Ben Higgins - Blog Post 2

The second week was a continuation of the amazing locations we visited in the first week, yet only this time it was mostly cruise that was the source of our transportation. The one learning experience that truly stuck out to me due to its intricacy and detail was the carpet making tour and information session that we were able to experience. I never thought I could be fascinated by something such as rug making, but I really was. To see how these amazingly detailed rugs were made really was a breathtaking sight. To see how a woman could sit at a weaving station and dedicate their days to such intricate patterns and technique was truly stunning. I thought it was amazing how to learn how a woman could sit at a station for seven hours a day for seven days a week working on a rug, and it could still take up to seven months to complete even a smaller rug, yet one with immense detail and decoration. To also see the silk worms themselves and the process of extracting the silk and forming it into the soft and smooth material that it is when it goes into the making of the final product was also something I thought I would never see. I found it unbelievable how this is a true tradition that is passed down from generation to generation that is a hallmark of Turkish culture. Even though the world has advanced exponentially in the realm of technology, I admired how places like these have maintained such a tradition that is so valuable to the makeup of their culture. It amazed me how not only were the rugs done with such amazing patterns and skill, but also how they were able to do things with the material such as being able to change its color with how the light is placed on it and where the viewer is standing, it really was amazing. If I had the money, I most definitely would’ve purchased one.