Eurasian nights with Eurasian Knights

First - I would like to give credit to this amazeballs name to the one and only, Julia Elise Molo. This is for her... (and she is most likely one of two people who actually read this thing)

The train station, complete with bust of Ataturk

So the past two days have been quite a tiring process. Yesterday morning, after sleeping through breakfast (quelle surprise), and was one of the last down to the lobby - missing out on the free phones that the program would provide to the lucky 9 of us who got there early. So we made our way to get new phones - most of them i believe have been stolen, and are legitimately the size of the phones that we had in middle school; I doubt I will use it frequently but i guess its for shnitzels and giggles. After the phones, we stopped inside the train station; built by the Germans, which apparently was the final stop on the Orient Express (this was the last stop, so instead of Eurasia, now we are in the orient).

sorry i'm a creep, but
it was hilarious. 

After the phone ordeals and getting even more passport photos taken (why, i will never know), we stopped for lunch and then made our way back towards the hotel by the old Imperial city. We saw pillars taken from egypt and the grounds where the old hipodrom is... but because it was hot and we were told that we had to dress 'modestly' because we were supposed to go to the Blue Mosque, i preferred the shade and to get inside the Aya Sofya (Hagia Sofia) asnap. So basically, this church turned mosque turned museum has been around for 1500 years, and has survived the numerous earthquakes that have hit Istanbul (if you're ever about to be in an earthquake in the city, go here, according to Gunhan our tour guide). The emperor who commissioned it decided to be of the mentality "Go big (read bro) or go home" so everything is mosaic and gold and marble. EVERYTHING. but it was gorgeous and the mosaics were unbelievable. One of the most amusing parts though, was this little girl who decided to lay down on the marble floor and then her sister proceeded to climb all over her...awkhawk.

The Cistern had over 400 columns *i think*
(i could be making this up...) 

After the Aya Sofya, we went to one of the oldest/largest cisterns in the world (for those of you who don't know what a cistern is, it collects rain water ... ). I'd never been to a cistern before, but this one was pretty sveet. it used all the old columns from ruined buildings and had mood lighting and total yoga music playing while you were down there. and they had fish swimming around in the water - which apparently was to kill off the algae but I was skeeved out by them - turkish fish looked weird. I guess i'd look pretty funky too if I never saw the light of day and had to deal with meditative music and soft lighting for my entire life..

We were allowed to roam freely after dinner so most of us headed down towards the water; The moon was orange - I don't know why, but it was stunning. Walking over the bridge again at night gave the city a whole different feel, but because I am now a toddler and feel tired at 9pm.

My future home?

Today, slept through breakfast again...and then we were on our way to the port for our tour of the Bosphorus. I was so excited for this because my grandmother had said she fell in love with the city because of the Bos. After looking at all the palaces on the water, the fortresses and the bridges, and especially the yalis, I have made the decision that I am moving to Istanbul. If anyone has an extra $56 million dollars in their wallets, I would love a donation to purchase my yali. You can even have a room in the house. The Asian side is obviously the better side to live - just fyi - but I'd be willing to take a yali anywhere, anyside on the Bosphorus.

Charles decided to share his fish with the
stray cats. They liked him. 

After we took the 2 hour tour down the Bosphorus, we made it almost to the mouth of the Black Sea, passing by all these oil tankers, and docked in this small neighborhood to have lunch. But first, we had to climb to the top of this massive hill to see a castle. Being the ever-prepared student I am, I wore sandals...the walk was difficult, but we passed the time by learning the colors in Turkish and collecting stray cats and dogs along the way. We also learned the chant for the Turkish 'football' team, and then I decided to start the chant with the Turkish boys that were selling water along the way - they remembered me on the way down and started the chant again... I felt special. At lunch, we ate right along the water and our food was delivered to us in a way that I was not expected. The fish was whole; head, eyes, tail, everything. It was good, but I was much more fond of Kafkas Waffle World. Yes, they have Waffle World in Turkey, I was so delighted.

This might beat out my astronaut costume
and be used as my halloween costume now. 

Lunch ended, and we got back on the boat and headed back towards our part of Istanbul. After a crazy tram ride in which I was sandwiched between a few Turkish men, and then at our exit, had to squeeze past a large man's belly to the door, we ate dinner and then walked down towards the Ramadan festival. They were breaking fast and we heard that they were giving out free food (turned out to be a lie), but it was interesting to see anyway. They had music playing and crazy blow-up Sultans and clowns. Obviously we had to take pictures... and cut in line in front of the children. Oops.

All around an eventful two days, lots of new Turkish words - most of which I have already forgotten and will have to relearn tomorrow. Oh well, I'm sure there are many turkish men that would be glad to help me learn their language...and "help me to spend my money" (how about buy me stuff and let me save money?)

if i'm boring all 2 of my readers... just tell me to stfu.

gule gule!