People watching in Turkey

People watching is something I really enjoyed doing while living in Turkey.

Sipping Efes Pilsen Beer in Istanbul and Ankara
Oftentimes on a summer weekend I would go into the busiest district of Istanbul or Ankara and sit at an outdoor café nursing an Efes Pilsen beer and watch the people walk by. It’s amazing what you can learn about a culture by doing this. I found the Turkish people to be very family oriented and committed to their children. They appear to be strict disciplinarians but very loving when it comes to family members. Older people are very well respected and treated like royalty. I saw very little graffiti on public buildings and shop owners did not appear to worry about staying open late. Although Turkey has taken on many of the “western ways” such as “Burger King” and “McDonalds” and loud music, it is still an ancient way of life that respects tradition and love of the flag.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
They very much adore Mustafa Kemal with a passion and embrace the parliamentary form of democracy. Mustafa Kemal, also known as Ataturk, founded the Republic of Turkey in 1923, was an army officer, revolutionary statesman and served as Turkey’s first President. Ataturk’s political, economic and cultural reforms, referred to as Kemalism, still influence the way the Turkish democratic state is run today.

I love the country and will return at every opportunity.

Weekends in Istanbul

After a week at Cakmakli (pronounced Chok - mok - la or more affectionately known as The Cak), we were all ready for a relaxing weekend in Istanbul. My weekend started early since I wanted to escape as quickly as possible. After mounting the old school bus, we rode the bumpy trails out of the country into the city of Istanbul. The bus dropped us off at various locations but I preferred to exit at Yesil Koy, a small village on the outskirts of Istanbul and either walk through the town or take the train into the city. The train ride was quite interesting and on any day you could find a variety of people or animals riding alongside. I don’t think I will ever forget the distinctive smell of a freshly lit Turkish cigarette. To me at least it smelled like a combination of chicken manure and oregano. I’m sure there is tobacco somewhere in the mixture but I couldn’t tell by the odor.

Anyway, after arriving in Istanbul (which could take 2 hours or so) it was time for a quick bite. I remember stopping by the “doner kebab” stand. For a few Turkish lira I would buy a1/2 loaf of fresh Italian style bread. Inside would be some olive oil with herbs and several layers of thinly sliced lamb. It was delicious and I can’t remember when I have ever enjoyed a sandwich so much. The rest of the day would be spent walking. I would visit the Grand Bazaar and look at Turkish carpets or leather coats or gold or spices. Visiting a merchants shop also required you to drink the tea and even eat lunch with them. I was often so full of tea and pizza that all I wanted to do was sleep. This really made the rest of the day drag on.

When I had enough of the Bazaar, I might walk to the Galata Bridge and look towards the Bosphorus and the Rumeli fortress and imagine the many battles that occurred over the years. When I had my fill of the Black Sea, I might visit Aya Sofia. This was the mosque that use to be a Christian church. Many times I would bring a history book with passages about the mosque and read them in the exact places where the book referred to. It was truly amazing. The Blue Mosque was also a fascinating place to visit as was the Dolmabahce Palace. My favorite place to spend an afternoon however was down in the cistern below the city. The cistern was built many hundreds of years ago to collect water for the city. The most amazing thing was that it was built from the materials captured by the Turks when they conquered other regions. The cistern was so large that to tour it properly required a small boat.

After a full day in Istanbul, I would get back on the bus and return the The Cak. A quick shower to wash off the exhaust smoke and the dirt from the city and I was ready to sleep and who knows maybe do the same thing again Sunday morning.

Antique Victor Portable Record Player - 1910

Here is another treasure I inherited from my late grandmother. I don't remember the model but its an early antique Victor portable record player circa 1910.

This beautiful Victor antique record player was in my grandmother's attic and I believe when she realized she was not long for this world she gave it to me. It was originally my grandfathers and he and my grandmother used to take it with them on picnics.

It's in excellent condition and all I did was wipe it down with some 0000 steel wool and mineral spirits. Some days I'll place a record on it and let it play.

When I close my eyes I can almost imagine my grandfather and grandmother at the picnic area in Willow Grove New Jersey eating their sandwiches and lemonade in the shade by the lake.

A true treasure.

Impressions of Turkey, October, 1980, Part II

When I finally arrived at Cakmakli, I was dropped off at the front door of the BOQ (bachelor officers quarters) which more appropriately could have been called simply the officers quarters since we were all “bachelors” while assigned to Cakmakli as spouses were not allowed on this tour.

