I've never seen people eat like that ...

Today was a neat opportunity. At school during Ramadan, they bring in food at the end of the day and when sun goes down, they invite all the teachers (Muslim or not, fasting or not) to eat dinner.

RAMADAN: A look inside ritual starvation.

Third part in an occasional series.

The meal, called iftar which means breaking fast, is signaled by a cannon going off in the town.

Once the cannon goes off, PEOPLE EAT. I've consumed some food quickly in my day, but I've never seen anything like this.

It was like someone handed out free Hometown Buffet coupons at the end of a Weight Watchers meeting.

The people fasting dug into plates of borek, bread, cheese and olives faster than I've ever seen people eat. Of course I muscled my way in there like I have been fasting all day, (which of course I haven't.)

It was actually quite funny. These were big plates of food that were demolished. And not a minute after the cannon went off.

Then again, I'm not begrudging anyone their eating habits at the end of a day of starving.


***

If anyone sees anything about a bombing on the news, I am nowhere near it.

There was a terrorist attack in Izmir today, resulting in anywhere from seven to 15 injuries after someone threw two grenades into a cafe. (The varying numbers come from the Izmir police and Reuters.)

I know someone glancing at the news could see the I-z in Izmir and think I was there. But I'm in Izmit, a safe city with no tourist destinations.

***

Editor's Note: I still haven't been posting that much, but I will introduce a coming this week teaser to help keep me posting. Have any ideas about what I should dispatch to you? Post a comment or e-mail me: JamesLoughrie@gmail.com.


COMING THIS WEEK:

I found a newer bar.
What ever happened to Alphaville?
"Television! Teacher, mother, secret lover."