Welcome President Obama. Meet my new best friend Muhad.

April 5.6.7, 2009

Showing that he can’t be out done by us, President Obama decided to visit Turkey while we were there. He was not only visiting the country but exactly the same places that we had visited the day before.

Of course you would have to be blind to miss the preparations. Blue police barricades suddenly appeared around the Hagia Sophia (for 1000 years the largest church in the world – built 537 AD) and the Blue Mosque (built in 1616). Large men, wearing sunglasses and nylon parkas, appeared in local coffee shops and the waiters at the cafes all knew which rooftop bars had been taken over for sniper posts.

Our concern was just getting out of the city since he was coming to our area as we were trying to get out. In the end it all worked out except that we had to detour an extra couple of kilometres to catch the tram for the airport. Not fun while carrying a large pack and walking uphill on cobblestone streets. Interesting to pass police, soldiers, water cannon and armoured personnel carriers with machine guns while walking out. If the Canadian PM came I don’t even think he would get a private tour.

Now back to Istanbul. Spent our last full days there touring attractions (see above), getting lost in the narrow twisting streets and trying local cuisine. I particularly like the Turkish tradition of the hookah – the water pipe. We spent one evening in a traditional style bar, with the cushions on the floor – no chairs, with Lana watching me smoke a hookah. Apple tobacco I think.

The last afternoon we went to a traditional Turkish bath. I developed a close personal relationship with a large gentleman, named Muhad, who was wearing nothing more than a towel and a big moustache.

In a Turkish bath (this one was built 500 years ago) you lie for a while on a huge piece of marble in a steam house atmosphere. Eventually, when they think you are ready, an attendant comes to exfoliate, massage and soap you down. Eventually they douse you with buckets of warm water. It was great right down to the moment when Muhad learned over me and said “you come back with tip”. I knew then we had a connection. Besides no one had ever touched me that way before.

On to Casablanca.