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Written by Keith Rhoades
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Tuesday, 14 November 2006 |
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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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Last Updated ( Friday, 29 December 2006 )
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