Random Facts of Life in Istanbul

Some Random fact of life here in Istanbul:

I wanted to blog and didn't know what to blog about so I started thinking of all the random little things I could be sharing. Things that I either witness that might catch me off guard, strike me as weird or odd, or just silly. So here are a few.

1. Workers- There is a word here in Turkey which is slipping my mind right now but it describes the two types of people. The first is a person who is wealthy and sees all the riches types of things. That person gets to see fancy cars, exotic foods, beautiful people and expensive things. While the other person is extremely poor and sees nothing new, only the old dirty, and very common aspects of life. To the first person nothing shocks or amazes them anymore since they have seen the best of the best. But to the poor person everything puts them in a state of awe. Sounds philosophical right? Well this second type of person is the construction worker..... let me explain. Every time I have seen construction workers (all types) here is what I witness. Half a dozen guys standing around one or two of them actually working. It amazes me that anything gets done (such as a road or new sidewalk). If you sit an observe these men this is what you see, one guy starts to dig a hole while 7 or 8 other guys stand around and watch. They might be holding a shovel, they might kick a pile of dirt here or there but more often then not they are either sitting with tea, smoking, or just standing observing the one person working. Then after about 20 minutes of work the one working stops working and all the men stand around and talk about the hole that was just dug. Then that one person starts working again, and the cycle continues. They observe, talk, rest, talk, observe... thats it. This was explained to me as the poor persons personality in that the workers are so impressed by the hole that was dug that they must chat about it, praise it, then the one person working gets his ego going (since he knows he made just a great hole) that he keeps working and wants to finish it himself.... can you see what I mean  here? Its ridiculous. 

2. Turkish men are like American Women- no joke. They GOSSIP more then any girl I think I have known, and I don't know many Turkish men, I am saying this because I can see and hear it wherever I go!

3. I saw an AMERICAN football game- I didn't watch more then 5 minutes of it but it was like a flash back in time, it was kinda of surreal. The last football game I watched was the Rose Bowl with Quinn in Portugal back in January and before that I have no idea when the last one I watched was. I had to take a double take when Huma said "look football" cause of course I think Futbol as in soccer but I looked and by gosh there were large beefy looking men in tight pants, with shoulder pads and helmets. I think it was a university team or something but I was instantly taken back to high school and college football games. 

4. Sardines on a bus- not only is it getting hot here fast (I have heard that Istanbul pretty much skips spring and I believe it) but it seems like warmer weather means more people take the bus. This makes no sense to me because the buses are not air conditioned, they are packed... like sardines... and I think men like the smell of their own BO or they don't believe in wearing deodorant one or the other. The bus system has really been pissing me off lately....

5. Tourism bus- it should be illegal for these things (large charter  buses) to go anywhere near streets that are maybe only 2 feet wider then the actual bus. Huma and I were stuck on a side street in a massive traffic jam for about 30 minutes because some stupid bus was just taking its time with its passangers, and they are so massive that navigating the streets just means slower movements and more awkward turns and just a huge mess...

6. Its ok to.....- pee in the park. I saw not only small children but teenagers and grown ups peeing freely in the park, which has gorgeous tulips and grass mind you not like bushed that might conceal your dirty deed but just nicely cut green grass. Now I understand if you had a potty training toddler and you know they will not make it to the bathrooms (which the park has lovely clean bathrooms I might add) but seriously? Children who are potty trained as well as adults and teenagers should go to the toilet.

7. Dont Assume the Taxi driver knows where you want to go- Yes I understand that in my broken Turkish accent Ortaköy does sound like Anurvutköy which ıs my fault in assuming you would be able to tell the difference.   


8. What happened to Spring?- Turkey skips this season it seems to jump right into summer.