Lazy Day Sunday - 9.10.06

Well i was up till 6:30am last night creating this blog in the loungey area. A bunch of us were chatting, drinking, smoking and chilling and all of a sudden the sun rose...funny how that happens. So needless to say i didn't surface till noon. After a kebab brunch i went to the Topkapi Palace. On the way to the palace i strolled through the gardens. Apparently sunday is your "bring your sweetheart to the park day" . Every where you went and looked couples (all hetero from what i could tell) were cuddling, kissing, whispering sweet nothings into each others ears and being plain ol in love. They were everywhere, benches, nooks, crannies, on the grass and even a couple in a tree. I was thinking how sweet the whole scene was when i heard the sound of guns...there was also an open air shooting gallery where you paid some money and shot balloons with your choice of very mean and angry looking hand guns and one semi automatic glock like thing...this was kind of a weird site to see but it was all couples which was kind of sweet.

I finally made my way to the palace museum. It was built in the 15th century by Sultan Mehmet II and he didn't seem to spare any expenses. Its massive but also VERY touristy. I stayed for a couple of hours and then made my way back to the hostel. Needing to do some work i ordered a beer and sat upstairs and just went at it. Maybe it was my surroundings, the beer or who knows what but the top of the bahaus over looking the bhosporus is not a bad place to have an office.

Tomorrow i think i'm going to Suleymaniye Mosque and wander.

Me "working"

A bunch of us decided to go to the trendy area of istanbul in Taksim square called Istikial Caddesi to have dinner and drinks. We have kind of developed into abit of a crew and its really nice. Dinner was tasty and the drinks...well they were interesting. Raki was ordered and than drank. Raki is basically liquid licorice with a milky texture...it also tastes like ass...but we were heroes and drank it down. We then walked back home, over the bridge befriending animals and people. We were treated to some spectacular night scenery and i decided that we should do a jumpy shot. Everyone was game. Thanks Kalah...spreading the good word as best i can.

Aaron from seattle

Brian from the OC

Emily from New York

Matthew, MIka and Aaron

Matthew from Winnipeg

Mika from Hamburg

Nikola from Serbia

Sam from London

New Mosque

New Mosque

Jumpy 3