Last Day In Turkey
(Tuesday, 14 November 2006) Written by Keith Rhoades
Hello all...well this will be my last email from Turkey.   Last night Elyim picked me up and we went to a Belly Dance Show which was very exotic and a lot of fun.  Then they had regular Turkish dancing after.  Everyone was so friendly to me...though I could not communicate with anyone.  Elyim said they wanted me to get up and dance so I obliged and they were clapping and cheering and very happy that I participated and didn’t act too reserved.  It was a lot of fun.  I got home about 1 am.  I slept in a bit late today because check out time was at noon and my flight does not leave until 9 pm.  I woke up, had breakfast, watched some Turkish TV, and packed.  While packing I realized I lost my sunglasses somewhere yesterday....they were only target cheapies but if I don’t have sunglasses I get a raging headache.  So Ý used this as an excuse to go back to the bazaar.   I guess it is like Alcohol....it gets me all nervous and upset...but there is something addictive and exotic about the bazaar that gets my adrenaline going.  I was able to negotiate a price of 5 dollars for a pair of Nike counterfeit glasses.  After a while the madness of the bazaar got on my nerves and Ý went to find a place to eat.  I don’t even know what to order so I just order the set lunch menu...which was excellent and only 4 dollars. As most of you know...Ý have a tendency to get anxious and worry (needlessly).  Ý started worrying about my flight tonight...how do Ý get to the airport?  Do I have enough Liras for the rest of the day?   How do I know the right bus?  How do I know when to get off the bus?  Are there any departure taxes?  (Ý have gotten to the airport before and then they charge you a 40 tax just to leave).  Will there be problems in Customs?  Will there be problems in immigration in Amman? I don’t want to take more money out of the ATM but I don’t want to get caught off guard.  Plus this is my first time flying internationally from another country!  I Found the Turkish airline office and they answered my questions...but I wont feel calm until I get through customs in Jordan. So...if all goes well...I fly from Izmir to Istanbul at 9 pm.  Then board a plane from Istanbul to Jordan at 11:40 pm and fly over Syria and Lebanon and land in Amman Jordan at 2 am...A few weeks ago I hosted a couple from Jordan on their visit to LA...Simon said he would pick me up at the airport and I would stay with them.  But sometimes these things fall through!  So we shall see.   I am anxious to get onto the next leg of my journey...but I also feel a little sad to leave Turkey.  IT has gone by so fast and was such a wonderful destination.  I hope that all is well with you.   I will do my best to email tomorrow night from Jordan...but I can’t guarantee it, as I don’t know what the Arabic keyboards will be like and such.  Take care.  Göle Göle  (Turkish for goodbye)Keith
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