After a good bit of work this morning, I went off to run a couple of Friday errands, or rather one errand, to top up my phone. This done, I walked down Istiklal towards Taksim. It’s much, much warmer now, with barely any need for a coat, and very sunny. It was fairly crowded, though not enough to make one have to hold one’s breath of fear of the virus. I went to get some lunch, a rather delicious tantuni, which makes me think that if I ever travel around Turkey by myself, I shall make a trip to its home of Mersin. I daresay the Mediterranean will be nice too. I must do these solitary excursions more often, and try to recapture something for myself that was formerly what gave me the greatest joy.
This took a little longer than planned. I ate my lunch in Gezi park which was rather full of riot barriers and men, uniformed and not, but the playground area was full of life, including two rather solemn looking men in their twenties on a seesaw.
I finished lunch a little late, so the GF went himself to the bank just by the park and then met me after. We walked down to Cihangir, catching glimpses of the sea between buildings, with bright mist lying over the Marmara sea, and grey ships disappearing into it. We bought some coffee and then sat in our usual place, in the courtyard of the mosque overlooking the water, to drink it. Here we found emails to both of us, our visas have been granted, hurrah. Hopefully it will not be too long before our cards arrive, and then we can leave the country. I have been itching to return home, and terrified that I might be trapped here as something happens back home.
We strolled over to the new flat, and it is looking fantastic. The walls have been plastered white, so it is light and airy; the bathroom wall has been built with the door in the right place. The ceiling has been plastered as well, in lovely smooth waves. I don’t really know what that sort of arched ceiling is called: there are iron beams, and between each beam is a small long arch. The bathroom is going to be small, but won’t feel cramped, I think, and there is a way to enlarge the window to bring in a little more light.
We had our intermediary translator again, who was very helpful, though at time full of both curiosity (how much did you pay, madam?) and advice (you should put a false ceiling here, madam, it will become beautiful). Came back feeling very pleased with the place, as it’s airy and light and hopefully will remain so, even after the it’s completed and things like woodwork etc (not to mention the final couple of layers of plaster) are in place.