Whole or in pieces?

by Irina Radu (Russia)

A leap into the unknown Turkey

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Have you ever dreamed to travel on a huge lainer? Standing alone on the bow of the deck and breaking the waves? Maybe do you wanted to repeat the famous scene from the Titanic? I didn’t dream about it, but I did. A few years ago I came to Istanbul to visit my friends. They showed me this magnificent city, we visited palaces, walked on embankments, danced in clubs and enjoyed local cuisine in cozy cafes. Once they decided I should see the Bosphorus, sailing on a ship with an hour-long guided tour. We chose the time at sunset, and I boarded the ship from the berth of Besiktas. My friends are local guys and they know the strait up and down. For me it was new incredible views, breathtaking bridges, glowing mosques in the distance. That was truly dream. It turned out I didn’t take the money with me, and the phone wasn’t configured for local connection. It was a simple round trip. I began to make my way to the exit in advance, but I was on the upper deck of the three-storied ship. People on the stairs also went down. There so many tourists were that I reached only to the middle. Stops were 1.5 minutes. It was the beginning of drama. The ship began to move away from the coast, and I watched in horror as everyone who remained on the ground became tiny and faceless. The crowd subsided and very few people remained on the deck. I swept over and ran to one of the sailors. - Help, please help me. I didn’t have time to get out, I missed my stop. Plan B flew in my head as a red line. I will walk on foot, that’s nothing. My English is good, I’ll get back. - What can I do? You need to go now to the final and get back to that shore. - Good. So. On the final. WHAAAAAAAT? What the hell? To that shore? And then the ship began to pick up speed and headed for the opposite shore. My eyes were filled with horror. - Call the captain’s assistant, I'm lost. Call the elder, you don’t understand, I have no money, I can’t call, my friends are waiting in Besiktas. Meanwhile we landed at the finish parking lot, and the last tourist stepped off the ramp. -You need to get off. - No, I won’t go anywhere. Call the assistant. I need back, turn me back. A minute later he came up his own. A tanned bearded man and I repeated the whole story with tears in my eyes. -You must give me any pass or turn me back yourself. He could hardly restrain a smile, and I myself would have fun in his place, but I was already shaking with panic. At that moment his phone rang. He began to speak something in Turkish, which I don’t understand at all, looked at me and laughed out loud. «Tamam» was the only word I understood. He said «Okay» then everything will be fine. - Your friends are worried, they contacted the coast services. The captain received the order, we will turn you back. And here I stand on the bow of a huge ship that is heading through the Bosphorus. There are beautiful foamy waves below and the sun sets over the horizon ahead. Both shores are lit by a thousand lights. The picture is amazing. My hairs are fluttering on the breeze and I feel incredible calm. Not every stray tourist can boast of this, do you agree? We approached to the shore and the whole ship’s crew said goodbye to me with a smile. Through the eyes of my friend who stand with her arms crossed I understood everything. -I'm sorry I made you both worry. How did you do that? - Do you know what he said when we asked them to bring you back? He asked to turn you whole or in pieces. For fun, of course, and yet. Only that moment I imagined what all that romance could turn into. Since that time I never travel again without the Internet and at least with a hundred in my pocket. Always.