This is for sure the most rustic place we have been to yet and the most lush! We felt like we were traveling through a jungle to get there.
But when we got there they had the most amazing picnic spot. Their family has had this land for decades. 55 years ago they planted a tree and now it is 100 feet tall and shades a big space. They also have a well and a pump that pumps up fresh cool water into an irrigation system they have rigged to water their apricot groves nearby! the kids loved sticking their faces down in the water to get a fresh cool drink!
The night before, Narmeen, in the green, my neighbor and I made Dolma...the traditional Kurdish dish.
It's onions, eggplants, grape leaves and a couple peppers hollowed out and stuffed with a rice, meat, dill spice, tomato sauce and oil mixture. Then boiled. looks a little gross, but it's pretty tasty actually.
we all sat down to the feast under the cool shade of the tree.
Annie and her friend Reggie on the left and cousin Lana on the right.
Jesse enjoying tea after the meal. they are really learning to be Kurdish!
the boys relaxing together
us girls having tea
no i was not crying in this picture...i discovered the hard way that I still get spring allergies here. I was miserable for the last few hours...thankfully that fresh well water was there to rinse my face with occasionally and Bevin was there to encourage me on and pr.y for me!
Then the women decided to get all dressed up and head out on a walk through my worst nightmare...weeds that were taller than my head...to go take pictures. I was the chosen photographer. so we bravely headed out as i sneezed repeatedly! Unfortunately as soon as we got there my camera batteries died! I felt so bad that they had all dressed up and i couldn't take any pictures. We made it back to our picnic site and i managed to keep myself together long enough to get ourselves in the car and head home! I then broke down crying...when we came home i took Zyrtec and a shower and felt a hundred times better! So glad i remembered to bring some with us!
Looks like Annie is picking up on the Kurdish half-smile, too!!
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