Note to self

Don't leave the erik fruits out thinking they are going to ripen. They don't, and they just get mushy and disgusting. Also, don't try to eat one in this state. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but....no.

New fruit

I decided to go out on a limb and buy this "erik" fruit I've seen so much of in recent weeks. Literally translated to plum, I couldn't exactly figure out what they would be like because they are so small. They are crunchy sort of like an apple, rather tart, but overall almost like an unripe, well, plum. I've let them sit in my room for a few days, and they've gotten a bit softer and a touch sweeter but remain rather tart. Because this fruit is all over and people seem to be buying it, I can't imagine that they would be really unripe, unsuitable for consumption. The fruit is sort of refreshing, however. And, also like a plum, it has a large pit on the inside of it. Anyhow, I've been snacking on these in recent days and we've all (well, most of us anyway) enjoy them. In a side note, they are also good for pelting your friends.

Sugarless sugary treats

BREAKING NEWS.... Even though I thought it was physically impossible, I found a pastane (pastry shop) in Istanbul that makes sugar-free Turkish delight (lokum) and sugar-free baklava! The prices are comparable to the regular stuff, and the baklava is quite delicious. The syrup is a bit less sweet, which is not a bad thing. In fact, a friend told me she'd almost prefer the sugarless version because it's not so toothachingly sweet. The lokum is a bit strange, particularly in that it's covered in something that resembles powdered sugar but can't be. It tastes a lot like a flavor of Turkish delight, albeit more bland.

And, in case you are interested, the old name for a diabetic in Turkish şeker hastalığı (literally sugar sickness), but now it is diabetik. I hope that I'll be able to handle such a difficult foreign word.

May Day in Istanbul

The first of May is always a volatile day to live in Istanbul. In 1977, an unidentified gunman opened fire on a celebration of labor solidarity, and by the end of the gunfire and the panic that followed, 36 people had died and 200 were injured. In 1978 and up until this year, city officials banned demonstrations on Taksim Square and Istiklal, where the horrific tragedy occurred, but riots and demonstrations still occurred, leading to many arrests and injuries, and to the use of tear/pepper gas and water to control the crowd, who often become violent. Last year, at least according to anecdotal reports, up to 900 people were arrested.

This year, the government actually opened the square for a march but kept a tight control on just who can take part and what they can do as forms of protest. Over 5,000 people have come to the historic square, and, according to some reports, only about 30 people have been arrested in Taksim at this point.

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara issued a warden message warning of impending violence and transportation delays all across Turkey, but particularly in large public places in Istanbul, naming Taksim and Kadikoy as two specific places. Now, just so everyone knows, Taksim is where we spend most of our Friday and Saturday nights because of all the bars and restaurants and clubs, and because today is a holiday, we went out last night to Taksim one last time before the demonstrations and the police presence was already more marked. Barricades blocked off all side streets, more police were around with their AK-47s, and the like. We have all committed to not going anywhere in downtown Istanbul today, and instead decided to walk up to the Black Sea, an hour or so walk down the hill of our campus, and far away on the other side of Istanbul.

The video below is footage taken from today about the demonstrations and police intervention for the May Day celebrations.

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