Wandering Around - 9.12.06

Picture from Andy from Regina's camera

Outside the Turkish Baths

Once again another late night. We had several new people show up and the pick of the bunch is James from Australia. He has me in hysterics everytime he opens his mouth. The loungey area was packed until 5am with many stories and getting to know each other conversations. All of a sudden i'm the popular guy cause everyone wants to use my laptop...yay i'm useful..though apparently people also are beginning to ask me where they can see soccer games around europe and which would be the best ones. Who knew my addiction to my computer and football knowledge would be in so much demand and would actually get me somewhere.

Woke up this morning, ate breakfast and headed off in the direction of the Spice Bazaar which was very nice. Not as crowded as the Grand Bazaar and way more interesting. The colors and smells were out of this world. There were a couple of us all together and we ran into some hostel mates so we all puttered off into the more traditional bazaar. This was really an interesting place. Specific stores selling just one thing (a store selling just big rubber wadding boots, a hack you tp pieces knife store were my favorites). Another reason this was so nice was that no one hassled you in this market or tried to sell you anything. A couple of us had gotten tired of being grabbed or being constantly asked us where we were from so that they could sell us(we started making up country names like Bobolonia and Nicolastan) just to get people to leave us be. Ironically i was far more interested in the stuff at the traditional bazaar and almost picked up a deluxe god awful seashell motif with turkish flag toilet seat. It would have looked lovely in our pink bathroom but it was kind of heavy and awkward and i wasn't looking forward to the potential talk with a US customs official when i came home.

Peppers and dried eggplants

From there we climbed our way to Suleymaniye mosque. This is apparently the nicest and most impressive of mosques in Istanbul and they are not kidding. Everything from the stain glass windows to the massive domes is just so gorgeous and mesmerizing. It was was also interesting to see all the western women wearing scarves around their head as practiced by the muslim women (you can't enter the mosque unless you do so). I think they all looked very nice and in some cases i think it suited them more. I wandered around the mosque andits gardens for about an hour. It was a gorgeous day and very relaxing. We meandered done some roads and ended up at the grand bazaar much to my horror and other people's delight. i did however pick up a Galatasaray home jersey (number 11 Hakan Sas for anyone keeping score at home) for tonight. i had realized this morning that most of my tops were blue which was Bordeaux's colors so i figured spending 10 Turkish lira to ensure that i wouldn't be squewered by a Kebab knife was a good deal.

After that i broke away from the group and walked around some neighborhoods by myself. Walking in no particular direction i ended in some interesting hoods. Places which were very nice but if you didn't live there probably wouldn't go visit. There were some nice parks and cafes and i would have stayed longer but i need to take a nap before tonight's game.

Suleymaniya Mosque roof

Suleymaniya Mosque

Suleymaniya Mosque dome

Mel from Melbourne