You guys might recall that I have the unique ability to not feel any earthquakes here at all. Little or large, up until this point I have felt nada. But last night … well last night was a doozy and at the time I was pretty sure it was right underfoot.
Let me paint you a picture.
It was a hot and humid night. Too hot to sleep. I thought about putting on the klima but I hate that background droning in my ear so instead I tossed and turned in bed, so much so that The Turk went and slept on the terrace to capture the sea breezes (and no doubt to get away from me). Midnight came and went. 1am crept past me and I was still listless, The Sandman had not visited and I was knackered.
Moments after the clocked ticked over to 1am an eerie silence immersed The Village. The neighbourhood dogs, who are usually so vocal, stopped barking and even My Hurley Dog who was sleeping on my floor sat up and started whimpering. Then it hit. The wardrobe started banging. My Hurley Dog looked at the wardrobe and I looked at him. Outside I could hear the sound of objects falling. I sat up and the bed started vibrating like one from a cheap Vegas hotel. I laughed … I mean my bed hasn’t seen that much action since before The Turk’s heart attack … until I realised what it was. “Shit. Earthquake”.
I called for The Turk but he was having his own 30 second dance party on the terrace so I grabbed My Hurley Dog (who either wouldn’t or couldn’t move) and I ran clumsily down the corridor to the terrace. By the time I made it out there The Turk had lit a cigarette and mumbled, “Deprem”. Uh huh. We watched as the neighbours all came running outside and started babbling to each other. Dead set you would think that John Cusack just drove past in a limo with the door ripped off. People here go bat shit crazy!
Seriously though it was a 5.2 and it was in the sea between here and Adana. It was felt down in Limonlu which is about 70 kilometres from here as well as in the mountains in Yenikoy. As it was so close to Adana they really copped it with one friend saying her 14 storey building was swaying (and she’s on the top floor – yikes). No damage at ours although the madanoz and nane boxes ready for delivery to restaurants tomorrow all fell over next door which caused a good 10 minutes of yelling and gesticulation before they were upright again.
I went and made a cup of tea and The Turk and I sat on the balcony for a few minutes watching the show when a slight breeze picked up. I thought that perhaps it might cool down a bit but no, if anything, it was hotter. I looked at our temperature gauge – 30.2 degrees and its 1.49am. Lord! And then it hit.
No not another quake but the electrical storm to end all electrical storms. Mother Nature was throwing everything she had at us and within seconds our electric was cut and the entire village was thrown into darkness. Blacker than black. The rain started and The Turk started cursing (he had washed the car earlier in the day). Again we watched another fox in the henhouse moment while all the neighbours went running back inside. What’s worse to a Turkish person? An earthquake or a little rain on your head? Definitely the rain, after all you might get grip! People probably went inside and put on a sweater or three!
Right now I could be controversial and suggest that building a nuclear power plant in Mersin (or in Türkiye for that matter) is a ridiculous idea what with all the earthquakes and shit but because I am trying to stay away from controversy so I don’t get blocked I am going to say this – unicorn and kittens!
But I must admit Mother Nature put on a hell of a show. Both a matinee and a curtain. Well done Madame for an eventful evening but I really need to get some sleep now.
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