Literature
EuroVember 2024 Day 11 (Turkiye/Turkey)
Upon arriving on the streets of Istanbul, we couldn't help but notice how humid and hot it was. "Whew..." I uttered, "Who knew Turkey could be so hot!" Celdi was quick to explain. "Well, we are in the city where west meets east." She explained as she pointed to a line on the EuroPad's map. One side was West Europe and the other side was East Europe. "But which countries are where?" Emily wondered. "Well..." Celdi began, "There are 2 lines which splits the continent into 3 sides. Countries such as Ireland, The UK, France, Spain and Portugal are in Western Europe, countries like Italy, Czechia, Switzerland, Germany, Slovenia and Austria are in Central Europe and countries like Ukraine, Albania, all the former Yugoslavia countries and here in the most western point of Turkey are deemed to be in Eastern Europe."
"Okay. Enough geography nonsense. Let's see what our items are today." I told them as I looked at the EuroPad. "So! On today's itinerary, we need to find...an Adana Kebabi, a Yelek, a Kemenche, a Copper coffee pot and something to do with the Eurovision Heart emblem." Everything made sense...except the last one. "Hang on..." Emily thought, "What does the Eurovision Heart have to do with Turkey?" I gave a very concise statement. "You see...when Turkey first hosted Eurovision back in 2004, the contest abandoned the idea of using a different logo for every contest and opted to use a more...how do I put this...generic logo. Thus, the Eurovision Heart was born."
"So. Who's gonna find the kebab?" Celdi asked. I very quickly nominated myself for it. "Okay." Celdi added, "You can go." I leapt in the air with excitement and off I went! "Hmm...where will I find a Turkish kebab shop..." I said to myself as I wandered through the streets. It didn't take long before I found one! I looked for the Adana Kebabi and found it!
Returning to the others, I ticked it off the list! "So now...we need a Yelek." I read. Celdi was baffled. "What's a Yelek?" She asked as I showed them a picture of it on the EuroPad. "This. Is a Yelek. It's a kind of Turkish waistcoat." I explained. "Oh. Okay." And so, Celdi buzzed off to find one. After travelling for what seemed like only a few miles, she found a fashion shop. And there, in the window, was a traditional Turkish Yelek, complete with brown leather and gold embroidery.
She returned with it on and stuck a cool runway pose. "Y'know Celdi, you look good in any clothing." I chuckled. "Ha. Tesekkur ederm" Celdi laughed. "Anyway..." she continued, "Our next item is...a kemenche, which appears to be a kind of elongated violin."
Emily beamed at the opportunity and so, off she went to find one! She approached a music shop but before she could go in...she stopped. "Wait..." she wondered, "Would they even sell a kemenche? According to the picture, it looked like a violin." But then, out of the corner of her eye, she found one!
She returned to me and Celdi and thus, we had our 3rd item! "Okay gang! 3 down, 2 to go! Our 4th item is...a copper coffee pot. And I think I know just where to find one." I wondered as I headed to a Turkish coffee shop. On a table just outside, sat an empty brown metallic pot, which upon closer inspection, it smelled of...coffee. "Aha!" I exclaimed, "This must be the copperbobbyboh. Umm...copperpoppybot...copper...coffee...pot." It was a real tongue twister to say rapidly. But nevertheless, I returned to Emily and Celdi with the...brown pot that smelled of coffee, as we only had one item left to find!
"Oooh!" Celdi marvelled excitedly, "Our last item is a ceramic of...THE EUROVISION HEART!" She yelled. I cleared my throat. "Yes. Now, where would we find it?" I asked. We all had a think until Emily provided a solid answer! "What if we try a ceramic studio?" Celdi's eyes lit up like a deer to headlights! "That's a great idea! Let's go!"
We eventually arrived at a Turkish ceramic studio and found the very thing! A ceramic model of the original design of the Eurovision Heart! "Here it is!" Celdi shouted joyfully as we collected it and the EuroPad pinged! "Ooh. Time for our Turkish challenge." I noted.
"Games, games, games. People love them! Especially those of Turkey. One of their most iconic games to play is Matrak. For this rather fun challenge, you will need to play a game of Matrak and whoever wins, can take the mic."
We were confused. "Umm...well that does sound like fun but how exactly do we play?" I wondered as the EuroPad explained the rules. We stood on the grass, doned our leather weapons...and the game began!
After several attempts of dodging and trying to hit the shields out of Emily and/or Celdi's hand, I was down! It was now between Emily and Celdi. They squared each other up AND CHARGED! WHAM! BASH! WOOSH! CLANG! Both standing their ground, only one could win!
And before you could say "Under the same sky", Celdi was disarmed! Her "sword" and shield dropped to the ground. Emily had won. "Wow!" I exclaimed as I caught my breath, "I had no idea this game was so popular." And then, the mic appeared. "Well, since Emily won, I think she should do the honours this time." Celdi remarked and I agreed. So with that, Emily took the mic and the song was unleashed!
From 2003, Everyway That I Can by Sertab Eremer.
After the song ended, the next portal opened! But as it did, I felt something in my brain! "Oh my goodness! My DNA Heritage alarm is going off!" I exclaimed! "I know where we're going next!"
Celdi was surprised! "You do?! Where?!" She asked. "You'll see! Let's go!" I shouted as we jumped into the portal and headed off.
Next stop...Athens, Greece!
(Yes, if you want to know, my DNA heritage is actually Greek.)