As I walked in the front door, I remember how dark it was. As I passed through the foyer of the building I noticed the radio room to my left and remember the distinctive “buzzing” of the radios and other security equipment. I announced myself to a soldier and he simply pointed me in the direction down this long dark hallway. As I walked (which seemed like miles) I noticed rooms on both sides of the hall. Some had windows painted dark and others were solid wood doors. I assumed one of these would be my room where I would call home for the next 12 months. As I arrived at the end of the hall I could see a glow in a larger room and could see the outline of people sitting around. When I finally arrived I saw that several people were watching a movie from a 16mm projector which was being shown against the far wall. They all looked at me as if to say can we help you? When I identified myself as Lt Michael Lopergolo, they responded with “ Oh….we were expecting you tomorrow”. Things were not off to a good start…

Impressions of Turkey, October, 1980 ... my first Army assignment

I remember when I received my first notification to go to Turkey. I was standing in my dorm room at the University of Georgia. It must have been December, 1979. The phone rang and it was the ROTC office. "Is this Michael Lopergolo?", the ROTC officer asked. "Yes, it is", I answered as nervousness crept up my spine. "Mr. Lopergolo", the man went on, "you're going to Turkey". When he told me of the pending assignment my intestines almost turned to water and I almost lost it. The country recently had undergone a coup. Race ahead 9 months………..

My Pan American World Airways flight landed at Ataturk airport in October of 1980 and I became a little uneasy when several armored personnel carriers met the plane out on the flight line. When I exited the aircraft, it was like I was in another world. Everything was brown and dusty, all the vehicles were dirty and of course no one spoke English. I spoke no Turkish whatsoever having taken Italian for 2 years in college. This was not how the Army had described it to me. My luggage was lost, the phones didn’t work, and there was no one to meet me to take me to my new assignment. Needless to say, my first impressions were not positive.

After muddling my way through customs, I tried the telephone but soon realized I had no coins and the operator spoke no English. I wasn’t even sure who I was going to call although I felt like calling my Mom to get me out of there. After an hour or so I heard the distinct sounds of an American from off in a distance. I moved over to them and as luck would have it found out they were from another military unit but were picking up another new arrival, not me. They did, however, take me to my new assignment 40 miles out of their way.

The drive out of the city was very “eye opening”. Turkey was more remote and rural than I could have ever imagined. The homes were shacks (at least in my opinion) made of what appeared to be mud bricks. To this day (nearly 30 years later) I distinctively remember the ride down the long road out of Istanbul to Cakmakli. It was very, very bumpy and of all the mud huts we passed, only one of them had a light on. It was a bare bulb hanging in the center of a one room hut. I remember the hut seemed so cold. I began to wonder what the next year would hold for me in such a remote place. I would soon come to realize, however, that no matter how remote or dusty, old, rural or dirty the country of Turkey appeared on first impression, it and its people would very shortly be endeared to me for the rest of my life.

Philco model 37-1 Antique Radio

This antique radio is a Philco model 37-1.

It, too, is a family heirloom. It belonged to my grandmother and was used by my Dad and his siblings while growing up in Philadelphia. They use to tell me stories about when they were kids listening to "Dick Tracy" or the "Green Hornet" or Superman" on it.

My grandfather would listen to it during WWII days and get the information via short wave radio about his home in Italy. My grandmother was throwing it out back in the 60's and I rescued it from oblivion. I cleaned it up and sent the electronics off to be repaired. It too holds a prominent place in my living room today.

Stromberg-Carlsen Majestic Antique Cathedral-back Telephone

I first became intrigued with wooden box type phones when I was a small child. Lassie (the TV show) was one of my favorites as a child and a wooden phone was used in their TV kitchen. One afternoon when I was 7 or 8 yrs old, my dad and mom took my sister and me for a walk in the woods.

We came across an old building that was boarded up. Peeking in the window I remember seeing a desk with papers on it, some writing materials and an old lamp. Then I saw it. It was the Stromberg-Carlsen Majestic Antique Cathedral-back Telephone.

Ever since that day back in the early 1960's I often thought about that phone. One day while assigned out in California, I was attending an antique show in nearby Reno, Nevada. When I walked in, there it was. I paid $125 for it. I cleaned it up, sent it off to the restorer for the electrical components and it is now in my home in NJ waiting for me to find a sturdy enough wall to hang it on. It weighs aroung 40 pounds.

Western Electric Model 300 Antique Telephone

The Western Electric Model 300 Antique Telephone is a real family heirloom. It was my Dad's and was originally built in 1938. The best I
can trace it to is the late 1930's. It was first used in my grandfathers
wholesale fruit and produce store on Dock St. in Philadelphia. It made
its way, along with my dad, to NJ and eventually ended up as a
downstairs phone on his work bench. I remember my dad very well talking
on this phone when he was working in the basement. I took possession of
the phone after my dads death. It was in bad condition so I sent it off
to telephone restorer. The photo is how it looks now. As it sits on my
desk I often stare at it and think of all the times my dad held it in his hands.

Mike Lopergolo’s Guide to Purchasing Antiques

“Look” for the Smell of the Antique Dealer Shop
When I go looking for antiques the first thing I check for is the smell of the building. If I walk into an antique dealer’s store and catch a whiff of potpourri, I’ll turn around and walk out. Potpourri, at least to me, indicates crafts, and other handiwork that I’m not interested in.

A “real” antique dealer’s shop has a strong musty smell, something similar to an old attic, or damp basement or a barn. This is my first indication that the place may have something that interests me.

