Buses, Food and Toilet Humour

Yesterday, the girls and I decided we had had enough of staying enclosed in the school premises day after day so we decided to venture out on our own to the closest city, which is Safranbolu. The first funny thing was trying to catch a bus. The buses are tiny and obviuosly being in a small city no one could speak English. It was a moment of Lost in translation. We had no idea where to get off or even how. People would just shout at the bus driver and the driver would stop. Eventually the driver manager to see we were having problems so he sat us down and made the gesture that he would tell us when to get off. Tthe funny thing was that when we saw a part of the city we recognised we stood up so we could get off the bus. The driver wouldn't let us. We were gesturing and nodding "yes yes, we want to get off". At least in the end he managed to let us off. After that we went for a doner with a salad, chips and a coke, and the meal cost us only 5TL (this is equivalent to 2.50€) shocker!!! Really great food. On the way home we saw a pub and decided to be naughty and enter. We were the only women in there and the men were rather shocked but really welcoming towards us. We stayed for a couple of beers and the service was great. We were given travel broshures of the city of places to visit. The owner even took photos of us because of the shock of having three women in his bar. Unfortunately the only bad thing about the bar is that the toilet was awful. I was really dying to go and almost passed out from the smell. Of course it was going to smell. No women ever go in. You even have a picture of Marilyn Monroe on the walls. We were close to asking the owner to do something about it but we refrained ourselves. But below you can see the translation.

We then got a taxi home and the owner accompanied us. He wasn't doing this to try it on or anything like that, it was because he was being a gentlemen towards us. So far I have been so surprised with the way we are being looked after by everyone. People have been very ignorant and said not to trust anyone and I think that is something to be said about anywhere you go. But Turkey is different in a positive aspect. People are welcoming, hospitable, friendly and will go out of their way to make you feel good. I definitely would recommend coming to this country. Not only for its beautiful sites, but the food and the whole place in general.

Getting the Bus was a real adventure.

Welcome to Safranbolu

Doner for 2.50€ woop woop

With the owner of Safran Pub in Safranbolu

Yummy Erick Erick

Time out of reality...

Whether you are on a mountain top looking across the horizon,

flying high, floating above an ocean of clouds or out at sea feeling the smooth wet breeze on your face,

it will give you a therapeutic sense of escapism...

...shame we always have to go back at some point.

Airline - Brilliant method of getting peoples attention...

Im back after getting lost in Naples....

Dear blog,
It feels like it has been an eternity since I have written to you. So much has happened. Been busy adjusting to my new life in the village, picking up my Italian well, getting used to the tranquility and slow speed of everything that surrounds me, the only stress I suffer from is the old women that try and push infront of me in the supermarket till, (I think it doesn't matter where you are, you can't avoid it).
We have had many guests stay with us and so far they seem to leave content.

I have driven on the search to find mount Vesuvius but instead I have experienced witnessing the worst ever driving and roads possible to have been made. Firstly we drove to Scampia, which is known as one of the most dodgiest places to exist in Naples. And the buildings gave off that image. Tall, grey and dirty buildings with a strange construction that resembles something telling you "please do not enter".



Then driving in Naples city centre was the worst nightmare for myself and any driver that isn't Neapolitan.
Cars flying in any possible gap, ignoring every single sort of sign or traffic light. The drivers seem selfish and will never give you way, it seems to be unheard of there. Mopeds with three passengers and none wearing helmets. I couldn't believe what I was seeing until a moped hit my car and the guy just drove off as if nothing had happened.
Then my boyfriend tells me "you knew it was like this".
I saw red and stormed out of the car. He was right, I had heard the Naples was a city which is recommended not to drive in, but i honestly didn't think it would be that bad.
It was a nightmare that will not be easily forgotten and honestly I was left scarred. I was screaming, fuming and even almost in tears of frustration as I had no control of where I was going. It was like being in a labyrinth with no end. After two hours of driving in what seemed like circles, we finally saw two police officers where they explained to us how to leave this mad driving world. I swore I would never drive there again, until I bought myself a nice tomtom. I decided to go against my word and try one more time. If I left alive and in good spirits, I would then know I could do this more than once.

