Wednesday, July 7, 2010

The Green Mosque

Everyone has heard about the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, but Jim, Beth, Mark, and Leon got a first hand experience at the Green Mosque. Intrigued? -- read on...

Our second day on the Metro Star started with snorkeling in Lighthouse Bay. While looking down at a partial wall in the water, Mark and I each saw an eel swim by. Mostly, we swam amid schools small black fish.

The wind was up as we left, so we had "sails up." I had really wanted this - I love the sensation of moving through water silently. (It turns out this may have been the only time we'll get to sail.)

A highlight of the day was stopping for a swim at Stepbi Bay. The captain recommended that we climb up the hill. Everyone went except me. Up there, they encountered an imam, a Muslim religious leader; he invited them in to his home. They were served sage tea and talked. He became an imam by going to imam school for seven years after secondary school. His area is an area with 20 families; the mosque there is small and painted green. He lived in a simple house - He had a small windmill and a solar panel; the energy was saved in a 12-volt battery, enough to power a few lights --and his satellite dish! He raises goats and grows figs, olives, and apricots.

When they came back to the boat and explained this to me, Jim said, "He didn't live that far up the hill. I expected that 80 zillion tourists would be trouping up there, but he said few did. Leon said "He seemed lonely." Most people come to the cove, swim, and leave (like me). Only a few lucky ones get to experience "sage tea with a sage."

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