Egypt, Turkey and Beyond * Installment 11
Istanbul, Turkey * The Night Clubs, Dancers and our Interesting
Departure
(aka: Can you Say Chest-Butting?)
The Orient House:
The folk-dancing at this show was truly fabulous. I was able to get
short video snippets that I just cherish – love to watch that fancy footwork
and drops those guys and gals did.
I loved these groups, the costume changes, along with the band made for
an exciting show - very upbeat. The
host engaged the entire room – in segments as little flags were posted on
tables depicting our home countries.
As he worked through county anthems and songs depicting our countries
the room enjoyed representing who they are.
These Guys were Fabulous!
I was so looking forward to the Turkish Cabaret style of
dancing I have seen so often on videos, but, what we saw and heard from the
Oriental Dancers was actually more Egyptian in movement and music – their own
distinct cabaret style was not even recognizable. The show was fun and exciting, but as well disappointing
with regards to the cabaret segment.
Knowing the tipping process for the dancers might be on the outrageous
side, I was not surprised as one of the dancers moved towards a table of “businessmen”,
only to be groped and pawed as money was literally shoved deep into her costume
– with lingering hands. As I
looked around the table, seeing my fellow dancers covering their eyes, and
making little “eek” sounds, it was with the realization that I was not the only
one cringing at such a blatant grope fest, even though it did make me chuckle a
little.
Sandy Bell on Stage
Showing How it is Done
There was a segment in the evening where the host
encouraged people from the audience to come up and “try” to belly dance. So there we sat, a table full of
dancers - - and with just a little encouragement one of our own took to the
stage. Lots and lots of fun to
watch Sandy Bell outshine the rest of the would be dancers.
The Knife Throwing Dancers
at Kervansaray
Kervansaray Nightclub:
Much like the first evening’s event we were hopeful that we
would get to see that uniquely wonderful Turkish Cabaret style we had heard so
much about. And once again we saw
Egyptian style, with the exception of a darling girl who danced what appeared
to be more American Cabaret with silver Isis Wings. She actually looked to be straight out of the San Francisco
Bay area – she was a little dynamo and my favorite dancer of those we saw in
these clubs. The house dancer (the
dancer announced as “the best dancer in Istanbul”) seemed to spend much of the
time she was on stage in an irritated state, acting as though we were “bothering
her”. She really didn’t seem to be
at all happy to be on stage – and I don’t think she smiled at all during her
performance. Happily though, we
were once again treated to folkloric dance – that just stole the evening. Men tossing daggers is always an attention
getter – and with such a wonderful sense of humor. The food was good, the group more relaxed than the first
night – just much more fun.
Can You Tell This Dancer
Was not Happy?
Oberon and I opted to spend the last evening in Istanbul
checking out the local stores and scenery. We walked quite a few blocks, just taking in the sites,
sounds and people of this charming city.
We wandered into a quaint sidewalk café, with great food - which we ate
just inches from the street and just thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed, laid back
evening in each other’s company.
What a treat this was.
My Favorite Dancer in Turkey!
Our Departure from Istanbul and the Chest Butting Airline
Manager (or Zaina’s Near International Incident):
We loaded onto our bus and headed to the airport with our
carry on bags – most stuffed to the max, but we thought we were still within
airline restrictions, and keeping in mind they had to be “remember” - we were
told we could not check them. As
we stood in line we noticed the airline attendants at the counter were “checking
in” – “carry-on” bags (oh no I thought) – we were told NOT to do this. I had watched our TO check-in, and walk
away with her carry on bag to stand around the corner. So in those few minutes, leading up to “the
incident” while trying to figure out why she walked away from us with her bags,
and what we were supposed to do as ours were being “taken to check in” well,
the anxious feeling grew as did the beginnings of my fury. Further watching another woman from our
group begin crying in the next line as they were taking her carry on bag - -
and no assistance from our group organizer, well - - the level of angst was palpable. This before Oberon and I even stepped
up to the desk agent.
