Thursday 28 August 2014

Kazanci My dear sweet home

Tonight is my last evening on Kazanci Yokusu. To celebrate I am eating kirmizi  mercimek corbasi from my favourite Lokantasi with a serving of chicken for Three Paw.... when she wakes up!!






So many adventures have been had on this marvellously  eccentric street which slopes all the way from Taksim Square down to my gracious lady friend -  The Bosphorus: Gezi park, tear gas, minor earth tremors, gas explosions,  numerous hospital visits, kind neighbours, grumpy fruiterers, beautiful cats, sultry nights, bitter snowy days, Three Paw, The Pirate, Simit, The Lion, Mama, Kerin the Animal God, Ozman 1 - Kahve owner, Ozman 2 - Crimean cafe owner, Jimmy the boot man, Mr Kissy - the Emlak man, Esre the pet shop owner...etc


                                                                  Towards Taxim



Closer to my lady friend


The world's grumpiest fruiterer - cats are his nemesis - ha ha ha!



Lovely poor Jimmy the boot man - never stops working 


Someone said to me today that I was a little anti-social. We were talking about the expat community here in Istanbul and it is true that I have not really made an effort to immerse myself in it..but when I think of my street, when I think how every day I am greeted as I leave my home and upon my return, how when my electricity gets cut off people hot wire it back on for me, how I was able to watch the world cup and break Iftar during Ramazan with the old dudes next door, how when Three Paw is missed I am asked for updates..I think my slightly reclusive self has done quite well. I have been blessed enough to weave a few threads in the beautiful tapestry of this street and I am all the richer for it.
And let's not forget my two girls I take with me. I can remember clearly meeting both of them. Three Paw trashing it out by the bins. Poor little pirate, smaller than my hand with an eye so infected it was twice the size of her head.
And now little Simit who I will leave on the street - for now anyway. But I have made provisions for Love, Attention  and Food for him while I am away and who knows what will happen on my return to Istanbul.

Tomorrow though I am Besiktas bound ( before a visit to Australia. Home of Slaven Bilic , The Pirate and da Punk.. and Three Paw.





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