I left in almost good spirits. I came to the conclusion that I need to think and live like an Italian and then I would be able to adjust well to this city of no law and their own rules.

So wish me luck.....

Naples is a beautiful city and I still need to discover more of this place, so hopefully with time I will get to share the delights of this city.

Oh How we Love BCN Part II: The Metro and other public Transport

For over a year now I have been catching buses and metros to and from work.
My journey is like a scene from Indiana Jones, trying to avoid that huge bolder coming at me, but instead of it being a huge bolder it’s the daily hustle of people that still don’t know the rules or way to catch a metro.
Yes I am a person that likes a good moan and is always complaining about people and my surroundings but I have got to a stage where I cannot take it anymore.
The metros of Barcelona have been running for around 85 years. You would expect that the people that catch this transport would understand that it is PUBLIC Transport and not your own vehicle to get to your location.
The amount of times I run up and down escalators because like many others, I’m a person always on the go but I have idiotic people that still do not understand the meaning of stay to your right, or move!
Staying to your right is an obvious and very common process when walking anywhere. You walk through tunnels in the metro, stand to your right. You walk down the street and you are supposed to walk to your right. Walking or shall I say staying put on the escalators; you stay on your right. This concept is still difficult for people to for see. This is why I wrote how Barcelona is still a village. The people in this city still do not understand that the world is moving and we are becoming more and more cosmopolitan. Most people that are getting a bus or metro between 8 and 9 am are most likely to be going to work or to school or college. We are not getting transport out of pleasure but because it is necessary.
I am amazed by the amount of old women that travel on the bus in the morning. I am not going to be judgmental but I do always think to myself, is this lady on here to see what dramas will happen today or is she really off to somewhere important?
My daily route is getting a bus and then jumping off that and get the metro. My aim is to be at my work or home within 30 minutes. You don’t know how much frustration I feel when I get one person that slows me down. A bit like sliding doors, I feel like that person has changed the course of my day.
The first problem I see is the bus, and I know I am not the only one that agrees on this. But sometimes I am on the bus standing in the only space there is which is by the door. Now when I say I am by the door I am not literally there in front so no one can jump off. I am to the side of the door, so even a pushchair can fit past me, (I am skinny for goodness sakes). While I am standing there the most typical thing that happens to me and hundreds more of you that catch buses in Barcelona is: “¿Bajas?” I think to myself, Mr. the bus has just left the bus stop, we are more than 100 metres away from the next stop if I am getting off you will see because I will get off, and if I am not I’ll leave you way to get off!
They don’t get it!!! The person that is getting off the bus wants everyone to move out their way as if it is their big entrance to the awards ceremony or something. I get people actually get angry with me because I say, no I am not getting off yet I don’t move to the back of the bus.
I am not upsetting anyone; I am not in anyone’s way, so why get angry? That is the start to my morning; I finally jump off the bus and start walking very fast towards the metro. I cannot help but move fast, I am an active and anxious person and want to go from A to B with the least hassle possible.
So I run….I head towards the escalators. Now either two things will happen here.
Either the escalator is not working, which isn’t a problem when it is going down as it is not tiring. But it is horrible and pathetic that they don’t work when trying to go up the stairs.
When an escalator is “out of order” for more than a day, you would think they would swap the out or order one which is going up, with the one that is going down (especially when it is planned). We don’t need help going downstairs but we do appreciate it going up!
That’s one of the problems you may find, or the other one is you run…..head towards the escalator and someone is in front of you. Now, either they will carry on walking in front of you but slowly and you start to pick up speed hoping they will get the hint you are also in a rush but once you are 5 steps from getting off they come to a complete halt and you are at your speed and bang into them or almost do. What the F*ck? If you are on an escalator and going down them either STAND TO YOUR RIGHT or just move and carry on moving until you are completely off the steps.
It isn’t rocket science. Do you know the amount of times I see people walking and someone brings a halt and then people buckle like a game of dominoes? It isn’t at all hard to continue walking.
So I carry on with my journey, I get to my platform, maybe I sit down, depending on the minutes that are left for the metro to arrive. Lucky with this city, the metro is actually really efficient. I have never had to wait more than the minutes actually stated on the screen. It isn’t like London where it says “2mins” but takes minimum 5 for it to arrive. Here they have the minutes and seconds and the metro is likely to come a few seconds before schedule.
That’s one of the great things about the metros here, but then when you have delays don’t expect to be notified. The other day I was on the metro on my way to work, and the metro stopped in every stop for over 5 minutes! What a joke! No one told us what was going on, nothing. Not even an apology for the delays we are having. I ended up arriving late for work which isn’t an issue as long as I call my bosses but what is frustrating is I cannot tell them what is wrong or how long I will be because no one is telling us!
I get really irritated about these things. Plus people in the end were just walking off and walking to work. I wanted to do the same but I believe in sods law and I thought once I step off this metro the doors will close and speed off. So I waited. I ended up swearing out loud because nothing is done. People complain on board but then forget about it within 2 minutes. I guess that is better so you don’t end up having a heart attack but then how will things ever get done? We need to be heard.
My journey doesn’t stop there, I don’t want to drag this on but it is never ending. When you are running for the train the people that are getting on the metro seem so oblivious that people are in fact behind them and also want to get on. They literally stop at the doors and no one can fit on! I end up pushing the people. I don’t care what age the person in front of me is but I have lost a bit of respect for the elders. They take advantage and although they have their rights they also need to WAKE UP!
In the end there are only a few points that need to be highlighted for all of us to have a nice journey home.

