How to ride a donkey

We've lived here four years and in that time I've seen a lot of sights which have amazed and surprised me.  I keep thinking at some point, I'll be as oblivious as the people around me. 

We went to Gelibolu this morning to get groceries. The kids and I walked from the Pazaar to Kipa and saw this gentleman crossing the four lane road on his donkey.

You should notice than there is traffic.  He is sitting side saddle and what he has in his right hand is not reins but a riding crop which he uses on the side of the donkey's head to turn it left or right.  For our farm friends notice that he is wearing pretty nice shoes, a suit jacket and a dress shirt.

Firing Range

I've written about the Turkish Navy using the two islands in the Saros for target practice before.

Tonight after supper (in the dark) while Nicole was outside taking her laundry off the line, I heard the local pack of feral dogs barking and someone firing a hand gun. They fired it 6 or 7 times.  I don't know if they were shooting because the dogs were barking or the dogs were barking because of the shooting.  Either is an equally valid possibility in this place.

In the spring and summer, the son of one of our neighbours fires his gun into the ocean, usually after we've already been in bed and asleep for a couple of hours. I am not sure if you ever really get used to being awakened by gun fire.

Nicole came in a few minutes after we heard the last shot.  The dogs are still carrying on at the far end of the village. I haven't heard anymore shots, but then I am not in bed yet either.