3 days in Istanbul...fabulous!

Trip Start Jun 18, 2006

Trip End Aug 21, 2006

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Flag of Turkey Istanbul, Turkey
Saturday, July 15, 2006

Hello!

So I've got alot to update you on...we've been in Istanbul for the last three days which is great because there was alot of time to go out and see things.

Yesterday was embarkation day (meaning that it was the end of one cruise and the beginning of another). I was really busy with work for a few days before that because I had to get a ton of printing done but now work is pretty slow which has given me alot of time to go out.

Thursday: In the afternoon I went for an apple tea with Kristine (Canadian, works in the Boutique) and Lisa (American, Entertainment staff). The place we went to had bean bag chairs on the patio which was pretty nice

Blue Mosque

. At night I went out for dinner in Taksim Square with Gemma, Dario, Viktor, and Ljebo. We went to this little Turkish restaurant. The food was so yummy. They came to the table with a bunch of appetizers and then we just picked the ones we wanted. And then for the main entree they came to the table with a bunch of fish on a platter and we had to choose which fish we wanted. Then they went and made that particular fish for you. When they brought it back all cooked, it still had its head and bones on it...I must have had a funny look on my face because the waiter asked me if I wanted him to debone it. Yes please!

Friday: I went to see a movie in the theatre!! Kristine and I went to see Pirates of the Caribbean 2. There is a theatre in Taksim Square so we went there. The movie was in English with Turkish subtitles. When you buy the ticket they assign a seat for you. Turns out our seats where in the third row. It was impossible to see the screen. As soon as the lights went out though everyone in the first few rows got up to go look for other seats. We did the same, and then an usher came up to us and was like "you have to take a seat now". I told him that there was no way we could sit that close to the screen so he told us he would get us seats in the VIP section...he sure did...we got to sit on the balcony, where all the seats were couches! Much better :) Before the movie we did a little shopping and I bought a dress that was $4 (yes that is correct) but when I got back to the ship, there is a hole in it...i'll have to see if i can fix it or not

Crew Bar

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Saturday: Today I went to the Grand Bazaar finally :) I have been wanting to since we got here three days ago. For those of you who don't know, the Grand Bazaar is like a massive market with stores that sell everything from clothes, jewelery, carpets, lanterns, purses, shoes, souvenirs, leather jackets. The thing is that you have to bargain every item. Everything is really cheap too. I bought a few things but I could have gotten alot more. The bargaining gets really tiring after awhile though. If any of you are ever in Istanbul, you must go to the Grand Bazaar!

Tonight we leave for Kusadasi. Tomorrow is a day at sea.

Hope everyone is doing well,
Shannon