Thursday, January 23, 2020

A bus adventure

He's removing these metal sheets;  but I don't know what he's going to do afterwards!

The cloud cover comes and goes;  but it's never really, really cold and it never rains - or snows!

Each morning is lovelier than the last.  We’ve slept in and missed breakfast completely.  It’s okay, though, we ate so much yesterday we’ll never notice a missed meal.  Today we’re going on a scavenger hunt.  No one has been able to help us locate Ammar’s missing bag, so we’re going to take the bus to the airport and search for it ourselves.  The bus uses reloadable fare cards and we find a helpful street vendor who walks us through the whole process.  We’re only on the bus a few minutes before we’re off.  The seats are comfy, the temperature is just right, and there’s even a little video about how the airport works.  When I leave to head back to Florida, I’ll know right where to go!

When we arrive there is an information desk easily locatable and the woman has one of her colleagues take Ammar back into the inner sanctum.  For whatever reason I can’t go with him;  but I’ve got my phone, just like the teenagers, and time passes quickly.  Before I know it he’s back with a disappointed face.  But he’s just teasing me and what has been lost is now found!

We hop on the next bus back to Sulanehmet and wouldn’t you know it, the bus had a flat tire!  I think it may have blown, because the noise really startled me!  The company sends a replacement and we’re back on the road in no time.

We take the bag back to the hotel and now I’m even more pleased that he found it because it is filled with goodies for me!!  (Does that sound greedy??  I”m sorry, but such treasures!!)  We now have matching hoodies with the Jordanian flag on one sleeve and official HKJ symbol on the front (small) and back (large). And mine fits perfectly even though it says it’s a small!

We don our matching hoodies and head back to the square.  Since we missed breakfast, I’m starving (Ammar doesn’t seem to notice when meals are skipped and never really eats much at breakfast, even when we do get there!)  We stop at one of the little places near the square and have what might be bean soup (yummy!) A small salad that we split and still don’t finish, and kabobs.  Mine is beef and his is chicken.  And there’s a somewhat spicy tomato sauce for dipping.

On the way home we stop at a confectionary shop.  Oh!  So delicious!  I love the way they let you sample before you buy!!

Ammar has figured out where the most famous Turkish bath is located and heads straight to it.  We choose a package and split up, as the baths are single-gender. 

The appointments are sumptuous and Lisa, my tiny massage therapist from Bali, shows me to the changing area, and give me a sarong to wear, along with the most interesting air of disposable panties, and bright purple rubber sandals.  When I come out she takes me by the hand and leads me upstairs to her massage cubby.  She has the strongest hands!  She does a full-body massage, back and front, including my scalp, and I’m in heaven.  After the massage I’m invited to spend as long as a like in the Hamam, washing and shampooing and generally luxuriating the the warmth.  Eventually I wrap up in my towel and sit in the lobby drinking hot Turkish tea from one of those sexy tulip glasses.  One of the girls tells me that my husband has added a fifteen-minute package to his experience, so I have plenty of time to wander back to the changing area , work the combination to open my locker, and change back into real-world clothing!  

When I exit, I head back to the men’s side and just have time for a couple of photos before Ammar appears.  As we’re heading back to the hotel we pass a street vendor with roasted corn on the cob and roasted chestnuts.  The corn is delicious, hot and buttery, and when we get home I have my first ever roasted chestnut.  Ammar asks what they are called in English, but I don’t really know.  I guess chestnuts and when he translates the Arabic, turns out I’m right!  Goodie for me!  Munching and much talking and it’s another beautiful evening.