Day Off From Teaching

I have the day off today.  It's a national holiday. 

       

 Labour and Solidarity Day

Labor and Solidarity Day, observed on May 1, is an official holiday in Turkey. Administration buildings, schools and post offices are usually closed on this day. Labor and Solidarity Day in Turkey is an occasion for some people to demand better conditions for skilled laborers and union workers. Many others use the day to relax and see their friends and relatives. Some people in Turkey participate in demonstrations on Labor and Solidarity Day (taken from Wikipedia)

A teacher, on the school bus home yesterday, told me to be careful where I go today because of the holiday.  She said if I didn't understand, I'd see it all on the evening news after the day was over.  Elizabeth warned me too. She said it sometimes gets to the point where the police use tear gas and it's not a good idea to be in Taksim, (not far from where she lives in Cihangir) 

I've been on Istiklal, and at Taksim Square when there have been demonstrations.  It makes me uncomfortable. Usually it's just a group of demonstrators that are chanting or singing as they walk past in a large group. But all the bystanders seem to keep an eye on them. You see a lot more police around and sometimes temporary police fences controlling where people can go. Once when I was on Istiklal, when it was starting to get dark, the demonstrators had started a huge bonfire in the middle of Istaklal. (I saw and smelled the black smoke before I saw the fire) The police were acting very nervous with all their reinforcements, big buses, body shields and machine guns. I saw many people, who were on Istaklal, go into stores and down the side streets when I noticed the fire.  I wasn't far from Tunel where I like to take the tram down to Beşiktaş where I can get on the ferry that takes me back to the Asian side of Istanbul.  I was glad to get out of there.  I wasn't afraid of something happening as much as I was afraid of what my mind would "imagine" was going to happen.  I don't want to be afraid in Istanbul, my imagination is WAY too big of a tool for me to use with fear. 

One day, about a month ago, I went to Kadiköy so I could take the ferry to visit Elizabeth on the European side of Istanbul. The police reinforcements had closed off several roads leading to the ferries.  I wondered why I couldn't hail down a taxi or a dolmuş at the time.  When I got down to the ferry the gates were up everywhere on the dock. The police would only let one person at a time get through them to the ferries where they had an entrance.  It backed up the city, of course.  These fences were all navy blue and taller than any I had seen.  The police with their machine guns were pacing up and down the fence lines like caged dogs. I heard a lot of music and chanting when I got on the ferry. As the boat left the dock I could see a huge group of people arm in arm in a large circle dancing and singing. With them was a large group of followers playing instruments and cheering. I was relieved to be leaving for the other side.  By the time I returned to Kadiköy that evening, everything was quiet. All the fences and police presence was gone.

These demonstrations have a different feel to them than the "futbol" demonstrations. During these sports demonstrations they wear their favorite team's color like we do in the states. They march down the streets and carry flags and chant.  But, it has a friendlier sound to it. (even though they can put some damage to a city when they get out of hand.)  I've been hearing the chants every Sunday night, lately.  There are three major teams I know of, Beşiktaş, Fernerbahçe and Galatasary. They are named after different districts in Istanbul.  I can see the Fernerbahçe stadium from my apartment balcony. My friend Birim pointed out to me one night, as she was dropping me off at my apartment, that they have certain games that only woman and children are allowed to get into.  She explained it to me because I was asking her why all the men were standing around the stadium in the streets, etc.  She said they were listening to the game, but couldn't go inside.  (And she translated the Turkish signs that said no men were allowed at the game that night)

I took another walk along the ocean this morning.  I wanted to see if what I described in yesterday's blog matched what I saw this morning on my walk from Moda to Kadiköy.  It did take me 2 hours to walk to the ferries and back.   I really noticed the loud sound of the birds singing and chirping.  I thought of Mary Trout (Elizabeth and Heidi's former high school teacher).  She's an avid birdwatcher and she'd be able to match the songs with the birds.

I saw a lot of sailboats getting their boats out of the bay.  A large one with a beautiful design (hugging the water instead of "sitting on top of the water like a bathtub"-as Dad would say) was just raising it's red mainsail. It wasn't wasting any time playing around in the bay, it was heading right out to the Bosphorus.  By the time I had returned to the bay area in Yogurtcu Parki, it was already way out between some huge ocean liners.  Many of the other sailboats were still staying close to shore and catching the intermittent winds.

The cats were napping in the sun already.  The dogs were laid out resting like an old bum after a drunken night. To say the rocks are as big as VW Bug was a bit of an exaggeration.  Kitchen table, yes.  It was early when I walked so I saw more people than usual walking, exercising, jogging, and biking.  That doesn't include the people out walking their dogs because they stop more than they walk.

The things I saw this morning I saw from a different angle.  Yogurtcu Parki was shaded. The trees are done donning their leaves and it was dark walking under them with my sunglasses on.  I couldn't help but judge the people walking around in circles on the red clay-like track in the park.  I don't understand why they don't just go a few feet away from the park and start walking along the ocean. (there's a soft track for walkers there, too.)  It's alongside the grass and trees where there's plenty of shade.  That's one of the things I forgot to note on this walkway.  There are huge sections of trees and park grass where people can picnic, or lay in the shade.  Two or three times along the walk there are small centers where the walk goes in a park area and there are community-type circles with park benches and shade.  One has a playground for children and one has an adult playground with exercise equipment (about 10 different contraptions).

There's a section of the walk that is privately owned by restaurant owners (fancy ones). One sits out on the water at the end of a pier and the other is along the ocean front.  To go around there are stairs and a driveway along the establishment.  As soon as you walk into the private property area you notice the booths with the guards.  I was sure when I was walking with Elizabeth one day that we should go around the property away from the ocean and return after the property ended.  She didn't think it was necessary and we walked through the area.  She was right. Everyone walks through there and no one says anything, it's normal. When I walked through this morning it was beautiful. The walls were draped with deep purple flowers on vines and some vines had pink and white flowers that looked like flowers from a lily pad (with an open cup). It's so cool they let us non-spenders enjoy the spot. I noticed some huge coastguard-like boats moored outside the private property dock.  They had the word "Pilot" written in large letters.  

My favorite sight this morning was a little tugboat. It had a wooden hull with green trim.  From the rich sound of the motor I knew it was in excellent condition. Like the boats you hear rev-up at the Hessel Antique Boat Show in the summer.  This little tugboat looked like a little three year old with a cute upturned nose.  It was meshed with the ocean water like it was born there.  I think Bob waved to me from it, I can't be sure.

My last statement just proves I romanticize when I picture the world around me.  I know I do it.  I'm not a realist.  I have a mind of a child when I let my imagination wander.  I paint bad situations into positive ones.  I see things that aren't there.  I am a master at blinding myself, too. Things I can't handle.  If I didn't do this I would miss so many things around me.  If I let it, my frown would close my eyes to things I don't want to miss.  So, I'm apologizing for my outlook, but excusing myself for it at the same time.  

As I returned down the channel toward the park, I noticed all the boats tied up on the sides of the walls were facing the sun---just like the small red poppies!  I didn't notice either of them when I began my walk.  It must be like what I've heard said about the labyrinths.  You will see things in an entirely different light retracing your steps as you do when you enter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uin3bPtrxM&feature=red  

This video on youtube is very nice.  It shows places no one could describe unless they see them in a picture.  I've taken many pictures and I'm learning how to make my own slideshow to share with you from my MacBook.  But, until then, I hope you enjoy the video.