Adnan opened a couple of months ago now - very small but clean premises squeezed between the new Zayra 2 on the corner and the very good Bakers just up the side road.
He is what I would call an "old fashioned gentleman" - he has moved here from Ankara because it is warmer for him and his wife. He had been a "teacher" of barber's in the past and has been cutting hair for 35 years and is very thorough and professional.
I first tried him last month - I had noticed that he had not been very busy over his first few weeks - so in my usual style I told him 10 lira was too much as I only paid 8 lira in Gunlukbasi due to the fact that I don't have much hair - he agreed to 8 lira - before we moved I only paid 5 lira last year in Tuzla so I wasn't being a total ar*e.
I walked up this morning in the rain and at first thought he was closed - or worse - decided to call it a day - I then realised that he was open but the lights and the electric fire were turned off until I walked in - clearly to save money.
We talked about the weather, families and the usual stuff in our "broken" English & Turkish - then his wife walked in from shopping - mentioned she needed some bread - walked next door - returned with some warm flat bread and tore a slice off and said "try this - it is delicious warm". Adnan stopped cutting my hair - presented me with some kitchen roll whilst I ate the bread - he wife left - he finished my cut.
I paid him with the only note I had 50 lira - he had nothing in the till and I suspect I might be his only Customer today - so he went for change and returned soaking wet after going to 3 shops and presented me with my 40 lira plus the 2 lira as he remembered I was the 8 lira Customer - I duly returned the 2 lira and said no thank you.
If any of you are passing and need a haircut - give him a try - I hope he manages to stay in business.
