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Next: One last update from Istanbul...
Here are some more Istanbul photos. I've also put some photos from Ephesus (see the earlier update) online.
Istanbul has been awesome. This morning we visited Aya Sofia, now a museum but it was built over 1500 years ago. First it served as a Christian church and then later as a mosque. It's quite imposing from the outside - and inside it is even more impressive.
JEANINE: IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THE AYA SOFIA AFTER SEEING THE BLUE MOSQUE, WHICH IS STILL USED AS A MOSQUE TODAY, AND IS MUCH NEWER. IT WAS QUITE SPECTACULAR AS WELL, AND WE ARE TOLD THAT PRAYER TIME THERE IS QUITE THE EXPERIENCE, ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN'T MADE IT UP YET TO SEE 6AM PRAYERS. IT WAS GORGEOUS INSIDE, AND FULL OF VERY INTRICATE GOLDEN DESIGNS. AS IT IS A FUNCTIONING MOSQUE, LISA AND I ALSO HAD TO MAKE SURE WE WERE WEARING APPROPRIATE ATTIRE BEFORE ENTERING (COVERED SHOULDERS, HEAD SCARF, COVERED LEGS ETC)..
Lisa and Jeanine are back to Athens tomorrow, while I still have three days. We have sort of been following in our friend Jeff's footsteps here in Istanbul. He was here about one year ago on his way through Turkey. Over the next couple of days I am going to follow his advice and try to get away from the tourist center...
For those of you who have been to Istanbul. We've definitely seen some of the sights from your stories. Yesterday we were down at the bridge with the fishermen. The water below the bridge is incredibly polluted but there are still dozens (hundreds?) of guys fishing. We enjoyed a coffee underneath and were very suprised when one of the fishermen decided to jump off the bridge and take a swim! Crazy. We've also been really lucky to meet some young Turkish people - with no interest in selling us stuff! Their english is really good and so it has been a cool learning experience.
Lisa: Yeah, so Jeanine and I are headed out tomorrow am to the airport. I'm kind of saddened. I think that one would need a lot more time to fully explore this city. In that way i am very jealous of alistair. However, what I did see I totally dug!!! The people were very friendly and the food was great and the culture phenomenal. I would come back in a heartbeat. I only bought 2 pairs of shoes for myself!!! There are so many more deals to be had! Oh well. I'll be glad to be home soon, to recharge for peru! yay!
Ok - back to Victoria on the 11th. Lima on the 17th! PS - Jenny, those are your new shoes!
Posted by Alistair Howard at October 7, 2004 08:43 AM
Is that MY boyfriend holding JEANINE'S hand??? Tsk tsk. PS Not my type.
Posted by: Sandra at October 7, 2004 09:11 AM
PPS Stop the PDA's!!! (I'm shocked and appalled, J)
Posted by: Sandra at October 7, 2004 09:12 AM
Hey, Mark and I went for beers tonight and we were talking about your trip, and thinking back on our times in Turkey, and we decided that, if you haven't already, go see Cappadocia. Definitely.
Posted by: Jeff Werner at October 7, 2004 11:39 AM
Impressed with the proper punctuation of the posts so far...none of those crazy keyboard accents yet. Thanks for the mention, btw. Didn't realize you were gonna be alone in the city for a few days, Al. Nice. That may offer up some new experiences, especially for meeting locals. I tried out a dance club there once and the courtship rituals are interesting to, er, observe. Or, just grab the first overnight bus to the interior and check out Cappadocia for a day.
And great pic of the library at Efes, and esp. the grocer and his wife from the first Istandbul batch. Can't wait to get the full report over some Canadian beer when you get back. Oh ya, got your postcard from Athens Lisa, as well as Alistair's from Eastern Europe.
Ya, wouldn't swim in the Golden Horn, or any of the waterways in Istanbul.
Posted by: Jeff at October 7, 2004 12:58 PM
Well Jeanine, I was going to tease you about the boy...I see though that Sandra has beat me too it!!
Have a safe trip home & call me if you come over to Vic. I'd love to catch up.
A- have fun going solo!!
Posted by: Sarag at October 8, 2004 02:32 AM
Lisa- that message is for you too!!
Hasta luego!!
Posted by: sarah at October 8, 2004 02:34 AM
Nice farmer's tan Lisa
Posted by: Malcolm at October 8, 2004 04:50 AM
sandee, that's not your boyfriend, yours is much cuter. NOT MINE EITHER! J
Just wait until the next set of jeanine suitor pictures come out..... (L)
Posted by: jeanine and lisa at October 8, 2004 08:25 AM
Alistair you were supposed to be looking after her...What is with the guy in the gold shirt???
Posted by: Sally at October 8, 2004 12:01 PM
Alistair, I told you that photo was gonna cause trouble...now look what you've started
Posted by: Jeanine at October 10, 2004 08:07 AM
It was you who was causing the trouble Jeanine! The guys are still asking about you...
Posted by: Alistair at October 10, 2004 12:20 PM