Holly Winter

Turkey 2019
Day 24: Cireli: Passport
Holly Winter

 

I should move my passport from my purse to my suitcase; I don’t need to carry it while I’m walking around the area. If someone were to stop me and ask for it, I have a photocopy I can show.

I went to move my passport wasn’t in my purse. Hmm. It must be in the mesh z...

Turkey 2019
Day 23: Cirali: Olympos
Holly Winter
 

My guide book said that the ruins of Olympos were only 3 kilometers from town, I was willing to walk it. Just to be sure, I asked the manager of the bungalow community where I’m staying to explain how to get to there.

He repeated the 3 kilometer distance.

Perfect! I s...

Turkey: 2019
Day 22: Cirali: Taxi
Holly Winter
 

I came upon the accident after it happened and watched as the driver stared at a hole his minivan gashed into a parked car. These streets are narrow, why was he backing up? People walked by, rubbernecking, and the driver yelled at them in rapid Turkish.

I’d only been...

Turkey 2019
Day 21: Antalya: Hamam
Holly Winter
 

“Do you have any questions?” the receptionist asked in perfect English. 

This was my first time to a hamam or a Turkish Bath. My friend Violet had told me some things about it, but I still had a lot of questions.

I said, “What do I need to know?”

He said a few things an...

Turkey 2019
Day 20: Antalya
Holly Winter

 

The morning started quietly as the sisters and I migrated to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast. It was my last morning with my friends and I was already feeling sad about leaving.

The librarian washed some eggs. “These are boiled eggs.”

Wanting to help put breakfast...

Turkey 2019
Day 19: Atabey
Holly Winter
 

I asked, “Is what I’m wearing OK?” I had on a pair of green capris, a sleeveless blouse and sandals.  

“Yes.” said the librarian.

Her sister added, “You look beautiful.”

They were speaking English, but I didn’t understand. I said, “But we are going to a wedding, so I should we...

Turkey 2019
Day 18: Atabey
Holly Winter
 

Last night I was scared. Close to my hotel room in Denizli, Turkey, crowds of people ran through the streets chanting, yelling, beeping car horns and shouting in unison. They sounded angry. I heard what sounded like gunshots and what sounded like little explosions. In my roo...

Turkey 2019
Day 17: Denizli
Holly Winter 

This morning at breakfast, a Turkish woman asked to join my table. She was well dressed and carrying a Louis Vuitton bag. She could not speak English. She put her backpack and purse on the chair at my table then headed to the breakfast buffet.

After she left, I was thinking...

Turkey 2019
Day 16: Pamukkale
Holly Winter

There was no way I could walk any slower. It had to be here. This was a bus station, there had to be a ticket office. I’d walked the top floor, searching, looking. It had to be here. 

I tried to follow the people, surely others were buying bus tickets. I looked for the word...