Gather Information Before Committing to Buy Antiques
Once my interest is captured, I do a quick scan of the entire building. I may go from room to room if there are several antique displays or if one large open area exists, I’ll stand in the center and look outward toward all four walls. I tend to focus on the things that I like to collect such as antique telephones, antique radios, small antique furniture pieces, antique stereopticons as well as antique photographs and Victrola’s.

Once I find an antique that interests me, I’ll simultaneously conduct a price and quality check. If the item is in my price range I’ll start to look at the quality of the wood (if it is wood), the finish, the joint construction, original hardware, original glass (if it has any). If all these are in good shape and the price is right, I’ll purchase it and take it home.


Buy the Antique, Don’t Wait
Sometimes I may wait a day or two if the price is not equal to the quality of the item. Oftentimes, however, my wait-and-see approach does not pan out: sometimes the item is gone if I decide to return to the antique shop to purchase it. My advice, then: the time to buy an antique is when you see it, because chances are it won’ be there tomorrow.

A Look into the Past

I think one of the most interesting experiences I have ever had was the day I found some old school books inside of a bag I had gotten from my grandmother in 1998 or 1999. My grandfather had just passed away and I was looking through some old things. I found several books dated from the late 1890’s and they had childhood school day scribblings on the covers and inside the covers. I noticed a name and my mom said it would be interesting if we could return the books to the relatives of the person who penned the scribblings. We started to look in the phone book for the same name that was in the school book. When we found one, we began to call. After several attempts, a person finally answered and my mom explained what the books were and how we acquired them. She then went on to ask if this person, whose name was on the cover, was related to person my mom was talking with. As odd as it was, the person on the phone was the original owner of the book. She was 103. It was amazing. We made arrangements to bring her the books and when we went to meet her it was like walking back into time. She invited us into her house and we talked for 3 or 4 hours. We spoke about her life back in the early 1900’s and she told us of her remembrances of the great dates in history; WWI, WWII, her first job, John Phillip Sousa, etc. Even better, she had a sister who was 95 yrs old and I found a grade school autograph book belonging to her, as well. When our time together was through, I brought the autographed book to her sister. The time spent however was not as rewarding but it felt good to return something that was so old. Unfortunately my friend passed away 4 yrs later at the age of 106 or 107 yrs. I will never forget the 100 year journey (even though it took only a few hours) I took with Julia that summer day in 1998.

Mike Lopergolo Talks About his Love of Antiquing

The first indication I had that antiquing was special to me was the first day I entered an antiques shop. You know how you enter a room and you feel the instant energy - good or bad? You can just feel it. Well, there was that same thick profound energy that I felt the very first time I entered an antiques shop. I could feel things talking to me - not verbally, just in some familiar way. I felt comfortable. I felt at home. I also felt intrigued and wanted to know more.

My sense from that day on was the smell that made the antique shop seem "real". Heck, it was also a great place to find treasures. To me, if the place has a musty, damp, “old’ smell, then my interest is piqued and I will look through every inch of the place to find whatever I’m looking for... or not looking for.

The antiques that interest me the most are items that have been “used” by someone up close and personal such as a phone, radio or TV. Something that the person touched 100 yrs ago is what interests me the most. I can hold it and almost feel what the original owner was feeling when they used the item. In some cases I will do research and try and find a definitive history on the item.

About Michael Lopergolo

I was born in 1955 in Vineland, NJ, a small town about 25 west of Atlantic City. I attended the local Catholic school and played little league baseball. I rode mini bikes and motorcycles while I was growing up and broke my arm in 1968 when I fell from a friend’s cycle while trying to impress my mom.

My first car was a 1956 Buick Special station wagon. I use to hang out on the street corner in Newfield, NJ with my friends and trade baseball cards. I’ve owned several dogs and cats and love all animals. At the age of 18, I became a dispatcher for the local police department. I soon realized that a small town couldn’t offer me what I was looking for in life (although I wasn’t really sure what that was) so I decided to go away to college and entered ROTC at the University of Georgia. I had a blast at UGA where I majored in Criminal Justice. I later went on to get a Masters degree in Business from Central Michigan University.

I was commissioned in 1980 and was assigned to a unit in Cakmakli Turkey. This started a career that took me all over the world and across the United States. I’ve been a platoon leader, a company commander (once in Germany and once in Turkey), and I’ve been a staff officer in the Army the rest of my career. I’ve served 1 tour in Bad Kreuznach Germany and 3 tours in the Republic of Turkey (2 in Cakmakli which is about 35 miles outside of Istanbul) and 1 tour in Ankara Turkey.

On weekends in Turkey I would meet with my friends and go sightseeing. Many a Turkish carpet I’ve purchased after hours of haggling and many cups of stiff Turkish coffee. I’ve been married, divorced, have 2 children, retired from the Army and have started a second career.

My hobbies include collecting antiques such as old telephones, old radios, and old record players. I am currently restoring an 80 year old house I purchased in my hometown of Vineland, NJ. I enjoy refinishing old furniture, talking to old people to get an idea as to how they lived and did things in the past.