We went back to Bebek for brunch this morning, as one of the visitors really wanted to go. It was disappointing, I must say: overpriced and not great, and even the view was a bit whatever, though admittedly I am spoiled. After brunch we strolled along the sea for a bit and even though it was flat, some visitors got properly exhausted, so it was a relief when the GF found water taxis to take us back instead of having to brave the hideous weekend traffic along the coastal road. The water taxi was thrice the price of a taxi, but so enjoyable: tiny boats, inches above the water, going at high speed over the waves. That cheered us all up, as did arriving in Karakoy and going for coffee and San Sebastian cheesecake. So the day was redeemed.
In the evening some of the visitors had booked us all for dinner at Nusret, the home of the famous Salt Bae. This is a phenomenon I had heard about vaguely but, if I must tell truth, had totally passed me by: some Turkish grill master with good looks and a particular flair for sprinkling salt. This because a social media sensation and the grill flourished. It now has several branches in several countries, hordes of handsome waiters trained in the art of sprinkling salt, vast quantities of souvenirs for sale, and is generally a completely inexplicable phenomena. I was exhausted by the evening and unable to face a long taxi ride to the original Nusret up in Etilar, so I begged off, but heard afterwards that it was quite an experience. First a half hour queue outside (for people with reservations), then a half hour queue inside, then hundreds of very drunk people taking photos of the food and waiters and of themselves, memorabilia everywhere, and then the rather ridiculous Salt Bae act which accompanied every dish, to raucous applause. It sounds like hell, and it would have made me very grumpy, so just as well I didn’t go.
A curious business, social media.