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Monday, June 25, 2012

Lampron Castle, Namrun

Lampron Castle
It's hot and humid, so it's about that time of year for many Turkish families to head up to their high country homes, called Yayla. Our family has a shuttered little limestone farmhouse in Gozne. Lonely, because it is never used.

Sometimes I wish one of the local djinn would move in at least. I've had news that someone chopped down the large fir in the side yard, since we weren't there to stop them.

Our Mersin neighbors were from Tarsus, so their yayla was the village of Çamlıyayla (yayla with pines). It's very picturesque, set high in the Taurus mountains, overlooking the Cilician Gates of Pozanti.

Perched even higher above the town is Namrun or Lampron, a crusader castle that was once home to a branch of Armenian princes, and part of my main character's heritage.

It's a spur castle complete with a lower ward, upper ward, and some stairs cut into the side of a craggy peak. However, if you didn't know what to look for, you might mistake it for a pile of rocks, but for the one a barrel vaulted hall left standing.

I've heard the only inhabitant there is a squirrel named Ozymandias.





7 comments:

  1. I wonder if that squirrel, what with his name and his place of residence, is having delusions of grandeur?

    Love these posts, Carolyn. You always show me places I didn't even know existed. Thanks!

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  2. Your last line completely threw me!! Now I think Ozymandias the Squirrel is worthy of a book or two! Take care
    x

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  3. Ozymandias? That's the best squirrel name ever.

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  4. Who knew when I was living in so-La. I was supposed to have a Yayla??? :D No, if that was the case, we'd be there year-round, right?

    This is such a wonderful scene from a life post. I love it. Esp. Ozymandias. But I can't believe someone cut down your tree. :o\ <3

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  5. Lovely view!! thank you for bringing Turkey and Ozymandias to us!!

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  6. Ozymandius is one of my favorite poems ever, and naming a squirrel that is just hilarious.

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