1 – Always stand to your right. The Spanish criticize the Brit’s for being too correct but at least we can walk any road or corridor without knocking someone out!
2 – JUST MOVE!!! Move out of harm’s way, don’t dawdle in front of the doors or at least move and give space, you are not fat!
3 – Don’t ask me if I am getting off. If I am not getting off I will move and If I am getting off you will see.

With these three little examples I believe we will become better people in the public transport world.

¿Dificil Aparcar?

Después de una hora buscando una plaza de parking cada vez que me indigno a coger el coche me siento que ha llegado a su colmo. Y sé que no soy la única.
Tengo un coche pequeñito y detesto cogerlo. ¡Y encima me lo vendieron como un coche urbano para ir por la ciudad!
¿Y Por qué? Porque Barcelona no es capaz de tener los suficientes plazas de Parking para acomodar a todos los barceloneses. Vivo en el Carmel, y he leído hace unos meses que quieren imponer zona verde en este barrio. Me parece ridículo!
¿Cómo coño van a poner una zona verde cuando hay 5 coches por cada plaza? (es mas que cierto este dato).
Cada vez que cojo mi coche me tengo que comportar de una manera muy paciente y encima cada vez que encuentro mi coche tengo un abolladura más! Es patético que no puedo ni cuidarme el coche porque es una batalla y tengo que aparcar a un km de casa y cuando lo encuentro un Gillipollas me lo ha dañado y no se ha dignado a dejar ni una nota.
Barcelona está con sus planes de pisos y para dar empleo a los parados. Pero antes de crear más pisos donde nadie puede ir a vivir porque es carísimo ¿por qué no piensan con los cerebros que tienen y invierten en cosas más lógicas e importantes como parkings? ¡Como los guardarías! ¡Tampoco hay suficientes! Eso es patético.
En el Prat de Llobregat tienen un parking público y gratis. Esto beneficia a los vecinos del barrio. ¿Por qué no pueden hacer lo mismo en Barcelona?
Y que no me digan que no hay Lugares suficientes porque paso por lo menos 5 huecos que se podría hacer algo.
Os voy a decir un lugar en concreto donde se puede hacer. Justo al lado del hospital de Vall de Hebron hay un parking que esta VACIO!! Compruébelo, mira en Google mapas, La dirección es: 152 Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona. Cada vez que paso me entra furor, encima justamente al lado veras que esta la grúa! Los odio. ¿Como pueden tener la cara de quitar nuestros coches cuando no hay espacio y encima hay un parking de más de 100 plazas y nadie lo está utilizando? ¿Nadie se da cuenta de que el gobierno nos estafa y encima se ríen a nuestra costa?
¿Soy yo exagerando esta rabia? Creo que el gobierno debe estar haciendo algo para ayudar sus paisanos. Pagamos tasas para ayudar los políticos. ¿Cuándo será nuestro turno?
