Posted by It’s about 12.14 pm on my third day in Istanbul. I spent most of my first day walking around the old part of town called Sultanahmet, being accosted by various rug merchants. They’re very friendly people here but I hate high pressure sales pitches to come into a store and look around.
The top floor cafe of my hostel has a wonderful view of the Bosphorus and the surrounding area. I met a British couple who are taking an incredibly long vacation, travelling around Turkey & the near Middle East. They’re planning on going to Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt. In the evening, the hostel hosted a belly-dance show in the bar downstairs… I wish this computer I’m at right now had a USB port so I could post some pics… seriously, she was to DIE for. I met a crazy Syrian guy who has been cast out of his country as a political refugee and he’s trying to get the UN to hear his case so he can stay in Turkey… or return to Syria, I don’t remember.
I met a interesting Syrian guy who has been cast out of his country as a political refugee and he’s trying to get the UN to hear his case so he can stay in Turkey… or return to Syria, I don’t remember.
Everything else is going well. I’ve been to see the Blue Mosque. It was so amazing… The rug merchants are quite aggressive which is a change from shopping elsewhere. Today I’m going to see the Aya Sophia. The weather the first two days was really nice and sunny but it looks a bit rainy today… but with sun, so a fox must be getting married.
I’ve been to see the Blue Mosque and done a lot of walking around Istanbul… to Aksaray & Taksim and down by the Bosphorus. I’m learning that saying Hayir (Turkish for no) works a lot better than saying the english word, no.
I had a dream two nights ago that EF built a 10,000 seat football stadium that looked like PNC Park. Then last night I dreamt that I went to a Pitt basketball game and was taped on TV screaming at one of the referee”s calls. Internet access is free at the hostel so I’ve been able to read the papers. Much to my surprise, the Steelers had a Saturday game?! Well, I’m glad we won. Looks like it was an exciting (and ulcer-creating) game.
