can shed your disease.        

    Notice the tree  reaching out & waving HELLO  from behind this pillar .

 This underground tunnel actually leads you to the Healing area where one incubates and dreams after taking the sacred water.

This is the area for incubation with my sculpture for good measure. The same one is below. 

  Just below this image is the ancient healing water well that now comes out of a grey pipe. This water was considered sacred and could heal many ailments.I am currently carrying a small bottle of this water that  I drink daily . I'll tell you later of it works.

                                     Grapes are everywhere  and cost next to nothing.

 Wonderful friend Aishe Serbil extended me both hospitality and adventure by bringing  me to these fabulous places below after reading about my endeavors in "Crete on the Half-Shell" 

  I found this great mimetolith and it looked like a sufi with one of their tall hats . Later at the Devils Table I was told that there were 5 sculptures here that represented Atlantis. I was unfortunately not able to join this person who would show me the sculptures  he found that might have marked the spot. Plus I wondered where he got that piece of information. He seemed to Indicate that this image was one of them.

                            The above image shows a face looking up. I believe that on this earth at one time the earth was like a living amoeba and could form into recognizable shapes. At one point something scorched the earth and killed this living being. So we now live on a giant scab of sorts.The remains of these living beings are hard to see but their presence can be felt if one has the right attitude and mindset.

                          A large urn that originally held Olive Oil.

                           This is the actual footprint under a fenced-in gate. 

                                Taking in the view from the Devils Table.

                                        Just south of Izmir, Turkey

          The sufi aka whirling dervish  are everywhere for spiritual              inspiration.

 Avalik above and below is a real treasure for just wandering the streets of this old Greek village.

 Yes, they make real soups here and this one was particularly delicious. They call it "tarhana".

 A local pizza made with a cornmeal crust and pasturma (a cured meat that is the grand-daddy of pastrami) loaded with fresh arugula.Believe me it was as good as it looks and far better than many a pizza in Montreal. 

 Well take a load off ....and enjoy a seat in front of this old mansion. This is an unchartered tour, so enjoy 

 My current host Mehmet Yaman and his cat Köpüsh at Kontes Villas in Bitez near Bodrum. One of the finest places and at affordable prices too!

                                                                 SECONDS AFTER THE ONE UP TOP.                                                                       All photographs by Algis Kemezys