Istanbul - pt. 2

I had a siesta, and Hasan came to meet me for dinner at 10:00. He told me I was looking very gorgeous. We walked to a restarant along the waterfront I'd walked by earlier. It was traditional Turkish, and he told me to pick whatever I wanted, and he would follow me. I ordered Kofte (meatballs), tomato salad, shrimp, fried aubergine and Efes, the national bira (beer). The beer was good, and I as a rule do not like beer. Still, when in Istanbul ...

The shrimp were the cocktail size which just seemed odd somehow. The tomato salad had so much diced onion even Hasan wouldn't eat it. The Kofte and aubergine rocked, though. More like mini hamburger patties than meatballs, Kofte are very peppery and green oniony and some places add other seasonings. The fried aubergine were sliced about 1/4 of an inch thick, sliced in discs and fried in a bit of oil, served topped with turkish yogurt from Harem (which is so ubiquitous here it comes in some form with every meal and they even drink a thinned out version). I think this may be my favorite dish here so far. I've tried it at a few places and love it.

2 biras later we left the restaurant filled with delicious food. Hasan put his arm around me and we headed toward the street in Sultanahmet that has a number of bars and restaurants. Half way up the hill, he stopped and pulled me into a kiss. We continued onward and opted for a roof top terrace where we ordered red wine.

During dinner, Hasan had explained that he'd seen me in Sultanahmet Square from 70 or 80 meters away. When I walked by, he called out to me two times, but I kept going. At that point, he turned to his cousin and asked him "Oh my God. She is my dream. What do I do?"

"Follow her."

So he did. On his fourth attempt, I turned around and basically told him off. He kept telling me how happy he was I finally stopped.

Now, on the terrace, he put his arm around me and we sat that way 2 glasses of wine a piece (I'd regret that in the morning. 2 biras and 2 glasses of red wine are not a good combination - hello, raging headache!)

Hasan told me he felt we were very "warm with each other". I'm still not sure exactly what this means, because I think there is something lost in the translation he is making from Turkish to English. I gather it has something to do with the heart, because he always puts his hand there when he says it. Whatever it means, I think we were.

Then he had to go and ruin it by whispering "I never want to lose you" into my ear, and told me I was his angel.

At that point I decided I wouldn't be sleeping with him. I mean, what the fuck? After like, 3 hours? Yeah, anyone who knows me well well knows that kind of smitten doesn't win me over. A person needs to be detached and somewhat aloof seeming in order to catch my attention. I get to be the very smitten one or it doesn't work. I like a challenge.

Morever over, he doesn't want to lose me, based on what? That I'm blonde and cute? GAK.

He wanted to spend the night with me, but I told him I needed to sleep, as I had slept maybe 7 of the last 48 hours. What I didn't say was that the last thing I wanted under the circumstances was to have to fight off a horny guy all night long (he promised we didn't have to have the sex, but I know how that play goes). I tend to have trouble sharing a bed (except with kitties of the furry and unfurry variety) let alone a bed with a man rubbing his hard cock against my back all night hoping I'll give in and roll over.

I agreed to meet him the next night, as he promised to take me dancing. I figured I would just opt out of "the sex" after dancing. He walked me back to my hotel, and in front, where we kissed again, he started begging and pleading with me to change my mind.

So thoroughly not the way to win me over. If I say no, there are two proper responses: respect it and shut up about it, or throw me against the wall and have your way with me. Begging is annoying and pathetic and those are not qualities I find attractive. While we were kissing goodnight, he put my hand on his cock for me to rub through his pants. Good, heavens, was it small. If I hadn't already decided not to sleep with him, I would have then. Why waste vacation sex on someone with such disappointing equipment?

Mustafa's approach had been better. The problem there was I was not attracted to him, so it similarly turned into a begging/pleading thing, which is part of why I don't think the encounter was as dangerous and dramatic as I may have made it sound. Rather than begging and pleading, he was more the kind of guy that thinks if he can just keep you there long enough and say and do the right things, he'll unlock the magical key to your pussy. Not unlike teenage boys and younger men without much experience.

Since we're on the subject, I'll clarify a bit. When I said he wouldn't let me leave, I didn't mean I was physically restrained in any way, nor was I locked in the room. Also, his nephews, workers, and the girl who serves him kept coming in and out, so there was never more than 5 minutes where we were truly alone. He was just very gropey in those 5 minute intervals. I could have, at any time, just left, or, if I needed to, kicked or punched him in the nuts before bolting for the door.

But it was my first few hours in a new culture and I wanted to extract myself from the situation without violence or a scene. It is impossible to get to just about anywhere in Istanbul without walking past the place his nephews hand out to schill people into the shop.

I was trying to find the polite and appropriate way to leave, but all of my "I just got here and I want to explore and see sights, not spend my time here, I don't think I want a carpet" protests were met with offers of more tea, cookies, water, etc, and more discussion of rug making and financing one for me. I was hyper aware of the potential threat, and my surroundings, the entire time and would have gotten myseld out of there if I felt like I needed to, if it seemed like serious danger. I may be little and sometimes too trusting, but I am far from helpless!

So I went to bed my first night in Istanbul alone, thank god, and slept quite soundly. I'd need more rest for my big day at the Bazaars the next day, and 2nd date with Hasan the next night.