Mersin, Turkey :: Rain, Tea and Meat

Here it is:  Mersin, Turkey - Finally! 

 

Mersin was okay.  Yes, just okay.  It rained, rained, rained....all day long....there was even lightning and thunder.  No bueno.

There were however some good parts.  The meat market was really neat - there was a lot of fresh fish....and goats and cows.  The meat was literally all hanging ready to take home fully skinned - or if you like you can just take home a giant piece of intenstinal lining.  Up to you.  (This is the part where I warn you that there are some sort of nasty photos in the gallery....but I just couldn't help myself.) 

We (Travel Buddy and I) basically hopped from place to place doing our best to stay dry. 

One of my favorite things of the day was the fresh pressed carrot juice.   For some reason carrot juice rejuvinates me like nothing else.  If I'm feeling melancholy a little carrot juice can potentially bring me out of the dumps.  It's actually quite impressive.

Hands down though, the best part of the day was having a bit of tea in a little tea shop.  The room was tiny, tiny, tiny.  One young fellow stands behind the counter brewing tea.  He has a walkie talkie and is receiving orders from all over the area - he breezes in quickly and will take a whole tray of tea in dainty cups through the neighborhood.  You'll see little platters with empty cups sitting on the sidewalk and you just have to assume that a runner will be by soon to pick up the tea cups.  The tea was good and on a rainy day was exactly what the doctor ordered.

All in all, I wouldn't couldn't Mersin as a future travel destination but, I will say that Turkey is great.  The people have an easy laid back way about them, good food and fresh produce and meat abounds....and there is always a warm cup of tea nearby!  What else could you want or need?!

 

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M.L.I.S.W :: Cold Fingers

(NOTE:  This post contains politically incorrect racial slurs....sadly, being politically incorrect is simply one of the many facets of shipboard culture....if you'll be offended, please pass on this one!) This was actually two separate conversations that spanned maybe five minutes....

First Conversation

ME:  Did you get the wake up calls made?

AB1:  Yeah....

ME:  Did they answer?

AB1:  Well....'So and so' always answers but he didn't this morning....and then 'Mope' hung up the phone on me.

ME:  That's terrible!  I think you guys should come to a decision about a certain amount of rings and a hang up or an answer.

AB1:  Well you have to understand Mate.....He's a Puerto Rican.....

ME:  Ummmm....

AB1:  AB2 reminded me of this....'Mope' is Puerto Rican.....we can't expect too much out of him.

Second Conversation

AB1:  Mate, what's up with you wearing the hat?!

ME:  I'm cold!

AB1:  Really?!  I'm not.

ME:  Feel my fingers!  They're cold!

(I make him feel my fingers)

AB1:  Sheeet....they ARE cold!

ME:  I know!

ME:  AB2, wanna feel my fingers?!

(I make him feel my fingers too.)

AB2:  Mate, that's just not right.  You need Geritol or Triple S.

ME:  What is Triple S?

AB2:  It's a special formula for women that helps with Anemia.

ME:  I'm not sure I'm Anemic....

AB2:  Mexican women never have cold fingers....because they're always flipping those tortillas.

ME:  OH.MY.GOD.  I can't believe you just said that!

(both of my watch partners are now laughing hysterically.....)

Where are your photos?!

Ummm....still on my camera?  I know!  I know!  But honestly?  My days haven't had too many 'down moments' of late.

Our vessel received orders to load in the Ukraine.  With a split discharge in unspecified ports.  You all know what that means......I'm scrambling! The good news is that I've been scrambling for a few days now and I see light at the end of the tunnel!

I wish I could tell you guys a whole bunch of exciting things but for the most part my life has consisted of building passage plans and putting them on the charts....and eating and sleeping. 

Please excuse the neglect.  Love will be heading your way shortly!

Wild Turkey.

Turkey was wild....I just departed Mersin, Turkey....and let me tell you....it was my most eventful port stay in quite some time. There were several key factors that led to the craziness:

• No internet alongside the pier - I felt like I was going through withdrawls....I may be addicted to the internet...
• It rained incessently.  Seriously, non-stop rain.
• It was the slowest discharge EVER.  It took 55 hours to discharge a partial load.  Sheeze.
• A storm blew in....I'll elaborate further later....but, storms blowing in while you are docked isn't always fun....
• I went ashore and saw the meat market.  That's crazy, right?

I know this is a short and slightly unsatisfactory post but, I wanted to say hi!  I missed you guys!

More posts and pictures to follow!  I just need to regroup workwise before giving too much attention to the blog (sadface).

Hugs and Kisses!

Nautie Tidbits + I See At Sea = Time Management > Sunrises and Islands

Dockings, Cargo Operations, Undockings and Fun Ashore have really put my time management skills to the test.  Yikes!  The days have really gotten away from me!  Here are a few Nautie Tidbits....

• Today I tidied my desk - it still isn't anywhere close to being organized but it was a step in the right direction.
• Last night I saw a meteor that fully illuminated the sky.
• I'm due off the vessel in 3 weeks.
• Today I'm correcting charts and publications on overtime.
• I have no idea where my next port will be - chart preparation might become a mad scramble.
• My head (bathroom) developed the most foul odor last night.  What the hell?!
• I've eaten almost all my cheese from Spain...this makes me sadder than I can tell you.  I've also eaten almost all my chocolate from Russia....again, so sad!

Some of these photos are almost 6 days old!  What have I been seeing at sea?  In a nutshell - sunrises and Greek Islands.  No one is complaining.

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Rota, Spain :: Sun, Sand, and Shrimp.

I got ashore in Spain after all!  It wasn't the port I was hoping for but it was sweet none-the-less. I had no idea but Rota, Spain sits on an absolutely lovely beach.  Apparently, when you are at the oil terminal you can't see the perfectly white sand!  Who knew?!  Well, I know now and I think I'll make sure I take my bathing suit with me the next time I hit town...more importantly I'll take some slippers so I don't end up on the beach in my Uggs!  These Uggs are getting a workout this trip!

After some shell hunting I hit town with Travel Buddy.  The town was much cuter than I expected.  Lots of small shops and cafes.  I had some cheese - apparently spain is known for its cheese.  When they serve cheese that's it.  You get cheese.  Works for me.  (I may or may not have washed it down with a brewed beverage.)  Then there were shrimp.  Two HUGE shrimp on a plate.  One for me and one for Travel Buddy.  I wasn't too into removing its shell - but oh was it worth it.  Freakin' delicious.

We hit a small leather shop.  It was great!  Everything in the shop was handmade.  Fabulous purses, belts and jewelry.  I got a belt and a purse - I know, I know....I needed a purse like I needed a hole in the head however; this one was handmade in Spain!  Win!  (Also, Travel Buddy is a terrible influence when shopping!)

The afternoon was wrapped up at the base shopping in the exchange.  It is amazing how exciting it is to see 'stuff from home' even after only 2 months!  I got some L'Occitane hand cream....daily air conditioning (and a little dose of petroleum products now and then) have really wreaked havoc on my hands!  I also bought the nail polish featured a few days ago.  Hells yeah.

Highlight of the day:  Shell hunting with Travel Buddy.  Fo Sho.

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