To make a long story short – for everyone’s sake, here are
the bullets:
So, as the airline agents began checking our carry-on bags,
I asked why pointing out mine was Egypt Air size/weight for carry-on; agent got
the manager; manager became rude to my challenge of “we are within regulation”;
he stepped too close; raised his voice (as he looked up at me from his
vertically challenged (VC) position) so loud and aggressively he actually was
spitting on me; I refused to step back and raised my voice to match his (of
course from my non-vertically challenged position); he stepped in again, chest
to chest (mine, clearly higher) and so it seemed “it was on”. Why was I arguing to keep my bag? Remember, what we were told before
leaving the US, and before leaving Cairo for Istanbul - - do not check your
bags. (What a position to be put in)
- Yes, I did in fact in those moments, wonder what the inside
of a Turkish jail was going to look like.
- Yes, I did in fact wonder why our TO managed to walk away
from the counter with her bags, leaving her group to fend for themselves.
- Yes, I did wonder why, when she saw we were having trouble,
she did not come back to help, but later chose to blame me for the entire
incident.
- Yes, you bet I said it was not my fault, and that they had
already begun taking bags before I stepped up to the counter.
- Yes, the little manager tried to apologize later. I simply gestured for him to leave me
alone I was not interested in his comments.
- Yes, they let me board the plane.
And so, this would be considered Zaina’s Great Donkey
Incident – because clearly there was a jack as-donkey and an unconcerned guide involved
in this scenario too.
Sunset in Istanbul
Blue Mosque
And so, back in Cairo, we waited to collect our “checked”
bags and then were off to the hotel my nightmares are now made of, The
Victoria, complete with large roaches, various other bugs I was unfamiliar
with, and a “lift” not an “elevator” half the size of my coat closet at
home. So, don’t panic here - - it
is all an experience right? I
should find the humor – and admittedly, I’m close after a year and a half. And admittedly, I suppose my perception
of how you treat people who have paid you, is different than a few others.
Left to Right
What is that interesting space over the shower?
There is a door hook, but where is the other piece?
Bed doesn't really look bad from here does it?
It's what's under that sheet that counts!
But on to the hotel:
Now, I say again, ZAINA IS CLAUSTROPHIC. And ZAINA has difficulty with tight spaces. Can we get a room perhaps on the ground
floor? Nope, Zaina walked 4 flights of stairs to get to the third floor (don’t
ask, I never figured that out).
Here is where I say I owe my best friend a huge debt of gratitude and
then some because she retrieved all of our waiting luggage from the fourth
floor to bring it to our room on the third – one to two pieces at a time in
that little cramped lift (oh yeah, luckily we were told “when it feels like the
lift has stopped, you will need to open the door rather quickly or the lights
in the lift will go out and you will think it is broken”). Yeah - - that just meant there was no
way I was getting in the thing – go ahead, call me chicken sh... None-the-less, Oberon graciously
retrieved, her bags, and mine and we then began the process of re-packing. Not however after the mini-meltdown
over the room. I can picture me
hopping about the room, as I discovered each issue; a) our beds with a simple
sheet over a mattress with no pad between and the residue of who knew what, b)
what is that empty space over the bathroom? The Freddie Kruger looking slatted space – do they put the
hidden cameras there? c) did they forget to clean out the bathtub or is that
perma-dirt in the bottom? d) do
they really make bathroom towels in “puce” and why do they feel like sandpaper
(no exaggeration) and e) do you think the chair is comfortable enough for
sleeping in - OMG where did I put the bug spray – what is that thing moving in
the corner? Yeah – it was like
that!
We opted to stay at the hotel rather than go to dinner with
some of the group in order to make sure we had everything repacked and
rearranged for the 3:30 am departure the next morning.
So, the next morning we were off on our way to Aswan
albeit, after this hotel, it was with trepidation of what we might be facing
with a cruise ship. Full body
shudder and with nothing to eat since the morning we left Istanbul (the day
before) except the power bars we brought with us - - (I just couldn’t do the
breakfast offered at the Victoria – must have been the open bowel of jelly that
had flies running all over it – my stomach rebelled and went into “can’t eat
mode”). It was too early to eat at
the airport so another power bar on the plane.
Next: Aswan, our ship and what turned out to be THE BEST PART OF
THE ENTIRE TRIP - NEXT.
Egypt and Beyond * Installment 12
The Nile River Cruise and Temples and Events Along the Way;
Beauty, Mystery, Adventure
