It was very hot. Half-way in to my stay, I rescued a sick kitten from the streets outside my flat, washed them off, bundled them up like a baby and took them to the vet, which was a 30 minute walk up-hill in 30 degree weather.

I am a pretty profuse sweater, when I work out in the gym I go through so many of those tissues they reserve for wiping down the equipment, just to dry my face. It takes me a few handfuls before I am anything close to dry, and I can't do anything about my wet hair to stop it from flicking sweat into my eyes and making me cry. It is an ordeal. Anyway, I get to the vet finally and I'm drenched, physically soaking wet, hot, salty sweat irritating my eyes as usual.

I go to check in at reception, and I'm told to wait, so I take a seat. I try to dry my face on my shirt, but my shirt is wet too, so now I'm more wet than before. I try to use the back of my arms, but it is a hopeless endeavour. I was in race against time now to make myself presentable before the vet invited me in, but they came right away. Now I'm in their operating room, out of breath and drenched with tears in my eyes, explaining the kitten's situation. Even in the AC, I wouldn't begin to dry off until my appointment was over.

The kitten was starving, underweight, anaemic from fleas and bloated from worms, so I had to repeat this trip seven or so times in fourteen days. It never got any better and I sometimes wonder what they must have thought of me coming in drenched every time. If you want to know why I could not take a taxi for any one of these journeys, it is almost impossible to get a taxi for a trip you can walk in less than an hour in central Istanbul. If you can even manage to hail one, they will dismiss you because the journey is too short, or ask for a stupid amount of money, and honestly, finally getting a taxi has its own problems which I could write a whole other post about.

I'm going back to Istanbul next week to pick my kitten up and bring them home with me, although they are not a kitten anymore. Now they are fat and beautiful, and they haven't been sick in weeks.

Shout out to Juste Fried Chicken, which I ate nearly every day at some point. So good. I am looking forward to eating it again.