I saw a breakfast place around the corner last night when I went to get some soup.  They advertised in German and English signage.  This morning however the whole intersection (I am in the center of town) was sporting SWAT police in combat gear and painted faces.  Some dignitary no doubt was staying at one of the hotels or something.  The Turks are a militaristic bunch. All-machine-guns-all-the-time. They love shoot'm-up American movies and television shows. That's all that's on TV here.  Anyway, this morning was no exception.  It was machine guns in the street as usual.  I however, would not be denied my omelet because I have not eaten in two days.  So I strolled past the soldiers and police and into my six-table cafe.  The owner was glad to see a civilian and doted over me.  But, as I sat down I realized the other five table were filled with police. Why should this have surprised me, I wonder now?  Then I realized they were all lady cops.  They were all in there mid-twenties to thirties.  They all wore their hair down around their shoulders. Some wore Middle Eastern dangling ear rings.   Each with a machine-pistol strapped to their sides. They all talked, laughed, smoked, and ate their breakfasts.  It was too late for me to go back out the door because that would look rather suspicious.  So while the men cops stood out in the rain like Rambos, the ladies ate breakfast. 

 

  My omelet came and I don't know if it was good because I haven't eaten in two days.  But it sure seemed like it tasted good.  A lady Captain cop (I am not kidding, she looked just like Rosie O'Donnell) stuck her head in the door and yelled something at them all.  Then the lady cops got up to leave.  A couple of them stopped by my table and I held my breath - average people were being frisked outside the cafe.  But, they only pointed at my omelet and smiled and I think they said, ''we should have gotten that.''  Believe me, I would have grudgingly surrendered my omelet, but only as a last resort. 

 

  My conservative friends will find nothing unusual about me eating breakfast with a bunch of machine-pistol carrying lady cops.  My liberal friends will no-doubt write me off as having finally gone stark raving mad.  I have had to walk a tight rope in this region people - please give me some latitude, besides, I wanted that damn omelet.  However, unless I am mistaken, I have not noticed a machine-pistol in Heide's jewelry box.  She does however, already have the dangling ear rings.  Perhaps I have a 25th wedding anniversary gift idea.     

 

  I see the Bears and the Colts rule.  I will be home soon.


     - Looking back at Van, Turkey from the old castle.  Photo by Bob Keith, October 2006 -