In Salonika, there are also Turkish-Mahommedan women, who live very differently from the Christian and Jewish women. These women are always dressed in plain black or blue gowns and keep their faces covered. They never walk outside with their husbands or sit in the gardens to enjoy the music. They are kept inside their homes, in the harem, and their only conversation is with their husbands.
Feelings of Envy
I was told that these Turkish women often feel jealous of their Christian and Jewish sisters. These women are able to go out with their men, dine together, go on carriage rides, and visit cafes in the evening. In contrast, the Turkish women see that Christian men treat their wives and women with more freedom and respect. One man in Salonika told me, “A Turkish woman would give up her nationality just to have the freedom that Christian women have The Deunmeh A Unique Group of Women.”
Sundays in Salonika
In Salonika, it feels like there are three Sundays every week. Friday is the day of rest for the Muslims, Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath, and Sunday is for the Christians. However, there is no real day of rest, as there is always business being done every day, no matter what.
The Importance of Cafes in Salonika
A lot of business in Salonika is done at cafes. If you need to meet someone, you go to their favorite cafe, not their workplace. Some cafes are busy in the mornings, others in the afternoons, but all of them are crowded in the evenings. People in Salonika love to stay in the shade. As the sun moves across the streets, people change tables. The side of the street in the sun becomes empty, and the tables in the shade become full as the day goes on Customized Istanbul Tours.