Es increíble que se financian viviendas, cuando hay más de 7 millones de viviendas vacías en España... es decir, con un mercado libre, los pisos bajarían a más el 50%!!! Y después no se puede invertir en otros proyectos como parkings para la gente. Al final me gustaría saber donde me puedo dirigir mis opiniones porque creo que es algo que ayudaría muchas personas. No solo las personas de mi barrio pero por todo Catalunya y España. Entiendo que no queremos hacer más daño al mundo y no queremos más polución pero ya es tarde porque no se puede devolver los coches comprados. Además se produce mas Tóxicos buscando una plaza porque los coches pasan más de una hora dando vueltas buscando sitio. Si hubiera sitio ya es menos mierda en nuestros aires.
Seamos simples, veo muchas partes de Barcelona vacías con mucho verde o campos sin utilizar. Si no se va a hacer nada porque no pueden hacer un parking? Solo con un hueco ya se puede aparcar 20 coches! Eso ya es una gran ayuda. No podéis imponer zona verde en un barrio donde nadie se puede aparcar. Al final esto me crea asco al gobierno y cómo funcionan. Los políticos obviamente tienen su parking in casa así no se tienen que preocuparse de nosotros los pobres que tienen que aparcar en la puñetera calle!
Al final el gobierno solo piensa en dinero!!

Despues de escribir este blog he recibido un comentario que debe ser incluido en esto.

Hola a todos,
Estoy de acuerdo con lo que decis sobre el aparcamiento.
El Ayuntamiento de Barcelona utiliza las multas y la grua municipal para vaciar los bolsillos de los ciudadanos. Por eso no construye parquings asequibles como en otras ciudades.
Si quereis informaros y hacer algo contra este abuso os pongo unos enlaces de la Plataforma contra el area verde de Barcelona.
Somos vecinos como vosotros, todos juntos podemos quitar los parquimetros como ha ocurrido en Elda(Alicante), barrios de Madrid como Fuencarral, El Pilar, Hortaleza donde los vecinos tumbaban los parquimetros y los han quitado. Y en la ciudad de Roma, donde el alcalde ha perdido las elecciones y el nuevo alcalde ha quitado todos los parquimetros de la capital italiana. No basta con quejarse en el sofá de casa o en el bar de la esquina. Infórmate, actúa, pásalo. Plataforma contra el Area Verde:
Web:denuncia.org Facebook: Area Verda no
Facebook: 100.000 signatures contra el area verda i el area blava
Blog: plataformacontraelareaverda.blogspot.es
Tel. 696.28.23.51 _ 626.67.31.18
Estamos abiertos a las ideas y propuestas de todos los ciudadanos. Hacemos actividades legales contra los parquimetros, como participar en debates de TV en el programa els Matins de Josep Cuní en TV3, en Canal Català de la TDT..., en radio en Radio Kanal Barcelona (106.9 FM), en COM.Radio (91 FM) en internet, en Facebook, en diarios digitales, en las campañas electorales. Ven con nosotros. Todos juntos quitaremos los parquimetros de nuestra ciudad
José Tel: 696.28.23.51

Smell something there mate?

