Final day in Istanbul

Our final day in Istanbul was an easy one.  This has been an amazing vacation and it was nice to take the last day to keep things simple.  After talking to a couple who visited the palace, we felt like we should try it again.  This time we found the ticket counter!  We walked through the Haram quarters where girls from neighboring villages were bought from their parents or given as gifts from nobles, and sent to live at the palace. 

The palace grounds were very busy and lines were around every corner.  We chose to wait in one line to enter a treasury containing what they said was St. John the Baptist’s arm covered with gold, his skull encrusted with jewels, David’s sword, and Moses’ staff.  We saw a sword, a staff, an arm bone covered with a golden glove, and a portion of a skull covered with jewels.  Were all of these things actually real relics?  Umm, I’m going to go ahead and say no!

 

 

And of course, there were ice cream breaks!

 

The day ended with some Turkish Pizza and an early night.  After 10 days, 9 nights, 8 cities, 6 flights, 5 apartments, 4 people, 2 countries, 2 suitcases, there was 1 family ready to get back to Italy!

Istanbul, Day 2!

Our second day in Istanbul, we decided to take it easy.  We did just that until we decided to walk up to the Topkapi Palace.  The goal was to tour the palace and we walked for quite some time through the palace gardens looking for the ticket counter.  We arrived at the end of the road at a dead end.  Devastation set in.  Our backs and feet were tired from carrying children and walking, and all we had to show for our efforts was a picture of what would have been where we were standing hundreds of years ago.

 

Deciding to forgo the palace tour, we stopped for drinks at a nearby café then took the kids to the playground.

 

We stopped for lunch and since we were almost halfway there, decided to venture on to the Spice Market. Oh the spices! Mounds of cumin, saffron, cinnamon, spice blends, the list could go on and on. Along with the spices were dried fruits, nuts, and various tea blends.

Greg bought a Genuine Fake Watch and it stopped working about an hour after he bought it. I couldn’t resist the spices and some Apple Tea, of course!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Istanbul, Turkey Pt. 1

I was convinced we were going to miss our flight.  We busted through a toll booth we couldn’t figure out how to work, drove past our exit, went a looong distance out of the way, were held up by the rental car people telling us the gas tank wasn’t full (thankfully they didn’t mention the crack on the windshield and didn’t seem to notice the carseat we left in the car), and had to pick up Brady’s lost booster seat that was found days later.  And so began the hurried, dragging our children behind us, run to the gate scenario we know so well.  Thankfully, we got in line just as they were boarding the plane!

On to Istanbul, Turkey.  In the early afternoon we walked up to the AyaSofya museum.  Building was completed in 537 and it was the “greatest church in Christendom” until it was converted to a mosque around 1453.  The mosaics were exquisite and there was a beautiful collection of calligraphy.  I stuck my finger in the “weeping column” and the story goes if your finger comes out moist, ailments can be healed.  My finger wasn’t wet, but I felt just fine.

 

Across from the AyaSofya is The Blue Mosque.  The man who built it intended to outdo the interior beauty of the Sofya with the beauty of the outside.  It was big, but I wasn’t terribly impressed.  When we arrived prayer service was taking place, so we were unable to view the inside. 

From there we went to the Grand Bazaar where we walked forever, got turned around- a nice way to say we continued the tradition of roaming the streets of a strange country, and bought Brady a Superman costume.  We ended the evening with very tired feet, but enjoyed a delicious meal of Turkish pizza and kebabs. 

         Of course we had to take a break to eat grilled corn and chase pigeons!

I must make special mention of my children.  I’m telling you, they were the best perhaps I have ever seen them… and I see them A LOT!  Juliette was a trooper in her backpack carrier, only complaining when Brady got an ice cream and she didn’t.  Brady walked and walked with very little complaint and didn’t ask for anything except ice cream and a Superman toy.  Our entire trip, they were treated like rock stars.  People asking to take pictures of and with them, giving them candy and fruit, and there was also a great deal of cheek pinching and high fives.  When Juliette wouldn’t sit still for dinner, waiters would entertain her by walking her around the restaurant.  Both Brady and Juliette were a pleasure!

Waterpark and a Weird Carpet Place

After boring the brains out of our children at Ephesus (it doesn’t matter how many “One day, you will appreciate this” speeches we give, it never works) we ventured to the 2^nd largest waterpark in the world.  Brady was so excited!  We drove along the beach and found glorious views of the coast.  There was a great kid section in the park and Brady, Juliette, along with one other little girl, were the only children playing in the water.  It was perfect!

On our ride back to the hotel, I wanted to stop at a carpet store. I had seen one not consumed with tourists and felt like that was the best place to stop. Greg gave me all his money and waited in the car with the kids. Isn’t he wonderful?! I walk up to find several women sitting at looms tying carpet strands. They were creating beautiful work, but I couldn’t find any kind of store and none of the women spoke English.  I asked in charades if I could take pictures.  Luckily, living in a place where I don't speak the language, I've gotten pretty good at the charades thing!  I decided to high tail it out of there when a man walked out of a door and asked if he could help me. I did my best to avoid eye contact and give as simple answers as I could to his many questions. I felt like I had done something wrong, like it was my fault they had an open gate, with a carpet hanging on a rack to showcase their work, women working to entice customers, and then no way to browse around a store. I told him I had to go because people were waiting on me then he followed me to the car. Luckily, Greg ignored him when he came to his window and we zoomed on down the road. I’m not sure what that was about, but next time, I’ll go where the tourists are!

Visit to Ephesus

After arriving in the parking lot for our visit to Ephesus, a man selling a horse and buggy ride to the top gate of the city joined us at our car.  At the risk of being suckered, we took the bait and loaded up in the buggy. 

