Malena in Turkey

*Where by smoking up I mean apple tobacco hookahs

On Friday, after my last entry, Kate and I were again up to no good.  We decided to visit the Galata Bridge, walking about 1 mile through refreshingly non-touristy areas of Istanbul to get there.  I think the special thing about the bridge is the view over the Bosphorus and the restaurants on the lower level.  It had a quite nice atmosphere but even so Kate and I didn’t plan on stopping… at least until we saw the group of people drinking beer.  We immediately made a beeline for the next available table.  I think the hawker was surprised that we put up so little of a fight.  For the record, the beer here is delicious, Efes Pilsner.  Mmmm. 

Afterwards, we were on a roll so we walked back to the touristy areas to fınd another bar wıth nargileh available (those tobacco hookahs.)  Our first attempt was a total failure (expensive, no nargileh, and a staid atmosphere.  We even saw sequined fanny packs, which is never a good thing.)  In desperation we set out for a bar listed in the Lonely Planet, but kept getting lost.  Right around now we were starting to worry, because it had been hours since we’d last been bothered by touts.  Hours!  Fortunately, our luck turned.  One carpet seller remembered we were from New Mexico, and started asking us questions about Albuquerque (clever of him!)  He was entertaining, so we stopped for a minute, but when he offered us tea we demurred, instead asking for a business card.  He gave Kate a ’special’ card, complete with hand-drawn hearts, then complimented her on her eyelashes.  Apparently they match her nose. 

Our next tout encounter was fortuitous.  A Kurdish carpet-seller from the east of Turkey saw us wandering the streets looking for the Şah bar (the one listed in the LP) and managed to point us in the rıght direction.  Of course, he then stayed to chat for an excrutiable 30 minutes (made more difficult by the fact that neither Kate nor myself could understand his accent) but eventually made his way to the door.  He did comment on my ‘nice’ shoes (again!) and ask if we were sisters (again!) before he left.

 Then, it was time to smoke up!  We managed to wave down the waiter and get a nargileh pipe, which was VERY exciting.  I was terrible at it, but many humurous pictures were taken.  I think photographing smoking is way more fun than actually smoking… and once I can upload some pictures I’m sure you’ll all agree. 

Now doesn’t that sound like a pleasant way to end the day?  Hahahahahaha.  Coming soon… a description of a terrible overnight bus trip (by a very special guest blogger!)  Also, our first day in Selçuk (spent mostly relaxing from aforementioned trip) and a description of the classical ruins of Ephesus, plus pictures!  And may the upcoming bus trip to Fethiye be less painful than the last (leaving in about one hour and arriving at the otogar (bus station) at midnight!)

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This entry was posted on Sunday, April 2nd, 2006 at 5:48 am and is filed under 01 - Turkey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.