On Friday evening my friend arrived in Calis with her sixteen year old daughter and her 70(ish) year old Mum. It is her Mum's first visit to Turkey but unfortunately she hasn't received the typical Turkish hospitality we all know and love. After spending a lovely evening in Joseph's Bar they were followed home to Poppy apartments by a man on a bike. On nearing the apartments he began to circle them, on his bike demanding 60 euros. She told him where to get off and luckily managed to get inside the complex in one piece. The lady who runs the complex told them that she had heard of this happening recently and thought the culprit had been caught. She immediately called the police and reported the incident for them. They are still waiting for anyone to arrive:(.
Last night , well early hours of this morning really, Billy and I were sitting in Ali's Bar with Loz and Gordon when a fight broke out in Maria's Bar. It was closed up for the night but the girls who sell the roses were sitting there as usual. Three of them decided to give another one a right good slapping. The polis arrived within seconds, they must've been just down the street. Did the take the culprits into custody? Did they hell, allowed them to run off, even though everyone was pointing them out. The poor girl who was the vicitim got a ride instead. I must admit though she could get a star part in the next blockbuster she milked it so well.
After saying our goodbyes Billy and I set off up Baris Manco, talking all the while about both incidents and how in the eight years we've been coming here we'd never witnessed any violence, been followed, or in fact had any cause for concern although we always heeded any warning to be vigilant etc that we read on here. That was about to change.
Just as we were crossing the road at the Akdeniz restaurant we heard a couple of motor bikes roaring up behind us but never paid attention as we're used to them speeding on by. Suddenly I heard a really loud pop and I do mean loud. Out of the corner of my eye I seen something flying past my face. Just a glimpse it was so fast but there all the same. Turning to Billy to say 'What on earth was that?' I found him ashen faced, trying to catch his breath and reaching to get his arm up his back, feeling around as far as he could. Something had hit him square between the shoulder blades. We crossed over and went into PJ's to have a look and thankfully found he'd been pelted with an egg but for that split second my heart was in my mouth. Just at that, Adam (shoeshine) came in. We'd not noticed him following closely at our back on the road up. He'd also been hit, just below his ear. He was shocked too but bless him more concerned for Billy. Eventually we carried on home. Billy said he'd never have believed an egg could cause so much pain but when we got into the apartment and I'd a closer look you could still see the imprint of the shell where it had broken with force against his skin. Unbelievable!!!!
So, in the space of just over twenty four hours, three seperate incidents have tarnished my rose tinted specs