So, my last whiny-ass post now pales.
MOMENTS after I hit the publish button, BAM...in floats this from Brian of Bath, UK.
First, I'm just now getting over that he and the fabulous, Mo, were wining, dining and dancing all OV-AH the gorgeous, Queen Victoria.
Second, I feel bad for being jealous (not really) and am wondering if he had on his famous (or infamous) RED socks.
Third, he MAY have uttered some expletives? Hell and damn, I have uttered no less than 50 of 'em in the last two hours alone!
Fourth and the most important one, please notice that after being HIT BY A TRAM, Brian (oh, that Brit) hauls it inside for a nice cup of tea. A CUP OF TEA, kids!!! You (and by YOU, I mean ME) can't touch that sort of depth of character.
Read on...
Contributed by: Brian Wilson
Bath UK
All rights reserved and copyrighted
We got back from our trip on the 4th October and we have had so much catching up to do.
Also I am nursing lots of big bruises - no, its not Mo it was a tram - yes a tram!!
We were in Istanbul for 2 days and on day 2 we took a tram from the harbour up to the Blue Mosque - it really was something to marvel at (more of the later).
The Blue Mosque
We then walked down to the Suleymaniye Mosque, had a welcome cup of turkish tea and coffee and then girded up our loins for the fray.
There was quite a queue for the Suleymaniye Mosque - people were waiting alongside a wall on the pavement.
There were so many people going up and down, so we went to find the end of the queue,
Mo was in front and I was walking on the pavement (trying not to barge into people), when BASH.
A tram came by - the tracks are within an inch of the pavement - and it caught me on my shoulder, elbow, hip and leg - sending me flying past Mo and ending on my back, on the pavement!
The tram is still going by - but then rescue came from 2 Turkish guides (there are so many "guides" offering to help you) who immediately moved me away from the pavement as my feet were over the edge of the pavement and the tram is still going by!!
If it had not been for them I may now be a foot shorter!!
The trams not only run very close to the pavement, they consist of a number of carriages - and these "bend" on corners.
Is this the offending tram? - notice how close it is to the pavements edge
As you can imagine I was in shock - so was Mo.
Bu,t our guides pulled me up and took me into the Suleymaniye Mosque, by passing all the queues, to get us into a cafe so we could have a cup of tea. I cannot tell you how grateful we were to these guides - who, once they had ensured we were ok (no broken bones) left to carry on with their work.
So, in true Brit style, after 40 minutes of tea and rest we went into the Suleymaniye Mosque - again a sight for sore eyes.
The interior of the Suleymaniye Mosque
I was hobbling around, my knee hut and as for my hip - well I may have let out one or two anglo saxon expletives!
But, I was determined to carry on - after all we had come this far - us Brits are made of strong stuff you know.
After that, I stumbled to the Topkapi Palace - another must to see when in Istanbul -it needs a day on it's own.
Then back to the Queen Vic and the Doctor - who checked me over and (I really did not believe it) but I had not broken anything (apart from a slight graze on my knee) - but the bruises were already arriving!!
When Mo and I reviewed the day, a cold shudder came over us when we thought what could so easily have happened, if the 2 Turkish guides were not on hand or if they had not acted so quickly.
I am now the proud owner of a bruised elbow (but that's going down now) and a rather impressive multi coloured bruise over my hip, left buttock, up to the base of my spine and down my left leg!
I will spare you the photo of my "rear end" - I do not want to be accused of sending porn over the net!!
I have been writing my blog of the trip - so wait a few days for the next instalment.
Love to you all over there - Brian and Mo
Brian Wilson
brian@europaassociates.co.uk
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