The kindness of strangers: after a nasty bike accident in Turkey, a local dropped everything to care for me
The kindness of strangers: after a nasty bike accident in Turkey, a local dropped everything to care for me
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I had no travel insurance and couldn’t walk. I was entirely dependent on him, but he never once made it awkward.
I was cycling in rural Turkey – I couldn’t tell you where. My plan that day was to ride until I reached a village with somewhere I could stay. I needed people because, unlike other bike tourists, I didn’t have a tent. I thought not bringing one would mean I had more adventure – maybe I’d stay in barns, living rooms or school halls. That had worked in Thailand, Malaysia and South Korea. It didn’t work in Turkey.
I needed to get to the next town before sunset. I was cycling quickly downhill, probably too fast for a gravel road. I was scooting around a blind corner when a car came screaming around the bend. As soon as I saw it, it was in front of me.
Nick stayed with me in my small apartment in Antalya for a couple nights in September 2014. Then, uh, ooops, I heard from him again as he unexpectedly returned to Antalya. He was in need of some help, and I was able to help him. It’s times like this – in an unknown city, with no friends, and a problem – that Warmshowers is especially terrific. Nick ended up staying another four or five days. He’s a super guy, open-minded, knowledgable and experienced beyond his years. You can absolutely trust him.
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