I’ve been following Michael Palin’s programme on Eastern Europe on the BBC (look for “Palin” in the text about halfway down - his description is superb!) and tonite he went to Bulgaria and Turkey. The Bulgarian odyssey was interesting but the thing that really caught my eye was the last of the programme when he travelled to Cappadocia in Turkey to the site of the volcanic caves where some of the most prolific and influential church fathers hid before Christianity was made acceptable within the Roman Empire. Towards the end, after a lovely visit to a world-famous belly-dancing studio he went to have dinner in a local restaurant.

During his meal (and certainly because he was eating with full camera crew in tow!) the house singer/entertainers came up to him with full band and regalia and serenaded him with a local number. Apparently the song is called “Mahanni” which tells the story of the drinking house. As the singer explained it it’s more than that; the song means this house is one of hospitality where when someone comes and eats or drinks on their own some of the locals take pains to come over and join them and make them feel welcome and share their hospitality. No one should have to be alone in the Mahanni!

I’ve been a number of places and it’s remarkable to be in a new place with a very alien language but “Y’all don’t come from round ‘ere!” seems to sound the same anywhere. A very few places I’ve been people have taken efforts and pains to make me feel at home and this sounds just like one of those places. Big respect to Cappadocia! And the same to Konjic, Kakanj, Erfurt, Limerick and Karlovy Vary- you’ve made me feel at home and welcomed without the sanction of a known contact, but as a stranger and I appreciate that more deeply than you can ever know!