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31/03/2005

Tourists and natives make for a fun experience

So, about a year ago today me and the boyfriend went to Turkey for one weeks vacation cause I was exhausted.
We went to a lovely place, called Side, not to many tourists yet witch again meant some entrepreneuring locals too. One day, I decided that we ought to go horseback riding, and so we did. We asked in the reception, and a lovely lady told us that it was a three kilometre walk down the road, then we would see the stables on our left.
So, we brought water and money and off we went. We hadn't gone long, before we met one of the locals who practically forced some bread upon us, and it wasn't until after I had been foolish enough to take a bite, that he tried to nab 2/3 of the money we had with us right out of my boyfriends hands!
Fortunately, he stood firm and prevented the guy from taking all the cash, but gave him something never the less.

That was my first lesson learned; don't accept pastry of any kind from strangers in Turkey, they will get quite adamant about getting paid.

After that, we kept on walking, and soon we saw something looking suspiciously like a farm with horses and goats outside, but it was on the right side of the road. Didn't the nice lady at the hotel say on the left side of the road?? we decided that, yeah, she did, but went along anyway. We passed some of the most viscious-looking goats I had ever seen and went to the farmhouse. there were two men inside, so we asked them if we had the right place.

Turns out, we didn't. They explained that it was indeed on the left side of the road and so we had to go back a bit.
As we left, we saw two buildings on the left. Both had horses. Now what?

we went to the one nearest us, and as it turned out probably not the right one.
As we approached, we saw horses, but they didn't exactly look like riding-school material but it was hot and there were two men and a woman there so we decided to try there.
Fortunately the woman was good in english so we asked her to rent two of the nicest and calmest horses they had please. She shouted something and a man came out. She talked to him a bit, and meanwhile we heard a horse slamming his hoof in the wall, and whinnying like mad. I remember thinking; oh my god, this isn't a good idea.

But, in the end we got two of the oldest and most tired horses I have ever seen. It was decided that me having been riding before, should have the most nasty horse, and my boyfriend should have the slightly more docile one. it went well right up to the point of me leaning foreward, to sit better in the saddle, when the horse I had suddenly yanked her head backwards, slamming right into my face. It hurt like you wouldn't believe, and frankly I was at this point terrified of my horse, so, we changed horses and went off with one of the men who had the boyfriends horse on a line.

I was feeling a bit better, and followed along at the rear. Only thing was, my horse was coughing, alot. But, I managed to stay on at every cough and had a nice time.
We had to cross three roads to get to the forest where we was going, and let me tell you, turks don't have the stop, look and listen rule when driving. They don't have brakes either apparently, cause as we were crossing the third road, I could hear the car nearing at a high speed, and then, in the middle of the road, my horse coughs, and her feet slips on the asphalt, so shes standing rather unsteadily and a car is speeding towards us!

Just in time, she manages to get going again and gets to the path on the other side. Whew!
And after that, we had a lovely trip in the woods, for two hours before we went back, unharmed and happy.
As It turned out, one of the men explained to us when we got back, we had gone to the wrong place, we ought to have gone to the place furthest away from us cause that was a proper stable, and this place wasn't.
Either way, I for one is glad we went to the "wrong" place, they were nice, the horses were a bit devious but good, and they had a beautiful cat there too.

So, if you ever go to Side, I highly recommend you go horseback-riding, but beware of strangers carrying bread. ^^


That's all for now, Cru.

10:05 Posted in Travel | Permalink | Email this