Santa Sophia Boutique Hotel Istanbul

... working everywhere and they all look fine, for the most part, and happy in their jobs, or as happy as anyone could be when they are working. But after reading this, I had to question myself in my perceptions. What are they going through? What is they day like if they know they will not have a chance at a better job or more money? And I was a little shook to think that I stroll through ...

... main shopping centre and where all the bars and clubs are that the turkish locals go to.

Ian had decided that he wanted to go to this place called Beyoglu but i really could not be bothered so after a mcdonalds dinner I know I am sorry but I could not resist and guess what Mcdonalds in Istanbul have moterbike delivery men how cool would it be to have a hang over and call for a mackies to be delivered genius!

Well anyways ian ...

... our sense of direction to find our way, which at 6 in the morning doesn't really work all that well.
We did eventually find the tram. It was now time for the locals to go to work, they were not the happiest of campers, with the four of us and our backpacks squeezing in nicely. I don't think there was to many injuries.
We left the tram with dirty looks and muttered insults, we remember from last year that the ...

... t feel at all heavy or imposing. I'm sure there are larger churches and taller domes around (St. Peter's in Rome for one), but I'm not sure there is another as beautiful in scale and proportion. It literally took my breath away. But then I looked closer. Yes, in fact, there is ample evidence that this had been turned into a mosque in the 15th century. The primary means of adorning the inside was mosaics, much like the ones I saw yesterday in Chora church ...

... of our stay, we found a little side street by the harbour, filled with bars. They didn't serve alcohol, but everyone was sitting around on squashy, colourful bean bags or elaborate, Turkish couches, smoking flavoured tobacco in huge Hookahs, drinking Turkish tea in little glass cups and playing backgammon. Every table had a backgammon set, but unfortunately I'd forgotten how to play. No one was eating or drinking alcohol, as it is Ramadan at the moment. The air was misty and smoky ...

... the bridge from Europe to Asia was something I really had to see. Fast forward about 20 years, and I am teaching my own grade sixes about the fall of Constantinople. I really had no success in reaching them as to the significance of this event until this year, when I caved in and showed them a ridiculously graphic video. Yes, the one thing I have learned is that if you want 12 year olds to buy in to history, there's nothing like a violent film complete with heads and other body ...

... Turkish style white beans, with a Baklavaci nearby.  On the streets, people sold corn on the cob and civits, circular bread covered in sesame seeds and baked, and fresh fruits--cherries, melons, and peaches were in season.  Taxim was full of restaurants, with stuffed mussels sold as a street snack, and on and on. One day, I took the metro to the old Ottoman walls, now in a ramshackle neighborhood, showing the poor side of Istanbul's millions.  Buildings ...

... the perimeter, where men were bathing using the ornate faucets, surrounded the marble slab. We had read up on the procedure beforehand, so it did not seem totally foreign to me. He told me to lie down on the marble where there were at least 10 other men doing the same thing. After about 5 minutes I began to perspire heavily and about 15 minutes later, just when I though I could not take the sauna conditions any longer, my ...

... both Bosphorus bridges and the Istanbul waterfront. After my ferry ride I walked along the waterfront to the Istanbul Modern. It's located in an old shipping warehouse on the edge of the Bosphorus. In another warehouse next store there was a special exhibit related to the Istanbul Bienal, a multi-month, multi-venue cultural festival. The Bienal kicked off on Thursday night. The theme of the Bienal this year is optimism in the time of turmoil ...

... une soirée avec eux deux 2 jours plus tard, encore une superbe soirée. Dans un premier temps, je reste 3 jours à Istanbul et y repasserais 3 jours aussi au retour. c'est franchement une ville fabuleuse, riche, variée où je me suis senti chez moi. J'y retournerai un jour c'est sur ...