Tea Under the Branches of a 600-Year Old Tree

Yes, it's true...I had tea under the branches of a tree that is 600 years old. I have to post pictures of it because it was incredibly beautiful, like some kind of fairyland. I went with Derya and Sarkan outside of Bursa to a small village named Inkaya with steep narrow streets. Toward the upper part of the village, this enormous tree grows in the center of this paved area with dozens of tables underneath its thick branches where people shared an afternoon meal or a pot of tea. It was so cool and calm in this little paradise, and a stream corralled by stones ran through the center. I have never seen anything like it, and I doubt I ever will again. Looking down from this village high up on the hill, you see how Mediterranean the landscape of Turkey appears, even inland from the sea.
After we got back into Bursa, Derya and I walked around to parts of the city that I had not seen before. Because of all the walking I have done around the city, I think I many know Bursa better than downtown Cincinnati. I saw Yesil Camii, the Green Mosque with its carved marble facade and turquoise tiles around the windows. It dates from 1419. Columbus hadn't even discovered America. Sometimes it's hard for me to wrap my head around the age of this city, and I keep having to remind myself, that I'm in such an ancient place, part of the Silk Road and the Ottoman Empire. I can't wait to see more of Turkey!
P.S.: An extra thank you to Jake for getting me through a tough patch yesterday :)