Istanbul and Asia!

Spring break, for most college students, is a week with no school, no homework and good old fashion partying usually leading to stomach pumps, bad tattoos and is probably the number one cause of STD's. For me, Spring break is the time where I take extra hours at work and start on various art projects. This year I was able to go on a trip to somewhere I have been dying to go! Istanbul, Turkey and Athens, Greece!! Throughout this trip I had to continually stop myself and realize how lucky I was to be here. It was truly an amazing city and a fantastic trip.

We left Friday for Istanbul and got there late at night. We had some trouble finding the hostel mostly because it was in a dark alleyway off of the main street, Istiklal street, outside of Taksim Square known for its nightlife. We got some kebabs and slept after planning the next days activities! We had a full day of fun walking through the Galata area in the morning and stopping to get some famous Turkish apple tea! We walked over the bridge and visited both the Spice Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar. The salesmen picked up we were English and got rowdy saying things like, " The Spice Girls are here!" or "Lady, how can I help you spend your money." They are very eager to get you into their stores and as long as you are prepared for it, it can be quite enjoyable. For some, their methods might be too forward but if you go in with a good attitude you will see that they are just trying to make a living and when competing with 20 other businesses that sell exactly the same goods they have to get your attention. My favorite methods were in the Grand Bazaar where one man told our group that today was his mothers birthday and that every thing is free because he is celebrating his mothers birthday. Another one is they'll tell you to stop and have a free cup of tea and then after tea he will be insulted that you did not buy anything. The last was a common trip where the store owner says while you walk by that you have dropped something, when you turn to see if you had he will come up and ask you where you're from and what you're looking for and will say that what you're looking for is inside his store! We made our way to the incredible Hagia Sofia which was unlike anything I'd ever seen! We saw the Blue Mosque and made our way to the castle to see the famous Harem. Of course, we stopped and got the legendary Turkish Delight! What came as a surprise was the fabulous muscles that were sold on the side of the pier. 2 lira for a packed muscle which the seller opened and squeezed lemon onto. Needless to say, this was what I ate for dinner as I handed him sufficient money and stood there eating as many muscles as I could on the pier!

The next day we went to Asia! Turkey is part Asia and part Europe and now calls itself EuroAsia. We took a boat tour of Turkey and stopped in Asia for an hour-enough to get Ice Cream in the park. Two continents in two days...score!

Istanbul Nightlife

Making a wish!!

Galata Tower

Turkish Apple Tea

Spice Bazaar

Blue Mosque

Incredible Hagia Sofia

Inside the blue mosque!

We saw jellyfish off the pier!!

Friends and I in front of one of the many mosques!!

I am probably missing many details as this seems like a month ago that I was in Istanbul!! But it was an awesome trip and a beautiful-mosque filled city!