A little time for Istanbul

First let's look and Turkey from the television or as I call it the "Magic Box".
Because it has to be a magic trick convincing people that they are 'living' when actually what they do is see someone else is living their lives for them.

Back to the point:

1-Bombs
2-Terrorists
3-More bombs
4-Explosions
5-Terrorists with bombs
6-Terrorists with bombs while explosions take place in the background
7-Women with covered faces
8-Women with covered faces being poorly treated by Terrorists with bombs while explosions take place in the background.

The list goes on, with these key ingredients always present. But for now let's put this aside.

Moving on...

For an unexpected trip this was the most amazing place I have ever been in my life.
Yes traffic is crazy, taxi drivers are formula 1 pilots, there are 13 million people in a place only 2.5 times larger than Madeira (246 thousand), (at least you don't feel lonely).
So first I have to be glad Serhat is not in the European Union, otherwise no Visa problems and therefore no trip to Istanbul at least not yet. Thank you "peach" for the enjoyable 6 full-day tour with massive history lesson, for the roof over our heads, thank you for everything. Every thank you I write down here includes you Ferhat!

Yes I was there during the wedding situation that everyone asked me about. I was there, in the same country MORE THAN 1000KM AWAY! Some newspapers say its a Turkish village others say its a Kurdish village. Most probably don't know the difference. I didn't before, but then again I'm not a journalist am I?

Ok back to the point!

My "home" was in Beşiktaş! With the Bosphorus and Asia right in front of me!
What an amazing country. Crossing the street with 40 people around you green light! 40 people coming quickly towards you! Delicious food everywhere... ok let's go to the food!

I can't even remember everything I ate but I'll try:

Dolma;
Ekmek kadayif (ui ui sweet!)
(real) Yoghurt(Yes Serhat, I know. It's a Turkish product! )
Ayran (salty yoghurt drink)
Kumpir! (of course Kumpir)
Gözleme (what a breakfast!)
Döner;
Dürüm;
Kebap (I know with a "p" and yes now I know the difference "peach");
Cheese (lots of it!)
Simit;
Turkish Tea;
Turkish Coffee;
Cacık; (if you knew how this is pronounced.. "dja-djik!?" something like that.
EFES Pilsen! (of course!)

Plus a lot of things I tried here in Pardubice, plus the things I don't remember.
A country where you eat EVERYTHING they have on the menu!

Places I visited... I won't try to name every place, just think of the normal places that everyone goes to then add a couple and keep in mind there was still a lot to see. (Maybe next time)
I will say however I visited some of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen in my life...

If you walk in front of a taxi:
- TAXI!
- TAXI?
- TAXIII??

Yes, I can see you have a taxi. IT'S YELLOW!


I WILL talk about Taksim, since I didn't take my camera.
The most amazing "night-life" I have seen. All the streets crowed almost impossible to sit down, but since "Impóssiblé is nothing" we did, and what a street!

Live music + Efes Pilsen + "13 Million" singing and dancing together!
There were definitely "13 MILLION" people on that street. There is no way to describe how amazing that evening was and how time flew by.
If night-life was like this in Funchal I would go out everyday!



Forgive the lousy quality.

Souvenirs... oh sweet money...
The Grand Bazaar has "only" 58 streets and well over 1000 shops. By the time we left even the "leader" wasn't sure where we were :)

My favourite quote of the trip:
"Hurry up! ... We are lost."

One of my favourite "episodes" has to be:
"The intercom and the Embassy security guard"

Another title for a short story Serhat?
I'll add it to the current list:
"The man with no shame" and "The bus that never came" :)
When I write them I will let you know.

Saw a couple of universities, one of them does not look like a university... ITS A F$#&#/% TEMPLE! Another one has a view from the garden that I would skip classes just to sit down in those benches. Just me and the cats.

I would continue but I would stay here all day and I have to have lunch (since breakfast was skipped again) and an essay about the Annales School to finish.

One photo to begin the rest will follow.

Turkey is the best country I have ever visited. Having a "guide" helped of course, not just because of that. You immediately feel you are in a "different" country. When I say "different" is in a very positive way! From what I have seen from my Turkish friends I can only say very good things. They love their country, they love their flag (I know Oz, don't joke about the flag :) they love their family, their friends, their yoghurt :P and they love "their" Atatürk.

They should.