After visiting his cousin, A and I got in a taxi en route to the ferry back to the apartment. The driver was an older man with a white mustache. A's relative gave him directions to our destination, Besiktas port. Traffic was heavy since there was a soccer game. A gave me a kiss on the cheek and the driver stopped the cab. The driver said: "Find another cab." A asked him (in Turkish): "Why?". He responded: "Because I said so."
We got out out the cab grinning after our flagrant display of public affection. It was easy to find another cab but we couldn't believe we were kicked out for a kiss on the cheek!
A told his Dad the story and he said that when A was a child, he was speaking English in a cab in Turkey and the driver told him to shut up. His father made a retort to the taxi driver and they were then asked to leave the taxi. So it may have been our English that was offensive to the driver and the public affection was the last straw for him.
In other news, we visited the Grand Bazaar and Sultanahmet Mosque. GB is a crazy maze of ancient market commerce with evil eyes and hookahs in every shop window. At the Sultanahmet, we found the largest indoor rug ever! The first thing our senses detected walking into the mosque was a strong scent of mothballs.
I am still enjoying the food. In fact, I just polished off a bowl of Turkish ice cream called Halis Kaymak. "Kaymak" is milkfat skimmed from the top and let me tell you, it really improves a bowl of ice cream.
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1 comment:
M and A-
It snowed last night in Wyoming. Not enough to keep people out of the supermarket. I have been lured into the holidays, too. I am currently feeling ill after eating too many Hershey's kisses. Easy to do when your co-workers place them RIGHT BEHIND YOUR MICROSCOPE.
Your pictures are gorgeous! Nice work on the bathhouse slip-up. Sounds like something I would do.
Happy Thanksgiving and post more pictures!
Love,
BK
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