Each night while holidaying in Ismir, we came across a eating house and the doorman tried to tempt us to dine there. Each evening we listened to his story and browsed at the exhibit but decided to dine elsewhere. Then, on our second last night in Ismir, we did it. We took a table at the cafe. That was a BIG MISTAKE!
The meal was quite pleasant and the service very good. As my wife and I finshed our dinner , we sat idly in our chairs and consumed our drinks. I noticed that a young American couple had ordered the same meal as I did, adana kebap. I wonder if they succumbed to the same fate as I did?
Anyway, we were looking around the cafe and noticed the big wood-fired oven, much like a pizza oven. The waiter came over to collect our dishes and my wife inquired about the oven. The waiter said that they used the oven in the mornings to cook all the food and then they place the cooked food in the refrigerators at the front of the display. I thought nothing of it but my wife was certainly surprised. In fact she raisedit in conversation as we walked back to our hotel . That’s not where it ended…
That night, I awoke at about one am with a bad headache and was perspiring profusely. inside minutes I was freezing cold and shivering profusely. Then it struck – the to be avoided at all costs – diarrhea!
We were planning to travel to one of the local attractions the next day but I was not anywhere well enough to go. The guide was due to collect us at 8am and I asked my wife to go solo. I was so sick; there was no way I could travel. So she left for the day and I lay there wallowing in self-pity. Then an amazing thing happened.
Our hotel manager paid me a visit. My wife had explained to him I was sick and not to worry about serving the room that day. Anyway, he brought with him a small plate of red grapes and a large bowl of yoghurt. Anyone who has been to Turkey will know that the local inhabitants eat a lot of yoghurt!. He explained thet the yoghurt would solve all my stomach issues. I did not really feel like eating at all but made some effort and placed the dish next to my bed after he left once he had left. Then I remembered something important…
I have been writing about probiotics and the merits of taking probiotic capsules for a few years now ! These “friendly bacteria” are good for the stomach. With 2 days of bus travel coming up , there was no way I wanted to be embarrased with a public incident ! So I ate the yoghurt.
The next day I was returning to normal health and although still suffering a stomach problem , was able to travel. I had my fill of natutal probiotic supplement in the form of yoghurt again for breakfast and was on my way.
The lesson I have learned from this bad experience is that probiotics are a wonderful preventative measure and I will not travel to a foreign country without a bottle of probiotics supplements on hand. You just never know how indespensible they could be!
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