"Families did not live in Sur's large houses singly. They split the houses in order to make a side income out of the house. They called it mazgana...They began to adapt the houses to their own lifestyles. They continued a lifestyle of a solidarity, awareness of each other. This mutual helping kept these people alive. They shared a cup of food, love and pain."

"The social fabric of Suriçi is more important than the physical fabric."

"Every civilization that dominates the city leaves something there and is influenced by them. There is a cultural wealth of thousands of years."