Yes, we'll be in western Turkey the whole time. We didn't discuss going to eastern Turkey, but I think it's still a bit dangerous.

I'm not wearing a headscarf. Among people my age there seems to be a fifty/fifty split between headscarf/not-headscarf; older women (outside of the cities) all wear headscarves, little girls don't at all, and women in between might do either.

Of those who do wear headscarves, most wear bright patterned cloth that covers the hair but expose the face. Only a few wear the black Iranian chadors, and I haven't seen anyone wearing a Gulf-style abaya, which covers everything but the eyes.

And fascinating, about unexpected guests in Japan. I can see how that would be a big relief.