The famous Blue Mosque
We arrived in Turkey! It was pretty much the opposite of the picture I'd seen on a guide book... The picture had blue sparkling water, a sailboat, and a rocky cliff. Other than that image, I had no expectations. When the pick-up guy drove us to our hotel from the airport, it reminded me of arriving in Ontario for summer vacation, and either being picked up by my Auntie Margo or getting a taxi to drive us to my Nono and Nona's house. Those nights had always been dark and stormy, yet everyone was happy on our arrival.
That's what the night was like; dark, windy, rainy, but not what . . .
That's what the night was like; dark, windy, rainy, but not what . . .
Dad and Mom call 'miserable' weather. Well, they DID call it that, but it was NOT miserable at all. At least, not for me. I always like the sound of rain, pattering against the roof and windows. Rain can match both moods, sad and happy.
Lately the home-sickness has really been kicking in, and I spend a lot of time thinking about home, instead of enjoying what's happening in the present. The only comfort that I have is thinking 'we only have to go through Sloveinia and Great Britan, then we're done'. Of course, that's not entirely true, but I'll explain our plans later.
Anyways, our Hotel Hanedan is amazing, and includes a buffet breakfast, one of the best luxuries I've ever experienced. A normal plateful for me is 4 orange slices, one bowl of strwaberry jam and yoghurt, six cucumbers, 2 buns with cream cheese and jam, and a pastry or two. Then we skip lunch (usually get a giant pretzel for muchies) and then eat out for dinner.
Lately the home-sickness has really been kicking in, and I spend a lot of time thinking about home, instead of enjoying what's happening in the present. The only comfort that I have is thinking 'we only have to go through Sloveinia and Great Britan, then we're done'. Of course, that's not entirely true, but I'll explain our plans later.
Anyways, our Hotel Hanedan is amazing, and includes a buffet breakfast, one of the best luxuries I've ever experienced. A normal plateful for me is 4 orange slices, one bowl of strwaberry jam and yoghurt, six cucumbers, 2 buns with cream cheese and jam, and a pastry or two. Then we skip lunch (usually get a giant pretzel for muchies) and then eat out for dinner.
Yup, pretty amazing, Istanbul. We tried Turkish delight the other day, and believe me or not, I didn't like it. Then I tried a sample at a different candy shop, and it was do delicious! But we have to be careful in candy shops, since hazelnuts and pistachio are very popular!
We met up with an old friend of Mom's, Sibel, and she showed us around the city a little. She told us about a few mosques and a story about a tower in the middle of the bay. People say that the King locked his daughter in the tower because a prophecy said she would die by a snake's bite. Of course, a snake snuck in through a fruit bowl being transported there, and, naturally, she died.
Sibel lives on the Asian side of Istanbul and we went out to dinner along with her son, Mert. It was a delicious gourmet dinner, at a much fancier restaurant than we had expectated. I'm used to sandwiches and the cheapest stuff on the block - this was a luxury!
We met up with an old friend of Mom's, Sibel, and she showed us around the city a little. She told us about a few mosques and a story about a tower in the middle of the bay. People say that the King locked his daughter in the tower because a prophecy said she would die by a snake's bite. Of course, a snake snuck in through a fruit bowl being transported there, and, naturally, she died.
Sibel lives on the Asian side of Istanbul and we went out to dinner along with her son, Mert. It was a delicious gourmet dinner, at a much fancier restaurant than we had expectated. I'm used to sandwiches and the cheapest stuff on the block - this was a luxury!
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Mom and Sibel
Birch and Mert
We've visited two art galleries, but I can't say I enjoyed either. The first was an exhibit about a women who ran a girl's orphanage in between World War I and World War II, when Turkey became Turkey. She taught them how to sew and they got involved with a lot of fashion stuff. Later we learned that the actual art gallery was separate, but we never got to go back.
The second one we went to was called Modern Istanbul... I tried to enjoy it, but most of the art really shouldn't have been called 'art'. One was green shapes on several TVs, with different music playing for each. Another was a framed canvas with blue paint smeared all over it... Nothing more! Yet another was a piano hung from the ceiling. Obviously, I didn't really enjoy the experience.
We also visited the Archeological Museum... But that's a whole different story!
Bye,
Allie
The second one we went to was called Modern Istanbul... I tried to enjoy it, but most of the art really shouldn't have been called 'art'. One was green shapes on several TVs, with different music playing for each. Another was a framed canvas with blue paint smeared all over it... Nothing more! Yet another was a piano hung from the ceiling. Obviously, I didn't really enjoy the experience.
We also visited the Archeological Museum... But that's a whole different story!
Bye,
Allie
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