When you visit Barcelona, you will notice it is a very clean city, especially if you compare it to other cities I have travelled to. Just in my area the rubbish men pass by around 3 or 4 times an evening.
You hardly find rubbish on the floors and people are very conscious on recycling. So why on earth does this city stink??
Ever since I was very young I could tell I was entering the city in the taxi by the profound sewage stench that still hits my nose to this day. I have been travelling to and from Barcelona for years and the smell has never improved nor disappeard. The sewage system must be too old to change and this is the reason why it still smells. After living here you do end up getting used to that sewage smells, if you go away to the country for a couple of weeks and then drive back you will realise how much our noses get used to that horrid smell.

Sewage smell is one thing but what I really can’t understand is the smells in the “barrios” (areas). People throw their rubbish daily, I always see the street cleaners with their super powerful hoses but yet it still stinks of Cat’s wee. What on earth are they putting on the streets?
I live in an urban part of Barcelona and there are not many stray cats yet it stinks of them, (dirty ones). I really feel that the government needs to care more for the areas as it really horrible how every time I walk down certain roads I have to yet again hold my nostrils. Why not put plants and trees and then oxidize the areas?
As I am on this subject there is one more issue I need to bring up. Ever since I have quit smoking my senses have increased immensely just like a super hero. And at first I was so grateful to be able to taste and smell things intensely, but what kills me is the smell of people.
I don’t know if it is a Mediterranean thing but people really have a BO problem here. Not everyone but whenever I travel on the bus I always end up next to at least one smelly person. I find it so hard to hide my disgust too because I have turned into a person that can’t stomach anything and I get a sick feeling every time I get lobbed next to an old gentleman that only washes once a week when the nurse comes.
This is a clean country and the people shower but do they know what deodorant is?? I can understand when people have been working all day in the summer months and end up smelling. It is sometimes inevitable. But we are in November, its winter and it is not hot. And people still smell at 8.45 am while on their way to work. Does that make sense??? Seriously though, whenever I am sweaty I know I need to shower or put more deodorant on, and if it was only one person that smells I would understand but this is a daily thing. I get public transport twice to four times a day. I catch a bus and metro and whenever I am guaranteed to sit or stand next to at least one smelly person.
The other day I jumped on the bus and sat next to a young girl. Then all of a sudden a man stood right next to me and he stank! The girl looked at me in disgust and held her nose. I felt so embarrassed and held my nose to; I wanted to make sure she knew it wasn’t me.
The thing is if your homeless I understand you cant clean up but people who share public transport with others need to understand that it is unfair for us people to have to put up with you smelling the whole dam train up!
One thing is the smell of tobacco, I now dislike the smell but put up with it, but another one is the smell of body odour or of people who haven’t showered in days.
You do also get people who shower in their colognes! Seriously my nose is weak and leaves me unable to breathe, how do they survive it?
There are people that are very eco friendly and are completely against deodorant, (yes, these people exist and I know of them). How do you make these people understand that although they are against this product it is necessary because they reek?
I know this country has been doing a lot of marketing and publicity on saving water but that didn’t mean: DO NOT WASH!!!! On the contrary guys!! Saving water means don’t leave taps on while you are scrubbing the dirty dishes. Or don’t flush the toilet too many times. That is what they meant.
The problem with smelly people is that is an issue that people don’t address to others as it is a sensitive subject. But I thought maybe the deodorant companies should do a new marketing campaign and provide mini bottles for free on the metro! Maybe people will get the hint.
In the mean time I’ll stick to holding my nose while looking at the people in pure disgust. Sorry to the people that fall under this category but really no one wants to smell your armpits or last night’s booze and fag smell.
Lets all go with deodorant in our hand bags or man bags and spray these people like annoying flies!! Maybe that way they will get the hint.