James Gaston

Earlier Ephesus

Last days in Turkey Later

Turkish carpets
12 Sep 2020 Turkish carpets 12 Sep 2020 Alacati, Selcuk, Turkey

Turkish salespeople can be aggressive. In the touristy parts of Istanbul, like where we stayed, the restaurateurs stand in front of their establishments and as you approach they entreat you, holding out menus and uttering enticing words, but as you walk past, their words not having succeeded, they become hostile, insulting even, which was counter productive but maybe it works sometimes or maybe it's just venting on their failure.

The carpet sellers would go to greater lengths, using flirtation, misrepresentation, even two-eye-coloured cats as lure. But we resisted, helped by the fact we'd not want to schlepp a carpet around along with our travel bags. Carpets, we don't need no stinking carpets.

Beware the friendly carpet salesman

Van cat w/ two eye colours

Lots 'o' carpets

Carpets, carpets, carpets

He'll say anything to get you into the carpet store

Earlier Ephesus

Last days in Turkey Later