Istanbul, Turkey
41° 1' N 28° 57' E
Nov 07, 2006 08:49
Distance 0km

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Text written in: English

Random Adventures in Istanbul

I just finished a great weekend with my good friend Vicki. She was my roomate in Greece and has a real case of  'itchy feet' (the need to travel), so she hopped a plane from Vienna, Austria to one of the craziest cities in Europe.

We spent the weekend alternating between seeing the top sites and holed up in cozy cafes, drinking apple tea to escape the crappy weather. We visited the Egyptian Spice Bazarre, where Vicki  tried Locum (Turkish Delight) and loved it so much that she loaded up her backpack with  it to take home.  We also checked out the Grand Bazarre, a must see according to guidebooks.   Don't get me wrong, its definitely amazing but it is packed with tourists and there are so many shiny,sparkling objects (bellydancer costumes, anyone?) that it's almost sensory overload.

We also navigated the crazy, insane traffic. If any read my blog about Greek traffic, times that by 15 million people.  I've gotten used to it, but Vicki was letting out nervous- i hope we don't die-laughter the whole weekend.  We also experienced firsthand the ineffiency of public transport. We were crammed to the point of claustrophobia on the tram, and spent a cold, miserable 2 hours trying to take a tram, a bus, even briefly contemplated walking home. Our last day was a real disapointment as public transport ruined our plans of being scrubbed down at a Hammam (Turkish Bath).

All in all, it was a fantastic trip. The weekend felt incredibly random-that we even met in Greece, that Vicki actaully booked the ticket to Istanbul, the places we saw, and people we met.  But it also felt so amazing that we were able to see something as exotic and beautiful as the mosques, find unique and charming cafes, and reconnect as friends.

I'm hoping to make it to Vienna in January before Vicki takes off to Argentina to teach English (again with her itchy feet!)  

 

 

Photos / videos of "Random Adventures in Istanbul":

Me eating some Borek, hmm..can feel the pounds adding on as I ate..! Borek-phyllo dough and cheese, tastes much better than it looks this is a shot of the side streets of Istanbul, where sellers harass you as you pass, but hey if your hardup for compliments it works imagine the softest, best version of cotton candy possible. this literally looked like wool, but tasted amazing another shot of the New Mosque Vicki playing tourist this is the 'New Mosque' that was built in the 14th or 15th century me checking out the spice bazarre oh, vicki's new love-Locum (Turkish Delight), chewy cubes of honey and nuts rolled in powdered sugar in the Egyptian spice pazarre this is one of my favorite parts of the pazarre, mountains of exotic looking spices and teas in the most amazing palette of colors fresh honey and tahini-i'm not sure what you do with the honeycombes..lick 'em? Locum (turkish delight) and other Turkish 'desserts'. the Grand Bazarre, a huge old building Vicki drinking some tea at the Grand Bazarre Famous Turkish Rugs being sold at the Grand Bazarre the Grand Bazarre me at the Grand Bazarre a view of the Blue Mosque during the snow/rain me in front of the Blue Mosque during the rain Vicki at the Blue Mosque the domed ruins of the Blue Mosque us and other tourists at the Blue Mosque the prayer area inside the Blue Mosque me looking sadly like such a tourist with my soaked jeans rolled up, since shoes have to be removed to enter the mosque a view of the Hagia Sophia, just opposite of the Blue Mosque Vicki anticipating the arrival of our bus in freezing, rainy weather-sounds like vacation to me, eh? me wating for the bus, wrapped samurai style trying to keep my nose from freezing me when we finally got on the bus, i wouldn't look so happy if i knew it would take another hour of traffic to get home. the usally effciant trami me and Vicki me and Vicki on our last night at Istaklal Finally a lovely day in Ortakoy! Vicki enjoying the weather at Oratakoy Vicki enjoying the weather at Oratakoy me loving the day but still cold Vicki on her way home...!! ohh..so sad!
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