Some of my relatives used to live in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. My family and I, at times, visited them and they would point out us to local favorites which tourists don’t have the opportunity to discover. This sketch was from a picture taken during one of these visits. I was an undergraduate student at the time and curious of old Turkish home construction. I had never thought that I could sketch this in the U.S. later. Here, it is.  

Near Harvard Square, there are some lovely buildings with equally lovely landscaping. These transcendent spaces are welcomed escapes from the hustle and bustle of the square. Lesley University’s Brattle Street campus is one of these. Showing my mother around, I also discovered a great deal of old architectural details. Additionally, the Longfellow House is next to this campus. It is a prominent piece of American history and a good example of Georgian architecture. The sketch was done looking across the campus.

Not kidding, I really miss them. Although I tried to visit the Erlats during my trips to Turkey, I did not have any chance to see them. They are like a second family to me. I have passed many a fun hour at their home. This sketch was from a picture which I took on my last visit. Of course, I couldn’t see them in time. I met the family through one of their sons, who was my classmate. We decided to start a garage band. I found myself playing and recording many demos from our music  studio in Kuzguncuk, Istanbul. Ridiculously, we have not met almost 5 years since I say my bro, Tuna, off to England, and another to Tibet. I wish I could go back to that place and time.  

One of my friends showed me the Red Hat one day after our finals. It is a very old establishment in Boston, over 100 years old. We ate like kings, but drank like beggars -just water. The Red Hat has a pretty interesting interior space from the old days. The ceiling is very low, and the prices, too, when you compare with other costs in Boston. The sketch is from a picture I took that night.