TCD MS 3416 page 57
[June 1916]
lady whose husband was fighting in France. It would be difficult to describe our joy at finding at this hotel a large wash hand basin with taps labelled “Hot” “Cold”; these I turned on and off – on and off like a child with a new toy! In the Sal a’ manger we were served with a French omelette, mutton chops, and potatoes and beer on a spotlessly clean table cloth – I revelled, in the cleanest and most wholesome meal I had ever had in Turkey. Our only difficulty was in persuading Madame to accept payment. Those of us in the dining room succeeded in the end, while those in other rooms were not only defeated but were obliged to carry away bottles of beer as presents! After dinner an excited Turk gendarme rushed in and told us that the train was waiting, so we hurried across to the station.
The early morning of the 19th found us travelling through large poppy fields, the poppies being presumably grown for opium; it was pleasant to see such a mass of colour. I have never seen cultivated flowers of any kind in Turkey, however, except occasionally a few semi-wild flowers on the way-side or in gardens – True indeed is the saying “What beauty is there in a flower.”