Thursday 13th October. I decided to have a day off in Kütahye.

I stayed in my room catching up on this blog (it’s slow, verrrrry slow – like me, on the road).  Then, in the afternoon, I wandered over to the Tile museum behind the Cami.   A gaggle of 17yr old girls made me feel like a celebrity by mobbing me, and asking me lots of questions.  They were practising their English and it was great fun. 
 
Inside the Tile museum, the patterns on the plates and tiles reminded me of William Morris designs – though I suspect I know which came first.  I sat and tried to draw one of them – more complicated than they seem, but mostly based on a grid.  There were also some rather beautiful little embroideries which (I’m sure) some woman would have lovingly slaved over.
 
I took a meandering route back to the hotel.  Love sweetie shops – can’t get enough baklava!  I like the atmosphere in this town.
 
I am fascinated by the hijab and its relative, the abaya or chador.    Modern young things tend to use the hijab like it’s a hairdo.  I have watched videos of young women demonstrating quite complicated folds and pinnings.  If you have a long coat and cover it with a sparkly trim, it’s going to stand out, isn’t it?  Some of the headscarves are beautiful – heavy silk in gorgeous colours - folded just so, to reveal the stripe or show off the pattern.   But why bother?  I guess it's because it's a symbol for modesty.  Now, a long black abaya –that will hide you, trip you up, slow you down, most certainly.