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Name that flag

FlagRed flag, white crescent and star. Name it.

Wednesday lunchtime. The traffic lights weren’t changing. Two motorcycle cops zoomed up, lights flashing, shouting instructions, gesticulating and giving a blast from their sirens to gain attention. “You! Do your hook turn! You wait there!” We lunchtime pedestrians looked on, bemused.

Intersection cleared, traffic and people waiting. Who was coming?

More motorcycle cops came, zooming down Collins Street, left turn and south down Exhibition Street, tooting their way forward to clear the next intersection.

A minute or two later the VIPs came. More police vehicles sped through the intersection, followed by a big white car, the red and white flag attached to the front. Inside were numerous people — a woman the most prominent, in a headscarf. More unflagged white cars with dignitaries, and a couple more police cars.

Who warrants attention like that? A head of state? Perhaps an Ambassador in times of trouble.

It was the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Welcome, sir, to our country.

By Daniel Bowen

Transport blogger / campaigner and spokesperson for the Public Transport Users Association / professional geek.
Bunurong land, Melbourne, Australia.
Opinions on this blog are all mine.

5 replies on “Name that flag”

Hi Daniel. Since it was that kind of motercade, I’ve got to ask, where was the Police helicopter? Anywhere to be scene? I’ve got to say that lately it has been quite busy. It seems to like to overfly the Queen vic market right when I’m starting my busking set. If it was any lower, it would be drowning me out.

Nothing to comment on re your topic but thought of you today when I was driving down Kingsway and saw a big sign whilst I was sitting at lights on the outside of the Palmerston Hotel, bragging how they were No.1 in the Australia’s best parmagiana. I know you had a commentary on that not so long ago. Have you tried them out?

heh. Actually I did see a police chopper earlier the same day.

Lyn, I haven’t tried the Palmerston yet. According to SuperParma.com they are in fact now second best, having been beaten to the top spot by the Leveson Hotel in North Melbourne.

I did not see or hear anything about the Turkish PM being in town and I thought the PM was a woman. Perhaps that was some time ago or perhaps she was President.

Mentions of the Palmerston are interesting. While I live nearby, I have never been game to go in there. I believe it has been very quiet since BP House was turned into apartments and uniformed service personal stopped working at Vic Barracks. I can’t see the Palmer staying open much longer.

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