The past week was very busy. This is why I have not posted. Besides work and social commitments I also managed to register some .IN domain names, including Joe.In, in the Indian domain name launch. Also this week, an ancient fossil was found in Tarsus, and one protester died in Mersin when protesting on the sixth anniversary of Abdullah Ocalan’s capture.

The big news in Mersin this weekend is the visit of the main opposition party’s leader, the Kemalist CHP’s Mr. Deniz Baykal. At the previous Turkish local elections, Mersin was one of the cities that remained with the CHP and did not change to the formerly Islamist AK Parti. Mr. Baykal opened the newly renovated footpath in front of work. Following are photos of this event other things from the weekend.

Is anything funny written on the poster?

Assolist? Sounds a touch dodgy in English. In Turkish an “assolist” is equivalent to the “top billing” or the best soloist. The advert is for a nightclub.

Following is of a shop opening, wedding or something similarly celebratory. The restaurant sells roast chickens.

Do you love palm trees and other tacky light decorations? Come to the Mersin city centre – we have heaps!

In all colours, too…

Deniz Baykal came

Palms also look horrible during the day

Evil eyes made of balloons? We have everything in Mersin!

The new path. The resources gone into welcoming Baykal could have fed a starving country for a day. (Yes, those are: a) a Turkish flag; a picture of Baykal; and c) a welcome banner hanging off that building.)

Baykal arrives surrounded by his security and the Greater city mayor, Macit Ozcan and Akdeniz (Mediterranean) Council mayor, Kenan Yucesoy. The entourage included 4 full-size buses and several cars. The adoring crowd welcome him. Count all the baldheads in this shot!

The MC seemed to take forever welcoming both the Mr. Baykal and Mr. Yucesoy. The amount and strength of the compliments given were almost sickening. It was if gods were about to appear.

There was music and dancing.

Mr. Yucesoy spoke. There were volume problems with the microphones. I don’t think people cared if they could hear him or not. I didn’t. Notice Mr. Baykal’s security stage-right of Yucesoy.

Mr. Baykal comes to the stage and receives rose petals.

CHP in balloons

That is more than enough palms, balloons and politicians for now…