Europe 2012 Day 2 (Izmir) - part 3

So, I still need to finish downloading pictures, but that requires power and the computer.  Writing only requires my black berry.  So today, while traveling through Germany, I finished writing about my time in Izmir Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm a couple days behind.  what can you say, I caught the Turkey bug! (think Island mentality):

In the early evening, I went for a walk north along the seaside. There are restaurants all along the road with seating on the water. I love being outside and could imagine living here, eating outside year round, with the lovely breeze off the water.

I wanted to take pictures of the large hookahs the men were smoking from. The hookahs sat on the ground and stood about three feet high. At the top was the canister for the tobacco. They placed hot, aromatic smelling coals on top of the tons.  The men held long hoses from which they smoked.  In addition to the hookahs, the other notable item were the backgammon boards placed on many of the tables. Several people were playing. Others were just sitting and socializing.

 As I walked back southward, I came to a square. There were six people dressed in traditional Indian clothes performing traditional music and dancing.  I didn't think Turkey had such indigenous people.  Eventually, a girl came around with a CD. On the cover was stated, traditional Ecuador Indian music.  The music was okay and if I had more than 8 Turkish lira on me, I might have considered buying one just for the novelty of it.

Next, this marching band of sort came through. Strangely attired and basically just marching about, I have no idea what they there for.

It was getting close to sunset, so I found a spot to sit along the wharf. Eventually, a well dressed, nice looking man (I think Turkey has fabulous looking men!) sat close by and started speaking to me in Turkish. I smiled and replied, "I'm sorry but I don't speak your language."  He smiled back and nodded.  Perhaps 15 minutes later, another man stopped to speak to me. I once again said I don't speak Turkish. In English he asked me, "Are you Greek?" I shook my head no. Then he asked, "What nationality?" I answered, "American" and he said, "Sorry, thought Greek," and went on his way.  The first man smiled and said to me in slow, broken English, “my brother lives in America." I smiled and asked where.  He said NY City. He has a restaurant there.  I told him I loved NY but lived in Washington DC (closest big city for reference since most people don't know Baltimore or state of MD).  He told me he worked for an American company - Carrier.  He also told me he once lived in Russia.  He spent a lot of time between sentences - I'm sure trying to translate.  I didn't say much too him because I knew he would struggle to understand. I did tell him your country is beautiful.  He smiled and agreed. I always find it especially nice when strangers, who struggle with English, will still take the time to be polite and try to engage in conversation.  With each country I visit, people never cease to amaze me with their kindness and hospitatlity.

I watched the sun set, bid my new friend goodbye and headed back to the hotel.