The best invention of Istanbul- Baked potato bars. For about $2.50 you can get unlimited toppings on a huge baked potato!
The Blue Mosque
Sultanahmet- The Blue Mosque
The Hagia Sophia- in Istanbul, Turkey.
This church is so lovely that a Sultan built a building right next to it to try to upstage its beauty- the Blue Mosque! It’s hard to say which is better, but both are worth a visit in Istanbul.
Sunset in Istanbul.
This mosque was just one of many in Istanbul. I loved them because at each prayer time (five times a day) they each sing the “call to worship,” a prayer put to song and broadcast over their loud speakers. From anywhere in Istanbul I could hear the echoes of two or three mosques. It was a beautiful sound, like nothing I have ever heard before!
Turkish Breakfast
If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then Turkey has it down. A Turkish breakfast includes tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, many types of cheese, olives, baked eggs with various meats and cheeses, a delicious spread made of heavy cream and honey, and a never ending supply of tea and fresh bread.
I am not sure if it’s a good way to “get going” in the morning, though. I definitely had trouble walking after the meal!
This blog is about to switch countries and continents! If only for a few days, I will be posting my photos of my trip to Istanbul, Turkey. It was beautiful and very different than Greece. Enjoy!
Justine’s Simple Rules For Bargaining
(Stolen from Justine Merrill’s article on shopping in Istanbul, I loved this!)
- Stay calm, don’t panic, there is plenty of stuff to buy.
- Pick out half of the amount you wish to buy, lay it on the counter.
- Discuss the price, smile nicely and shake your head sadly at the offered vendor price. And wait. Silently.
- Leave objects on counter, go chat with your friends or family, stay calm.
- Nod and agree to the third or fourth price offered.
- Put more of the desired object on the table; ask for a greater discount, nicely. Have your mother shake her head and talk about “No more baggage space”.
- Consider the final price, and the object carefully, there is no rush, drink tea and think.
- THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE IS, THE MINUTE YOU AGREE TO A PRICE, YOU MUST PAY IT.
- Pay, and start worrying about the room in your baggage.
- After you get home, wish you had bought more.
Istanbul Backstreet (by briandillon1946)
Booked my plane ticket from Greece to Turkey for Spring Break!
Source: flickr.com
Rebecca Rice, abroad.
