It started out as a simple getaway to someplace exotic. Then, the forces of adventure converged, and the journey took on its own destiny. First, a volcano erupted. After days of false starts and ash-filled skies, my small Turkish internet airline managed to rally a plane. When I finally landed in Istanbul, my shuttle bus driver was taken away by the police. And on my very first night, a mysterious stranger brushed past and whispered “Pssst, wanna see some dervishes?”
Ever since my first visit to Turkey years ago, visions of whirling dervishes have danced in my head. And so it was meant to be. And for the next 10 days, I was in a whirlwind of whirling. I became a dervish groupie. I came to know the sema ceremony by heart and fell into my own trance each night as the dervishes danced. Murat, Serhat, and Kadir were mesmerizing and showed me a graceful path to Rumi’s hope that we all learn to “take a step without feet.”
Meredith Mullins is an internationally exhibited American photographer and writer who currently lives in Paris. She is a recent winner of the 2010 Px3 competition, a 2009 winner of the Grand Concours Photo sur Paris, author of the award-winning book, In A Paris Moment (click here to order), and contributor to Paris Magazine and Browntrout travel calendars. Visit www.meredithmullins.artspan.com to see more of her images. Original photographs are available directly through the artist.
Meredith will be teaching a Paris photography workshop for teenagers the week of July 12. She is also available for private photography instruction/exploration in Paris. Sign up for an information-filled, creative half-day lesson! Contact: [email protected]
Coming soon: Eye Prefer New York Tours
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
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