As I lug my depleted carcass and burdensome luggage around the depths of the pre dawn emptiness that is the Izmir bus station. I curse my budget minded Scottish DNA . Part of the reason that I booked this trip is the result of a promise I made to myself that I would save money by periodically traveling at night, thus avoiding a hotel bill. I figure the money I don't spend on this trip is a downpayment on the next journey, and this is why I find myself at the cavernous and empty Izmir bus station in the wee smalls.
As far as bus stations go, this one is pretty nice. Multiple internet cafes, restaurants and smoke shops, almost all of which are closed. This is not a tourist area and finding an English speaker is a shattered and delusional straw. I find a place that is open, buy a juice and plunk myself down.
Its 4:45 am. A cabbie or two offer me a ride, but a ninety minute taxi ride will wipe out all my savings from the lack of hotel. There is nothing for it but to tough it out and hope that someone who speaks English will happen along and explain where I need to go to find a minibus to Selcuk.
As I sip my juice a Zen state washes over me. This is not a moment to make something happen, it is time to let something happen. And of course it does.
As I quaff my beverage, a young lad employed by the cafe engages me. I'm happy to talk. He regales me with stories of a debauched trip to Montreal. He warns me about the dangers of such activity in Turkey. I assure him that when I travel to any country I respect the laws and customs.
Like many young people that I have met in my travels, he wants to practice his english. I always engage these people. They humble me and my unilingual skills. They apologize for their bad English, I apologize for my bad Turkish,Cambodian,French,Arabic or Vietnamese depending on the locale..
Of course, I do have a little bit of self interest, like "how in the name of Zeus do I get to Selcuk from this place that is the size of a small airport?" Fortunately the kid sends me in the right direction and I eventually figure it out.
By 8am I am on a minibus to Selcuk. I'm dead tired and as we pull out I quickly fall asleep. When I wake up to the early morning sun, I am instantly aware that while I may still be in Turkey, I am a world away from Istanbul.
http://www.goyestoeverything.com
