Prince Hotel Istanbul

... around and stretch his wee legs.<br><br>We were meant to go to an orientation for our school that day, but couldn't be asked to after the flight, so we spent the day exploring the area around the flat and relaxing from the trip. We had somehow lucked out and landed ourselves smack in the middle of the most popular district in Istanbul. We had just been looking for something along the subway, and had managed to find a place ...

Arrived in Istanbul about 2 hours late and there were 5 other big cruise ships in port. That is never a good sign!! Got off about 11am and caught the shuttle bus to the Grand Bazaar. There was a huge traffic jam and it took us 2 hours to go not very far. It was raining off and on but at least that stopped by the time we got off the bus. We were told where to meet for the return shuttle and then were pointed in the ...

... the building itself was interesting due to its enormous size although the dome and the smell of feet were not quite so impressive (you have to take your shoes off to enter a mosque), the heat was not a help! That evening we wandered around looking for a decent place to eat before deciding on one run by the 'Best Western' chain. The food was not the 'best', frozen veges, microwave rice and tough meat, disappointed we vowed to do better tomorrow ...

... WHAT?! such a random topic.... marks and spencer was the pro side. the crowd was rowdy, holding up signs and cheering for their respective sides. it lasted from about 10 until noon... marks and spencer won the debate so they go on to the next round next week!! to be honest, i dont know what the competition is for, but the end prize is a trip to paris.... exciting! the best part about all of this? i got dressed this morning ...

... and said I wanted to go to Sirkici train station. He ripped me off massively and dropped me off about half a mile from the train station, but I didn't really mind this that much because I had escaped the Octagon of death (and he bore an uncanny resemblance to Saddam Hussein, which is always good for a laugh). I found myself walking along the Bosphorus, across the sparkling blue sea to my right I could see Galata, a medieval Genoese ...

... Selcuk has a tourist infrastructure without being too touristy. We really enjoyed strolling through the huge Saturday market. We also found a shop with with amazing toasted cheese sandwiches (the cheese "squeaks" against your teeth like our cheese curds)! We ended our time in Turkey by taking a bus to Turkey's second largest city, Izmir (formerly Smyrna), and onto Turkey's westernmost point, Cesme. In Cesme our primary ...

... you a sense of how deep the faith of these people must have been. To be able to live for months on end, 8 stories under the earth, in search of religious freedom, is truly a testiment to one's beliefs. From Cappadocia, we boarded another night bus to Pamukkale. Pamukkale is famous for the ruins of a Roman bath town, Heirapolis, built by the salt travertines of Pamukkale, which translates into cotton castle. You may be familiar with this place, as every time I see ...

... Quite an interesting tour, including a white-clay platemaking demo, on an electric wheel, and a red clay bowl throwing on a kick wheel. DP volunteered to have a go, got conned into producing something distinctly phallic, with hand motions to suit, and the guides commentary not helping. DP broke up completely, found it difficult to turn this into a bowl. All managed to resist buying pottery. As usual, the product ...

... nice but crowded. We walked through that whole area then went back to the hotel and walked across the bridge over the Gold Horn. The city is gorgeous at night. The skyline is doted with mosque and their minarets all lighted up. Today, we did a lot tours. We first went around the old city and a lot of the old city wall exist. We then visited an old mosque by one of the greatest Ottoman architects. We then went on a ferry ...

... a close, and am looking forward to starting fresh back in the states and reuniting with family and friends. This trip has been one of the longest I've done, partially as a challenge to myself, but mostly as a self-given reward for completing my professional education and licensure. I am excited to sleep in my own bed, eat food that is familiar to me, not have to bargain every day or wonder where I will be sleeping that night, not be constantly forming new ...