Rules of the Road

**the next four posts have been patiently waiting on my computer since early October. sorry for the delay.


After a month of riding my bike, I had my first close encounter, and it really wasn't even that close. More of an annoyance. I finished proctoring the SAT (yes, the same SAT that students in the US take), and I decided to stop at the local juice stand. Deliciously fresh juice from whatever fruit is in season. While I wanted some freshly squeezed orange juice, I knew that oranges weren't in season, but I asked anyway ;) Just wishful thinking. I had to settle on lemon juice and cherry juice. Sooooo goood! I’ll have to wait a bit longer for oranges.

As I was peddling to the green grocer to get some Izmir grapes (my favorite), a scooter cut me off.  I had to break really hard. It was a bit hairy, but I managed to stay on my bike, stop abruptly, refrain from cussing, and continue in my lane. I'm not even sure what prompted the incident -- except that the guy on the scooter wanted to get over to the curb. 

See? I don't think it looks so scary. However,
I must admit that this is one of the
tamer streets. There are many
roundabouts around town too.. 

Some people in Tarsus are amazed that I ride my bike here, but I haven't really been too worried about it. Honestly, it feels like riding in Greeley -- no bike lanes, crazy drivers, and bumpy roads. I've learned that if I just consider myself a motor vehicle then I’m fine.

There is no hesitating on the road. If you are going to go, then you damn well better go. No one is going to wait for you. No one is going to give you a wave to go ahead of them. No one is going to patiently ease into traffic. Just go! ;0 As I type this, it does sound a bit crazy, but it’s really not. One of the foreign staff members likes driving here because it is assertive. More intuitive than waiting on a light to change. I’m not so sure I’m ready to tackle driving, but buying my bike has been money well spent.

There is certainly a pecking order on the streets – buses are usually first, then cars, then cargo. Then motorcycles and bikes, dogs, and then pedestrians. Not kidding. Pedestrians must stop for everyone. There is no pedestrian area to walk in. No flashing white man to indicate it is safe to walk. I've learned if I'm walking to just follow the Turks ahead of me. They know when it's safe!

As I'm typing, there is a power outage. It happens often, but not too often. Just enough of a reminder to know that I'm not at home. It gets eerily quiet. No refrigerator running. No hum of the air conditioner. Nothing. Still. Calm. A nice way to enjoy the morning. Unfortunately, this also means no internet, so I’ll save as a word doc and post later.


So, later in this case meant reeeaalllly late. The city of Tarsus had no electricity for over 15 hours. This is unusual—or so I’m told. The school has a generator, so there was power there, but not at my apartment. I headed over to school for the day, and after nine hours of hanging out there, I decided to make my way back home.

It was a bit eerie riding my bike home with no electricity, but a friend gave me a headlamp to use in addition to the light on my bike. Once I got my bike inside my apartment building, the power came on. Whew! (October 7, 2012)