In Recovery

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that I live in what many believe to be the center of the carpet universe. Even in my own neighborhood, which is nowhere near the Grand Bazaar, antique dealers and junk shops on my street put stacks of carpets outside their doors every sunny day. Some hang them from the windows, as if to taunt me. I resist their siren calls.

These carpets mean nothing to me. I can look at them as I pass; I can even brush my hand over the knots or flip through the stacks, but I do not buy. I can stare the carpet demon down. I never blink.

I am in recovery.

How did this happen? I think it's something along the lines of aversion therapy. Carpets are heavy and awkward. The 20 carpets I just moved from one country to another caused me grief. I never again want to pick up another carpet and carry it up four flights of stairs. 

BUT, for those who are unable to get the carpet monkey off their back, RFE/RL has run a series of interesting articles about a wholesale carpet  fair in Hanover, Germany. There's interesting insight into the modern carpet market and how traditional designs are being adapted to fit modern tastes (feh!), how carpetmaking industries in Afghanistan and Pakistan are evolving , and how the carpetmaking industry in Azerbaijan declined precipitously after Carpetblogger got kicked out.

Comments

[Seamus]

Did you really get kicked out of Azerbaijan? What did you do? No foreigner gets kicked out of Azerbaijan! Anyways, I enjoy reading this blog! No more riding zhigulis and nivas for you! :) Seems like Turkey has become your new home? Istanbul is a lot of fun (lived there for 4 years).
If you are looking to make new friends there, just knock on your turkish neighbors' doors and they will invite you for dinner, probably the same day.

[carpetblogger]

Actually, yes, Seamus, they do. Not escorted-to-the-airport kicked out, but refused-visa-renewals kicked out for sure.

[Seamus]

Hmm. I guess Ilham was reading your blog and felt you were competing with his. By the way, apparently he had put out an order to subsidize building of an Azeri garden at the cultural gardens here in Cleveland (his father finally died at the Cleveland Clinic) to honor azeri community in here and, of course, his beloved father. I am thrilled to see Heydar's monument in Cleveland - the guy is haunting us in the US after his death! Now that's almighty power! Sorry, I got carried away - they are going to erect something resembling fire since it relates to our great zoroastrian history. The azeri garden will host homeless people during harsh winter days where they will have the opportunity to learn about our great country!
Enjoy your stay in Turkey. And remember, cuss words are practically the same in turkish and azeri.