First of all the road surface was perfect on the big highway heading east from Aydin. We were just flying along. When it got too hot to keep riding James decided to ask at a nicely shaded garden restaurant if we could just sit at one of their tables for a while in the shade. No problem. The guy showed us over to some comfy seats in a big yurt. Perfect!
I rested my head on the table and, being sleepy from the heat, soon dozed off. A little while later we heard someone approaching. One of the waiters came to our table with two glasses of tea and two bottles of cold water. Free, he said. How most kind! Drinking free tea with the attendants at a gas station is one thing but being given tea at a restaurant which makes its living serving food and drink is quite different. To our great surprise, the waiter came back shortly after with a plate of strawberries and two ice cream cones. So super nice!!!!
When we were about to leave, a guy selling fruit infront of the restaurant ran up to us and handed us a bag with four peaches and some cherries! Wow, what is going on?!!
THANKS SO MUCH GUYS FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE KINDNESS. WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR GENEROSITY.
As the sun started to set we came past a somewhat dilapidated gas station with a large grassy area out back, ideal for camping. The young attendant gladly gave us permission to camp there. Wonderful! When we went back there to set up the tent we noticed a dog chained to a tree. O no! Remember my June 22nd rant about permanently chained up, depressed and about to go insane Turkish guard dogs? This dog was very calm and quiet when we first arrived so I tried to be optimistic. Maybe this one is an exception and will keep quiet at night. Well I have to admit I was just in denial of Turkish dog habits because I really did not want pack up again and find another sleeping spot. But, within half hour, the sun had set and the dog was coming to life, and so was his voice. No no no! So annoying.
We had no choice but to pack up, say thanks to the attendant and go. We did not see another gas station for a while and it was starting to get dark. Eventually we spotted the big neon sign for the Remoil gas station.
At first glance it didn't seem to offer any good camping spots but James thought we should stop here because perhaps the Lord will show us a little of His sense of humour along with His great care for us : it was called Rem-oil (like the Rem phase in the sleep cycle...), and we had asked, and were pretty desperate, for a good nıghts sleep.
The station was run by a group of Kurdish guys from eastern Turkey. Kurds have their own language, culture and have a slightly darker complexion than western Turkish people.
They live on site so they said we can camp next to the small building they live in. The station owner then also said that one of the guys was just cooking Güveç, a traditional Kurdish dish, and that we should eat with them. It was delicious!!!
THANKS AHMET AND ALL REMOIL STAFF FOR YOUR WELCOME. YOU WERE GREAT TO HANG OUT WITH!
No comments:
Post a Comment