mysterious

I was wolfishly devouring a plate of momos at Saturday Café when a jaunty tune wafted up to the terrace and seized my curiosity. I just had to follow the drumming and horns to their source.



I asked everyone I know what this mini-parade was all about, and no one could tell me.
It remains a fantastic mystery.

The mystery has now been solved! Harika reader Kancha, kindly explained in the comments that this is a "Lakhe (Demon's) dance. General belief is that the spirit of Lakhe... reside in that Demonic mask. When the dancer put that mask on, the spirit take over dancer's body and dictate the movement."

friday night

Who knew Istanbul had a happening Flamenco scene?
In a bar that took the term "dive bar" literally, with under-the-sea décor and vintage photos of divers hung with reverence upon the walls, a man named Manuel drummed a hypnotic beat with lightning feet. When he danced, we watched breathless, when he paused, we moved.