September 11, 2009 Mardin
The day got off to a good start. Breakfast was good and there was even an excellent cheese omelette. Funny that should appear today since I had been meaning to ask Omer if they ever ate them for breakfast.
After breakfast Omer and I made our way very slowly with numerous stops to the market. Mehmet went back to bed becuse his back was sore - from the air conditioning he thought. I don't know if it is the air conditioning, the heat or the constant climbing stairs and walking on rough surfaces that is aggravating my back but it is very very bad. Sometimes the best I can without sitting down is about ten metres. I enjoyed people watching in the market but it was pretty dark so my photos are not the best. After I saw people digging in the rice with their bare hands and squeezing the dried apricots I questioned whether I would ever buy anything there. We sat around for a couple of hours and then went to a cafe for pistachio coffee. Not quite sure how describe it other than to say it was a bit sweet and very good.
By the time we left the cafe my back and legs were very tight and sore. I jokingly said to Omer that maybe I could get a donkey taxi back to the hotel. Imagine my amazement when he said that could be arranged. And it was! One of the owners of the cafe went off for about a half hour and returned with a young man and a donkey. My worst fears were reaIized when it came time to mount up. I stepped on a stool and tried to throw my leg over the back end. The saddle blanket slipped and my fall to concrete was only broken a little by the guys trying to help. Luckily nothing was broken or cut but I can now tell that many muscles were strained. The ride to the hotel wasn't fun either and I was extremely tense the whole way. The blanket kept slipping, especially when we climbed stairs, so the three of them had to try and hold me on. I had many visions of ending up on the ground again. Needless to say I was thrilled to finally slide off.
I had been so tense all of the way on the donkey that I was shaking like a leaf and had to sit in the lobby for awhile until I settled down. Unfortunately at that point I began feeling sick. I lay in the bed for awhile but it got worse and I developed a fever. Sine then I've been sweating and gagging/retching and experiencing sore and aching muscles. Sound like swine flu? Sure hope not.. Omer went out and got me some pills. I took one of those and some of my own painkillers and now wait to see if anything helps. Fingers crossed please. We have quite a long drive to Tatvan tomorrow and I certainly don't want to feel like this all of the way.