The other day I walked through Cihangir, a charming little neighborhood with great antiques and such. Let me emphasize the fact that this is a neighborhood (aka I was the only non-Turkish person in sight). I should also preface this story by saying that it's extremely rare to see someone eating on the street in Turkey. It's considered rude, and is therefore a dead giveaway for tourists. So, I'm strolling through the back streets of this trendy section of town, attempting to look cool even though my jacket covers my skirt and therefore I look like I have no pants on. But, I'm hungry (naturally), so I grab a simit (basically challah bread off the street) and am eating quickly so that I won't embarrass myself for too long. People are definitely starting to notice and stare (oh my God the staring here...). A nearby school get's let out and packs of 12 year old girls looking uber-mature and smoking cigarettes pass me by as I am covered in bread crumbs and shoving simit into my mouth. Alone. Did I mention I was lost at this point?
Turkish women (or in this case, prepubescent girls) have a way of making you feel like you just crawled out of an ugly swamp. It's a special power they have. The secret is hidden somewhere in their perfectly styled hair, naturally beautiful coloring, or high heels worn in the middle of the afternoon.
Next time, I'll put down the simit and pick up a hair brush.
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