TURKEY!!!!!!! Turkey was great old time, from being in Asia to a Turkish Bath we got to see it all!!
Day 1: We docked early morning in Istanbul. Amanda Casey and I got off the ship to find an ATM, most people this morning had a SAS trip (which all of them I heard werent that great). I then met up with Julie and we semi explored the city and made our way to the Bosphorus and to the spice bazaar. We then had lunch, which is a lot like Greece food, but not quite as good. We then wandered our way back to the ship and met up with Amanda and then went to the Grand Bazaar (4,000 shops and employees 30,000 people). Amanda, Justin, Julie and I all have a Cappadocia trip the next morning, so I didnt stay out too late (just went to a local hookah bar).
Day 2: With an early morning wake up call we made our way to the union on the ship and had some continental breakfast where we got ready for our trip to Cappadocia. We then transferred via bus to the Istanbul Airport where we had a flight to Cappadocia. We landed in Keyseri and made our way to the underground city of Kaymakli (city where Christians hid during the time of persecution), and then we saw the views of the Uchisar citadel. After this we made our way back to the hotel and got ready to watch a performance of Whirling Dervishes. We watched the Dervishes perform their ceremony and then called it a night.
Day 3: Woke up around 8am and made my way to the breakfast buffet at the hotel, was a really good and interesting breakfast. We then made our way to the Goreme Valley and explored ancient rock-carved churches, monasteries and homes within the valley. Next we say the fairy chimneys at Pasabag and visited the town and villages of Avanos, Ortahisar, and Sinassos. After en enjoyable day of exploring we made our way to the airport for a return flight home to Istanbul.
Day 4: Today was our day to see the city of Istanbul, in the morning we made our way to the tram station to Hagia Sofia and made our way to all the sites of Istanbul. We first checked out the Royal Palace, which was huge and amazing for just one man to call his home (besides all the servants). Next we made our way to the Hagia Sofia and then made our way to check out the Grand Bazaar again. In the Grand Bazaar Justin and I got separated from our group so we split up and decided to see the Blue Mosque on our own and then head back to the boat to meet up with people to go out for our friends birthday. We went to Taksim square and hung out at a bar for the duration for the night.
Day 5: Met Alison, Julie, Amanda, Sarah to go to a Turkish bath this morning. We made our way to the tram and got of visit The Historical Bath, which is over 400 yrs old. We decided to go all out and got the luxury bath. I went to my locker room and changed into the towel and flip flops they gave us, and after that I made my way to the steam room. In the steam room I was directed to lay down on a big hot slab of marble. It was so hot and humid in the steam room. Then I got to meet the man who would be giving me a Turkish Bath, or Hamam. He was around 55 skinny, bald, and had a mustache. Then he washed me down and scrubbed off all the old skin on my body and gave me a massage. After this cleansing massage I made my way to get a normal massage. This experience was so relaxing and amazing that Id recommend anyone and everyone to get one at some point in their life. After this amazing experience we grabbed some lunch and made our way to the Grand and Spice Bazaar for some more shopping. When Julie, and Amanda got done shopping at the Spice Bazaar we split up and I stayed around and went looking for a suit. I found a small little suit shop and proceeded to try to communicate with the shop owner. He didnt speak a word of English and we some how worked out a deal on a jacket and pants combo. The shop owner also thought I was from Amsterdam, so I went along with it. After this I started looking for a currency exchange place to convert my last 20 or so Lira, but couldnt find one that was open. I found myself in front of a grocery store with 20 lira to spend, so I got some coke and Nutella and cookies to go with it.
With Turkey over we are finally back to classes for 2 days (not a good thing), which classes are over with for today and I find myself in the library finishing this blog and working on a couple of midterms.
I cant wait for Egypt, going to be on the biggest SAS trip you can sign up for!!!
