Smelly

With only 4 hours of sleep, I was pretty much useless at work. I did, however, manage to look up more information about travel in/around Turkey as well as play 17 games of solitaire. Because of this hard work, I allowed myself an early lunch break. I decided to forgo the Starbucks near PP (Park Plaza, my office building) and try a different cafe. It was there that it hit me that I miss American food. No, I take that back. I miss homemade food like mac and cheese. Yum. I don't mind all of the new foods or trying new things. I just want my own kitchen back is all. The smell of a job well done hasn't hit my nose in ages. I've only smelt others' pastries, people with no hygiene, green peppers - which I am sick of. I am so tired of them!!! They're in everything. I have eaten enough here to last me a lifetime -, people with hygiene, and the livestock butcher shop on my way to work. The walk to work is in an urban area, but that doesn't matter. They sell sacrificial meat at one of the stores on the way to work. This means the animals are still alive and living downtown. It stinks.

The sacrifice market

But then, just a little further down the road, there is a wonderful bakery. The smells are astounding and mouthwatering. You can basically taste the breads on the sidewalk.

This picture is from the Prince's Islands

So good!

Who needs Starbucks when you get have Turkish tea and homemade baklava here?

Home sweet home

You know you've made a new home somewhere when you can't wait to get back to sleep in your bed! That's exactly how I felt as the bus rolled in to the Metro bus station. Actually, I was thinking is this my bus stop? The bus to Istanbul from Goreme was stopping at 3 distinct neighborhoods - Kadikoy, Sultan Ahmet, and some place I had never heard of. Kadikoy is only a half an hour from my dorm, so I decided that was the best bet. I navigated Kate and I safely and accurately to the dorms - I have mastered the transportation system!

After a much needed shower and baggage drop-off, we hit some popular Istanbul sights along with my (Turkish) friend, Utku. We toured Dolmabahce, went to the Blue Mosque, and went to the top of the Galata Tower. Tourist season has definitely begun; the lines were a bit ridiculous. Luckily we got an earlier start to our day, and standing in the sun in lines was a minimum.

Dolmabahce Palace was the last used palace for the Turkish empire. It was no longer used after Kemal Mustafa Ataturk. He was the last sultan and first prime minister. He founded the Republic of Turkey in the 1920s. This palace was only used for (I think they said..) 35 yrs. It is gorgeous, with crystal everything. The biggest chandelier weighs 4.5 tons. Holy smokes. This is also the place where Ataturk died. No pictures were allowed inside. It was a complete bummer, but I can guarantee that no matter how many pictures I took I would never be able to capture the beautiful aspects of Dolmabahce.

 Me in front of the palace

Entrance gates

There are gates opening to a boardwalk, which are astounding

 Side-view of the palace

I know nothing about Galata Tower's history except that it was a lookout tower. From the pictures, you will be able to understand why this tower was amazing. It helped me capture how big Istanbul is - the buildings go on for forever!

European side

The Golden Horn

It goes on and on and on...

It was a day well spent with my new-found friends in Turkey.

There were fireworks!!! Happy Independence Day :)

Me and Kate enjoying the Turkish lifestyle

And the whirlwind continues..

Who said I was too proud to take a tour? I caved. My Aussie friend, Kate, and I decided it would be the best idea to just take a tour, where transportation is provided as well as information. It was the best idea ever. The service was great, and we went to places that we never would have thought to go to. Money well spent. The other members of our group hired a cab driver and were going to tell him where to go...not the greatest plan in my book. I am very satisfied with the choice I made.

THE TOUR IN PICTURES:

The tour began with a stop at Goreme Panoramic Viewpoint

Next we went to Derinkutu Underground City

There are 8 levels excavated; it's one of the largest open to tourists. NOTE: don't go here if you're abnormally large or claustorphobic

We then hiked a small portion of the Ihlara Valley.

Saw some old frescoes - there are over 200 old churches in the valley! Sadly, most have collapsed..only 10 or so are open to tourists

Had lunch in a cool hut

Next we drove to Selime. This big rock was a palace as well as a hotel. Surreal.

