Me (really duh!) in Istanbul with the Blue Mosque behind me
Day three in Istanbul, this ancient city of 20 million. I have no idea where I am going next. There are so many things to see. My day gets eaten up just wandering. And the Turkish men. Well some are very good looking but oh my God, they can be relentless. A single white female who clearly is not Turkish is like a neon sign saying come bug me. If I were to believe everything that they are saying I am the next world’s super model. It would be good for one’s ego if it wasn’t so over the top. But you will just be walking along and the next thing you know you have one beside you telling you they are learning English and can show you the city. The next thing you know they are taking you from one place to the next where you had no intention of going. When you try to be polite and leave they just don’t stop talking and they want your number and to take you out. It is crazy. I am not sure what drives it but something must. Oh yeah, and they feel they can paw at you pretty inappropriately too.
My Hostel Room at Chillout Galata in Istanbul
The city is so large and there is so much to see. There are so many old buildings. I went to the Archaeology Museum and one of the buildings that housed artifacts was itself an artifact – 1472 was when it was completed. Everything is breathtaking and beautiful in its age. There is the Basilica Cistern built in 6th century. I didn’t go see it because as you can imagine, every tourist attraction costs money and I will only pay for so many. I do most of it on foot so that saves money and also allows me to see things that are less obvious than when people are hauled around in tours.
Ruins in situ, which are far more interesting to me than those that make up the tourist traps
My hostel is pretty cool. Not cheap cheap, as I have taken a single room, but cheap enough and in a good location. Last night I met a couple of couples here. Christoff and Madelaine from Germany, Arthur from France and Linda from Sweden. We had a great time on the top of the hostel chilling out (see the name reflection!!!) and smoking a huka – a popular sport here in Turkey.
Me, Madelaine, Christoff, Arthur and Linda - and the huka of course!
Arthur and Linda were a blast. Linda has been travelling off and on for 1 year 4 months. She is an engineering consultant. She is going back to Sweden on Friday to do some more work again, but she has the travel bug like me. They were in Montenegro a week ago and said it was amazing. Maybe I need to go there? It’s crazy not having any real direction. A bit unsettling. I have been sleeping like a log and not getting up early enough to go for a run. Perhaps I need to run. I think all my travelling to date caught up with me and I just needed lots of sleep. You do wake up feeling like you have to do something. It is strange. Anyway, today I shall walk to Bosphorus bridge and perhaps come up with a plan in my head. So stay tuned.
The waterfront looking at the Gnew (sp?) mosque towards the Sultanmet area
Hello, Sara.
It seems that you have met quite a few German people on your travels. Does that mean you can practise your German with them?
Anyway, I was just wondering…did you go inside the Blue Mosque? I’m just asking, because it is one of the buildings to visit on my list. 🙂
By the way, I like your hostel room, b/c it is bright and it looks cozy even if it is small.
Yup – went to the Blue Mosque – it was very beautiful and spectacular but it is overrun with tourists sadly but not much you can do about that. I don’t know much German so I don’t really get to practice. They get to practice their english with me.
Did not know you could speak any German, Mum
Just little bits and pieces like Was ist dat?