This apartment building replaced our little house on 6 Sokak in Baclievler. These days, the only things you can recognize in Ankara are the American Embassy, Ataturk’s Mausoleum, Ulus and the Citadel. The population has exploded and now tops five million. The city is full of high rises, traffic and crowds.

Turks are very creative with the color combinations on their apartment buildings. Another appealing innovation is to build a BBQ on the balcony of each floor. Some of the newer apartment buildings in Ankara are incorporating a shared balcony chimney. Erdal/Mike told us he once had an apartment with one of these but quit using it because all the smoke seemed to end up in his living room.

The American Embassy through its surrounding fence. All of the embassies were hidden behind brush or fences and most had guards outside. We had just passed the German Embassy where the guards became upset when they saw our cameras. They actually shouted at us, but Mike kept driving as he said there is no law against taking pictures.

This is the shopping mall and space needle restaurant that replaced the Officers Club.

We are standing in the plaza of the mall where the Officer’s Club used to be.

When Bobbie left Ankara in 63, she left her high school sweetheart, Bill Croucher 62, behind. Mike, Bill and I did everything together; we were inseparable. Bill & Bobbie are now married, but Bill couldn’t get away from work to join us. We’ll all have to go back again for a full reunion!

Bobbie Adkison (Croucher) 63; Erdal “Mike” Bargut; Anita Donohoe 66

Erdal “Mike the Turk” Bargut in his office at Bilkent University. This is the same guitar he played at our school dances back in the 60s.