Kate and I taking a rest on the rocks

In the Cathedral

Another view of the Selime

Then we stopped at a volcanic lake. Gorgeous.

The group at the lake!

 The end of the tour: Pigeon Valley

Me and Kate at Pigeon Valley

Random Facts Learned From Tour:

- Cappadocia came from a Persion word meaning "Land of the Horses"

- Fairy Chimneys came about from volcanoes

- There are 3 volcanoes in Cappadocia

- At the end of Pigeon Valley is the town of Goreme, where I stayed

- Derinkuyu means "deep well" - properly named since the well was 40 meters (or more..can't remember the exact number)

More detail might come later. I have to pack my stuff to catch a night bus back to Istanbul. Kate and I are going to do some touring of Istanbul with one of my friends from the University tomorrow before she heads to Barcelona early Monday morning. Busy, busy, busy weekend!

Rocks, Pottery, & Churches Oh my!

 Sweets in Sariyer

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statue, Sariyer

The Bus!

Those were some pictures I didn't post earlier. I also forgot to say that I am staying in Goreme, and that the hotel I am staying at is the Bedrock Cave Hotel. Yes, just like the Flinstones. It's a really neat place with woven linens hanging every where and the stone walls. And it's really cheap!

Common Room

Beds

I had my first experience with a squatting toilet. I hope to never repeat it, although I know that it will happen again. It caught me off guard; all of the places I go to in Istanbul have western toilets. Not the bus station. Blech.

 

 After eating some breakfast at the hotel, we walked to the Goreme Open Air Museum. The group grew from the original 4 UMers to an Aussie we met on the bus, as well as a Dutch woman who knew one of the guys in the original 4. It was a great, and diverse, group of people. Anyways, we saw a LOT of churches with 1500 year old frescoes in them. It was pretty sweet. Then we ate lunch and decided to go to Pasa Bagi. Originally we were going to walk, but it was outrageously hot outside. We settled for a cab. The first cab we flagged was too expensive, and the driver was not a bargaining man. Eventually some random man and his not-so-up-to-date car showed up agreeing to take us for a cheaper price. He took us the back way so we could get some pictures in. Pasa Bagi was amazing. There were more carved buildings and caves there. Half of the group decided to hike back, while the soccer fans rode back. Obviously I went with riders back, and of course we caught a sketchy ride back with some guy because there were no buses or taxis. 

 

Neat-o pottery tree

View from the Goreme Open Air Museum

Me at the Goreme Open Air Museum

The Aladdin Door

OLD Frescoe in one of the curches

 1500+ yr old Frescoe. Cameras were forbidden..but I just couldn't help myself (sorry!)

Landscape from the car ride to Pasa Bagi

 Beginning of Pasa Bagi Pictures

BAHAHA Camel rides (no, I didn't partake)

Goreme Cityscape

After taking a well needed nap, the group met up at a local cafe. The atmosphere was relaxing; we ate outside so the breeze cooled us off, and there were nets surrounding the table (no bugs!). What a day!

Kapadokya!

Well, I've made it to Kapadokya. It wasn't the longest bus ride I've ever been on, but it was close.

Leaving Istanbul was the worst part. After work yesterday I met up with 2 of the 3 UM students I was going to be traveling with. We ate dinner and walked around Sariyer (northern European neighborhood of Istanbul). We call the 4th member of our party as we're walking to catch the service bus to Alibekoy. He's still at the university dorms, 15 min away. There is a bus outside the travel agency, and we go in to find out when our bus is leaving. Well, our bus pulled away as soon as we walked inside to ask. The 4th member was still MIA, but the bus was waiting 5 min down the road. Eventually, the bus left us because our friend was late. After we met up with him, we grabbed a cab to the Alibekoy bus station. Once there we waited for 45 min or so for our bus to arrive, and then we were off! I sat next a very nice lady. We didn't talk much because I fell asleep fairly soon after the bus got going. I slept the majority of the way. There were some stops along the way - just breaking points - but I stayed on the bus. I was too groggy to move.

On the bus we met some other people traveling. We're getting ready to do some hiking tours. I will post again later with pictures!