Hospitality in Malatya

We roll into Malatya and Bruno buys his first loaf of bread from a bakery. It's not wrapped up yet and someone invites us to a barbecue. 😄
We roll through the city and see the result of the earthquake that shook this region a year ago.
Many buildings have cracks in their façades and are still uninhabitable today. A large part of the population has been living in containers ever since. Some of them have been put together on many areas cleared for this purpose (former car parks?). Mini-markets have been positioned directly opposite, also housed in containers.
We are told that every family has victims to mourn and we are shown some photos of the deceased. The anonymous statistics and figures from television and newspapers are given a face and make the story more tangible.

Former landmarks have also fallen victim to the shocks. The former market hall no longer exists, but a new market, also made of containers, has been built in its place.
The satellite map shows many newly built neighbourhoods. It is not certain whether the new buildings are now earthquake-proof, as the law on earthquake-proof construction has been in place since the turn of the millennium.

Burak crosses our path, a bright man with whom I talk about religion - a big topic here. Many Muslims try to convince me, as a non-religious person, of Islam, but he conducts a very open dialogue and skilfully links topics of faith with those of morality. I would have loved to continue the discussion, but my days in Turkey are coming to an end. He also regrets that he doesn't have more time and, instead of inviting us to dinner, wants to pay for it. He offers us money, a bizarre situation as we are the rich Europeans who don't have to mourn any deaths in the family and who live in an economically and politically stable country.
Normally I would have refused, but my gut feeling tells me that he feels a deep need and I overcome my first impulse to refuse.
He offers to answer questions about religion and faith and we stay in touch.

Finding a place to sleep that night is not difficult. We are shown a small park in the city centre, where it is nice and safe. A little strange at first, as everyone in Germany would turn up their noses. But the night is quiet.

On the second evening, we have the pleasure of barbecuing with Turgut. He takes us to a nearby lake where some Turkish families have already started barbecuing. Smoke hangs in the air and hangs over the lake.
Turgut doesn't give us the opportunity to join in. We are the guests and he wants to cater for us in the best possible way.
As a farewell and for the train journey, he gives us the vine leaves made by his wife and a lot of barbecue food. He apologises several times for not being able to spend more time with us and that he would have liked to be more hospitable, but he is leaving that night for a family wedding.

He takes us to the railway station, where friends of his are waiting. They turn out to be just as interested and welcoming.

Finally we are alone and there are still a few hours before the train departs. The person at the ticket counter turns out to be very funny and tries to put in a word for us with the train staff. Actually, only folding bikes are allowed.
As a memento, he gives me a 5Lira note with the date and his name on it - a little artefact for my travel diary.

An official from the station staff shows us how to do it and we sleep a little in the waiting hall.
The train arrives, we have our tickets 🎟️ and there's plenty of room on the train - off to bed and 😴.Baca selengkapnya