Reflections

Snippets of Turkish life

1 Turkish ( 1TL) lira = $1 NZ.

It costs .50kr( 50c) – 1TL to use the Bay or Bayen ( Male or female toilet) and you have the option of standing and squatting or a sit down job if you are in a tourist area. In old Istanbul you cant put the paper down the toilet . You dispose of it in a rubbish bin beside the toilet . What with 14 million people and poor sewerage you can appreciate this.

Petrol is 3.70 TL per litre! We hired a car in Cappadocia and used ¼ of a tank and it cost $40 TL to refill! Mark lost alot of hair that day after driving on the wrong side of the road!

Water is .50Kr on average for a small bottle and it gets cheaper the larger the quantity.

Being an agricultural country the food is fresh and reasonably priced. Strawberries 1 TL / kg. They eat alot of eggplant, tomato, cucumber, lettuce, peppers, bread ( ekmek) and yohurt( many types and very cheap and tastes great) . We have had some good meals and some not so good meals in restaurants , sidewalk stands , and a home cooked meal ( Seljuk Homeros Pension) . Personaly I dont find the food very flavoursome and it is becoming rather monotomous . I am really looking forward to english tea a cooked breakfast and a curry !

The Turkish people have been kind and helpful even thought many do not speak english. They make every attempt to communicate by wrting things down , pointing or using hand gestures. The men seem overtly affectionate toward each, walking with arms around each other, hugging and kissing when they greet each other . I find this refreshng to see. Young males apparent ly make up 85% of the population in Istanbul ( according to someone I meet on the ferry ) . He also informed me that the average salary per month was $400-$500 TL . All young males have to do a period of complusary military training ( conscription ) which is evident as there is a strong military presence here. The guns they carry can be rather intimidating at times especially on the bus. Some of the tourist places say no camera’s , no flash , no guns!

The Turkisk flag is seen everywhere – on the balcony of the apartments , stalls and on top of shops etc. Very partiotic people and very proud also of Ataturk whose picture is displayed all over Istanbul with pride.

They drive all over the road even when there are lanes.They politely toot when approaching or passing ( except Mark – tee he) and I haven’t worked out who gives way to who at roundabouts , some even have traffic lights as you go around them s! Motor bikes are common and some people wear helmets and other do but they are not fastened. I have seen 4 people on one motorbike , none with helmets – 2 adults and 2 children. I even saw a lady on the back holding a baby and another holding a child asleep whilst traveling along the motorway – horrors!

People with disabilities working the road side stalls with a power chair beside and a pair of back up crutches , a young man walking a blind man down the hill and everyone rallying around an elderly man with parkinsons whose wife was traveling with him on a ferry. An inclusive society displaying acceptance and willinness to assist. The gradients of the ramps into public bulidings leaves room for huge improvement s though .

The salesmens and the networking ie THE CARPET DEALERS - everywhere ! We had the pleasure on more than one occasion of sitting drinking chai watching the carpet rugs roll out , the kilims, sumaks and suzannes ? all piled high on the floor - let the bidding begin. Overload - no purchse today !

We are resting up today prior to flying to London tomorrow. Parked up in Hotel WOW close to the airport. My swollen rashy legs and kankels are ready to move on after experiencing a diversity of culture , having increased my knowledge of history ( History 101 for me! ) and seen some amazing architecture and landscapes. Gule Gule ( goodbye) Turkey !