“Turkey Around Istanbul

• February 18, 2020
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

I am loving Turkey, and appreciating how nice and helpful the locals are. Everyday, I head out to the market to buy food for each days meals. It is so fun to try to figure out what everything is. I am starting to use my translator and it is helping to find specific items. To get everything we need, it takes several stores; a butcher shop to find lamb and beef for the comfort food we are cooking. We have one hot plate, a microwave and a toaster. The meal has to be planned very careful, so everything can be ready and served at the same time.

Today, Bunny needed some new scissors to cut her hair, so “Maps” said it was a 25 minute walk so I was ready for the adventures. I ended up in a bazaar and found what I was looking for. Everything you could possibly want or need, is grouped in little districts, inside the bazaar.

I enjoyed taking some time out from my errands to shoot some street photos of around the area, and of the locals.

I needed to replace the wheels on our aluminum suitcases, because after two years, the wheels were starting to show wear and tear. Better to replace now, when I have the time and place. Our rental home is close to a tool district, so I looked up “hardware stores“ and headed out to find what I needed, very quickly. I got some new wheels and the store owners sent me to another store, to get nuts and bolts. I could not rent any tools, so I asked our landlord, Taskin, if he could help. With his help, both suitcases have new wheels and will be ready to go next month, again… good for another 90,000 miles!

I can’t wait for the next adventure, tomorrow. I have met several men from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and they speak English. Not too many Turks speak English, but I can get my ideas across to them with hand gestures and what little English they do understand.

There are several things to see and do here, and now are waiting for a break in the weather. Less rain, more sun.

One adventure a day, with less clouds and moisture will give us the photos we desire. The morning light is best for photography and we have a lot of time here. We do not have to rush