July 14

After touring some more cave homes we went to Chez Galip Pottery.  In Turkey it's mandatory to stop at least once at a "factory" and the most common factory is a carpet place where you are pressured incessantly.  Fortunately we were able to visit the pottery where there was no pressure.  Chez Galip creates hand made pottery, mostly using a kick wheel, with red clay from the nearby Red River and molded pottery using white clay from the nearby mountains.  We were treated to a kick wheel demonstration by the Master Potter, whose name is unpronounceable, who has 5th generation over 2oo years at the same location, and he has worked his art for 45 years.  He created a beautiful teapot.  I was coerced into trying my skill on the kick wheel, something I haven't done for over 15 years.  It wasn't the result I wanted but everyone enjoyed it and the local potters said I demonstrated a technique unfamiliar to them, so that was my success.  They have students from all over the world and there is a massive housing of ceramic work by both the Master and students, price ranges based on experience.  We bought a couple of interesting items to carry home.  Everyone agreed that it was the best "factory" tour ever and also interesting.  Following that we went to a riverside restaurant for a typical Turkish lunch and we sat outside.