I woke up drenched and feeling well rested. It was 5:43 a.m. I immediately called about my luggage only to have the lady tell me she had to wait for Lufthansa to open before she could send the luggage and she would call me. I was irritated but hopeful. I didn't cry. I figured I'd wing the meeting however I needed to and figure it all out one way or another. I laid back down and fell back asleep until my alarm went off at 7:45. Still no call or luggage. I called, told the lady how upset I was. She assured me that at 8:00 she'd be able to speak to someone from Lufthansa. I tried calling Germany. I talked to a ticket agent and she told me the office didn't open until 7:30 German time (8:30 in Turkey). I accepted that perhaps I'd have to resort to plan B today. I showered, put my sundress on and went for breakfast. At 8:15 I called and the lady told me she had just given the driver my luggage and it was en route to me. After breakfast I went downstairs in hope of the bag's arrival. It wasn't there so I asked the concierge to notify me immediately if my bag were to show up. About 8:50 I call downstairs about the bag. First they tell me they have a note and i have to wait until tomorrow for my bag. Then, he realized my bag was there and he'd send it up. Obviously, in the 10 minutes, he forgot that I had requested the bag be brought right up to my room! So at 8:55 my bag and I are are reunited!
The driver speaks no English but is a very pleasant man. The route to the factory is over some small, arid mountains. The driver drove a bit fast down the switchback down the mountain. As we got to the bottom and approached the town where the industrial complex was. I saw this.
Since my driver didn't speak English, I waited to later and was told. The "impaled floating head" is the "George Washington of Turkey". The man and woman are the man and woman of the city. Whatever that means.
Right before we turned into the industrial complex, I came across another another interesting site:
My supplier informed me that these were Sultans (past Turkish rulers) that had been educated in that region. He explained that the Sultans had many wives, all who wanted their children to be the next Sultan. So the boys would be sent to different parts of the kingdom to be educated to protect them from being killed by their brothers or their brother's mothers.
I arrived at the factory and the meeting began. Lunch was at a kabob place where they are known for serving the food on paper (like when you eat MD crabs). First dishes to come out are salad and yogurt. Everyone eats out of the same bowl. The yogurt is homemade and fabulous here. The salad is of Greek style...which seems pretty much the same as Italian salad to me. The olive oil is fabulous here! My supplier told me that Italians import their olives from Turkey to make olive oil that they sell around the world.
The afternoon went by quickly and we were done a bit early. I was able to get most of my other work taken care of before Ercan showed up with -lets go now, I want to miss the traffic. So I quickly shut down, put my things together and left.
He dropped me off at my hotel room and said he'd get me for dinner at 9 p.m. I forget how late Europeans eat. I was fine because I was still full from my lunch. I had about 1-1/2 hour to burn. So I picked working out on elliptical over swimming. Then, yoga, then shower and then dinner.
We walked down the road to the sea....just a couple of blocks away. We strolled along the seaside to the "best place for dinner". It had outside seating. We had to wait on a table but they sat us with a man Ercan knew. He told man the man was a basketball star in Turkey. He was joined by another man, who Ercan said also played. They were both about 6'6" tall. I was offered Turkish ouzo...I declined. I had a glass of white wine instead. I only had a couple sips and our table had been set up. Ercan informed me his friend would be joining us. We ordered some cold appetizers....calamari and some sort of vegetable that they call "grass of" the location where is it grown. Eventually his friend showed up and much to my surprise he spoke English as well. Very rarely did he change to Turkish, therefore keeping me in the conversation at all times.
Dinner took more than a couple of hours, each course (like tapas) coming out 20-30 minutes apart. After dinner we had Turkish coffee. It is okay...thick, they keep the grinds in the coffee, so the bottom isn't really all that drinkable. Ercan says they boil it and so there is no caffeine.
After dinner, we went to a bar for drinks. It was an open air place, as well. There another friend joined us. He too spoke English but not as good as the first. We had a few drinks. The two basketball players (who spoke little to no English) also joined us a bit later. I noticed things about Turkish men. They kiss each other (one on each cheek) when they meet. They sing music when it is a song they like. The songs they like are about love and heartbreak. They are very emotional people. I like that about them. I believe Italian men are quite similar. I think my genetics is geared to be attracted to such a man. Interesting thing about Turkish bars, along with the drinks they bring out a plate of fruit. I couldn't imagine that in the states.
We had a lovely time at the bar. They asked me if I wanted to go dancing. I felt like I had overstayed my welcome but Ercan's friend told me it was okay. So I said yes. The "discotheque" was also outside....like a courtyard right on the water. It was a beautiful night. We were brought more fruit and more drinks. I danced a few dances with the basketball player but started to get a weird vibe, so then only with Ercan and the first friend. He had lived in the states for a bit and was very good at translating, etc. I enjoyed talking to him.
Later in the evening, Ercan asked how I was doing and I said I was well. He asked if I was ready to leave. I looked at the time and saw it was 4 a.m. How the heck did it get to be so late? I couldn't believe it. The place was still rocking out. I wasn't tired but wanted to go touring on Saturday, so I readily agreed to call it a night.
I am always amazed at the night life overseas in places like Europe, Africa and South America. These people will party until dawn! I was glad I got to sample a bit of the night life in Turkey. I certainly wasn't expecting it.
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