Why we travel

First full day back in Turkey. After settling into the hotel, I head to the Post Office to send off a couple of post-cards.

I join a queue, when the old man behind the counter screams at me "HAVE A SEAT!!!"

'Shit' I think, Erzurum is not gonna be a friendly place.

When my turn comes, I go up to the counter and buy two stamps. The old guy screams "WHERE FROM?"

After replying, and sticking the stamps to the post-cards, the guy screams again, only louder...."DRINKING TEA?"

"Eh, ok thank you"....

"HAVE A SEAT!!!"

He sends a young guy off for tea. When the young guy returns, he screams at him in Turkish, something along the lines of....."HURRY THE FUCK UP, DON'T KEEP MY NEW FRIEND FROM IRELAND WAITING FOR HIS TEA!!!"

He then watches every sıp I take, makıng sure I'm satısfied. I thank hım again and exit. Crossing the street, I head over to a fruıt and veg stall, where an ancıent Turk with a scull-cap and whispy beard patrols. He refuses money for the melon I select.

I head over to the citidal, and clımbing up to the top of the clock tower, am treated to a 360 degree panorama of Erzurum, surrounded by green steppe backed by round hills where patches of snow from the winter freeze cling stubbornly to the sides.

The air is crisp and cool, the sun goes easy on the back of my neck, and travelling really doesn't get much better than this......

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