                   Juliette's concerned about riding with horses.  She likes animals from a distance, but not up close.

It was a nice ride and we took a detour to the Cave of the Seven Sleepers.  The story goes that Christians were being persecuted and seven young Christian men went into the cave.  Some 200 years later, the men woke up to find significant changes in society, which was surprising to them because they thought they had only slept for the night.  Shortly after waking, the men died and were buried in the cave they had emerged from.

Onward we ride to the ancient city of Ephesus.  What a sight to behold!  Although the streets were crowded with tourists, it was incredible to walk amongst the ruins of – what I didn’t realize- a very modern city in its day.  We hired a tour guide, and bless his heart, he was so patient while we rounded up and entertained the kids.   

Pipes made of terracotta

Sign for medicine



Fountain of Traianus



 The Library of Celsus

Sign for the "Love House."  Our guide said the foot was a sign for the men to follow and one who's foot was smaller than the etching was not allowed inside

It was easy to imagine the everyday life that took place thousands of years ago.  The grooves in the street from chariots carrying important people, the fountains and statues, and even the marketplace where venders came to sell their goods were clearly seen while walking through the city. 

The Turkish Bath

So, I’m in Turkey.  What could be more appropriate than a Turkish bath?  I was actually pretty excited about it!  Greg babysat the kids and I put on my big girl pants and ventured alone to the mixed (meaning men and women in the same room) Turkish bathhouse called a Haram.  For some reason I assumed the people working in the bath and giving the baths would be women.  Yes, I know what happens when you assume, and I walked in to an all-male staffed haram. 

I was handed a towel that fit under my arms and reached about mid- thigh, then was ushered to a changing room.  The room had a curtain that was too small to fit across the door and windows cut out of each side low enough to where I could see the man’s head as he was folding towels outside my room.  Ok, I thought, perhaps he was just a “bodyguard” type and the women were inside doing the washing.  I take a deep breath and walk through the metal doors into a very large hot room.  Along the back wall were some stations with sinks and water, along the side walls were showers, the front wall had two marble tables, and the center was a large circle of marble.  A man stopped me at the door and poured 2 bowls of hot water on my head, then told me to lay down on the center circle.  I slowly scanned the room as I made my way to the circle and found a few men in the shower stalls and 3 men lying on the center circle.  It was at this time I became very aware of my self-conscious self and began praying a woman would show up to perform this bath thing.  It was also at this time, I was very happy I had not gone topless like the pamphlet told me I should and I began seriously second guessing my decision. 

I lay down on the stone and it really felt wonderful.  The room was full of hot steam and the stone was hot as well.  I closed my eyes and focused on how good it felt on my sore back and did a good job of forgetting what was going on around me.  The next thing I know, a hairy man wearing a short towel around his waist told me it was my turn.  He led me to one of the marble tables by the door, took my towel away, and told me to lay down.  I did as I was told and he poured warm water on me and began scrubbing my body with a rough mitt he wore on his hand.  It was uncomfortable.  I mean, the scrubbing felt ok, but I wasn’t really cool with this half naked man doing the scrubbing.  Call me a prune, but that’s just not my thing.

When the scrubbing was complete another man with a towel around his waist led me to the other marble table in the front of the room.  There he covered me with soapy bubbles and proceeded to wash, then a quick massage.  He spoke English and was asking where I was from and what hotel I was staying at.  I was pretty sure that was information he didn’t need to know. I told him I didn’t remember the name of the hotel, and then he asked how many people were staying with me.  Again, none of his business, but I told him my giant mean husband and two kids who like to bite.  Ok, I left off the giant, mean, and biting part, but I should have really told him that.  He told me I was very young, and began trying to figure out my age assuming I got married when I was 15, and since I only had 2 children.  Over and over he repeated, “You are very young.”  Maybe this bath thing wasn’t a bad idea after all! 

After a quick rinse in the shower, I lay back on the hot center stone for a few minutes and then left through the metal doors.  I was asked to sit on a stool and the original man who greeted me at the door wrapped a towel around my shoulders and one on my head.  He told me the price for the bath, but for a little extra I could go upstairs and get a hot oil massage.  I told him I was NOT interested in the massage and he responded with a squeeze to my shoulders and telling me he gave a really good massage.  What in this world had I gotten myself into?!  I couldn’t get out of that place quick enough.  I gave them all the money I had then bolted for the door, and practically ran back to the hotel. 

I’m sure some people would have no problem with the situation, but I will not be a return customer.  The good part was my skin was nice and soft afterwards and in the end; it gave me something to blog about! 

Selcuk, Turkey

We had a grand entrance into Turkey.  Brady had been complaining about his stomach hurting, but he had not eaten much, so I thought lack of food was the problem.  He ate a small amount of a chicken sandwich on the plane, but continued to complain.  We made it on the airport bus transporting us to the terminal when Brady spewed everywhere.  At the last minute we realized another bus was coming, so we jumped off giving Brady some time to get it out of his system.  You may say it was rude of us to leave our mess, but I did lay some wipes over the mess.  Wasn’t that nice? 

Finally landing from our second flight of the day, Brady was in bad shape.  He was pale and weak and proceeded to get sick again.  We received most of our luggage, but were missing Brady’s booster seat.  After waiting 2 hours for it to arrive we decided to leave without it.  Luckily, during that time Brady was able to take a nap and seemed to be doing a little better.  We spent the rest of our afternoon and evening resting and strolling the streets of Selcuk, Turkey. 

Selcuk was charming and our hotel had a beautiful panoramic view from the terrace.  What seemed like mostly tourists roamed the streets with store and restaurant owners doing their best to woo you into their shops.  Ruins dotted the landscape leaving the imagination to soar with thoughts of what kind of life took place here in years past.