Istanbul, Constantinople, Istanbul, Constantinople...and so on...

We are just pushing off of the port in Istanbul, Turkey.  However, let’s begin the evening with a lifeboat drill.  For those of you who haven’t been on a cruise or something like that, it’s a lot like a fire drill…except EVERYONE looks like a bunch of idiots wearing over-sized, uncomfortable life jackets (or as we like to call them F.O.T.—Funky Orange Things).  We wait around for the captains approval (I’m just waiting for him to bust up laughing at us all), and then mosey on back to normal life.

But on to the Turkey wrap up:

Day 1:
We got in early early on Tuesday, July 20th.  Mal had a ‘Ship-Trip’ (catchy eh?) that was basically a city orientation.  It took her to a lot of the main sites...Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Cisterns, lovely views…you know, the works.  I had an FDP (Faculty Directed Practicum) for my law class called “Women and Law in Turkey”.  We were scheduled to go to the Turkish Bar association…and naturally I though it would be fun.  Oh no…we spent 3.5 hours sitting in a lecture hall listening to a panel of women speaking Turkish with our guide “translating” (I put that in quotes because it was a very loose definition of ‘translating’). 
My thoughts: “Ummm…yea….can I have my afternoon back please??”
That night we walked around a bit and turned in early because……..

Day 2:
……Mal and I had to wake up early for our trip to Cappadocia (pronunciation guide: ‘kapa-doh-KIA’).  It’s a city on the Asian side located in Central/South Turkey and looks a lot like Utah.  But really there is some awesome landscape…these cone looking rock formations were formed and people dug massive tunnel systems and miniature cities underground.  Some of the cities go as far as 40 meters down.  That, we found, is the coolest (temperature) part in Turkey…most everywhere else is pretty stinkin hot.  So we rode our bus around all day and stopped at different sites.  That night we had a HUGE buffet dinner (I’m still working it off) and then we went to a “Whirling Dervishes” ceremony, which was really sweet.  Basically it’s a religious/meditation ceremony with these guys in robe-dress-lookin-things that spin around in circles longer than humanly possible.  If dizziness does not agree with you, neither will Whirling Dervishes.  (enter youtube/google for more info)

Day 3:
We could have chosen to do a hot air balloon ride to see some of the formations and the sun rise but instead we examined the inside of our eyelids for another 3 hours (which was much needed).  We did a bit more walking around.  One place we stopped was really cool: We went into a cave-ish thing in one formation and it got darker and darker and darker until *poof* you can’t see your nose in front of you [haha I can just see everyone cross-eyed in front of the computer trying to see their nose…oh that’s rich].  We were holding onto butts and shoulders of people we couldn’t see to make our way through and we ended up crawling down this tiny tunnel for like 10 meters in the pitch dark.  For Mal and I it was wicked fun…for  tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumber right behind me it wasn’t fun cause they think flip-flops and flats are “really good walking shoes”. [side note: I am now a believer in Survival of the Fittest…..they would not be surviving]  In the afternoon we got to go the airport and flew back to Istanbul (Constantinople, Istanbul, Constantinople….you just can’t help it).  We were in absolutely NO condition to go out and crashed in a stinky, sweaty, dirty mess.

Day 4:
We didn’t waste anytime getting around in the morning cause we wanted to see the sites before the sun could burn a stake on the street.  Our first stop: the Egyptian Bazaar (aka Spice Bazaar).  This place was sweet.  It’s just a looooong row of shops with snacks and spices and Turkish Delight up the WAZOOO! (“what’s a wazoo?”)  Everything smells amazing and if you make eye contact or show any interest in something you WILL be called over for “Best [fill in the blank] in town!!! Very Good Price!!!”  Anyway we bought some spices, some tea, and a few other things and had a fun time bartering down the prices (We’re just poor students!  *on an expensive study abroad* We need a discount!”)  After that we walked to the Grand Bazaar…can you say ‘sensory overload’??  It’s nuts!  They estimate that there are around 4000 shops in the Grand Bazaar and I swear we saw a good portion of that.  But we did some more bartering and bought a few more things.  As it turns out every single vendor in the Bazaar is your best friend (or in Mal's case, wants to be her Turkish husband) and has a very special price JUST for you!  Fun times.  Then we went to the Blue Mosque, which is huge and extravagant and is the only mosque in the world that has 6 minarets around it.  Pretty cool.  Then we walked around for a bit before heading back to the ship.  That night we walked to Taksim Square, which has a lot of fun nightlife and is really good for people watching…especially with a Starbucks Frappuccino (you can run but Starbucks will find you). 

Day 5:
This morning we woke up and went to find a boat tour up the Bosporus River, which connects the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea and splits Turkey’s Europe and Asia sides.  There were a bunch of cool buildings and some sweet houses/hotels along the River.  And at one point on the tour we counted 18 Turkish flags on the shore…they like their crescent moon and star I suppose.  After the Bosporus we went to a recommended place for the infamous Turkish Bath!  It was awesome…it’s like a sauna, bath, pool, hot tub, scrub down, massage, meditation all combined on steroids!  Ya…….awesome!  You don’t want to sweat ever again after the Bath.  I don’t have the words or time to describe further but if you want to learn more…I don’t even have to tell you what to do anymore. 

And now we are back on the ship.  Two school days between Turkey and Egypt which is going to feel a lot like the length of school between Thanksgiving and Christmas break (haha get it?  Thanksgiving→Turkey and Egypt→I don’t really know but I’m easily amused).  So class is going to be rough since we haven’t done work in like 11 days.  I know…we have a lot to complain about…it’s so rough…cry a river.

As usual, we hope everyone is enjoying their side of the rainbow.  Cause ours is pretty stinkin colorful…

We miss you all!

Love always,

John and Mally