Unusually, I did not have any difficulties trying to find my way out of town this morning. I set off at around 09.45 hrs, and after about 20 minutes I found myself drinking tea at a makeshift hut just off the road. There were many times on this trip when I was plied with free teas, juices and Pepsi Colas. I enjoyed the view of the calm blue waters of the Mediterranean while I sipped my tea.
I soon picked up a lift in the back of a truck. It was a fun ride…
…wind blowing in my face, hair flapping behind; along narrow winding road, sea down below, mountains and trees on other side; swinging away from the coast as a gorge (with cultivated fields as a floor) or valley separates two sets of mountains, either course of old river or glacier; coast very indented, like south Devon on a much larger and wilder scale.
I dismounted a little way inland, in a sparse forest in a valley. There were small agricultural dwellings, animals, people working in the fields, children waving – and, a bit unnervingly, some women and children running indoors at my approach! Not for the first time, I sat in the shade with some of the workers. They had scythes and wooden finger protectors. They laughed when I touched one of the scythes to test its sharpness – very sharp! They gave me what I described as “a small marrow with salt“, but it was probably a cucumber. We didn’t have exotic vegetables in Croydon. They laughed at my clumsiness in trying to get the skin off. I am a one-man comedy show!
As I trudged along the road to the coast, I stopped at a couple of cafes and enjoyed a free coffee in a restaurant. I was on the outskirts of a small village when I picked up a lift on a motorbike. This took me to another makeshift roadside cafe. I had bread stuffed with vegetables and yet another free tea kindly bought for me by the motorcyclist.
I picked up a lift soon after leaving the cafe – with a taxi driver who had just dropped off a passenger. He took me the rest of the way to Anamur – and gave me a peach and “a small marrow” (yes, probably a cucumber!). I am reminded of Samuel Johnson’s quote, as reported by Boswell:
It has been a common saying of physicians in England, that a cucumber should be well sliced, and dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out, as good for nothing.
As a modern day James Boswell, I sat in the lounge of my hotel and updated my travelogue by gaslight – there was a power cut.
No clues for tomorrow – I will be staying put in Anamur, but not necessarily by choice.
Psychologist on the Move 