Around The World w/Scott 2011: These are the Days of My Life

I have not posted my blog in months. Maybe I am just having too much FUN and exhausted when I get home at night. I chatted with my Dutch roommate last night and we shared how aside from an Earthquake, Typhoon, Cyclone, and a few grey clouds we have had a pretty positive weather experience during our travels. Mother Nature is at work during the night and presents a beautiful day to enjoy. Funny how at home that when She rains on the weekend She can spoil our good time. I'm ready for a soaker so I can sleep late and get caught up on my blog...Always told myself that I was not going to be a slave to the computer and so far it has been a perfect travel companion. It is always there when I need it and it never complains about my odd hours of usage...Oh that doesn't sound good in writing...but you know what I mean.
Oh the fun I have had in Istanbul. I started a week ago just managing to get to my Hostel by myself traversing on the subway with a change to the city tram and hiking it thru the Blue Mosque area to find my Hostel right where they said it would be. Amazing as the directions were about as vague as take the blue line to the end transfer to the tram for 5 stops and walk straight and the Hostel will be 500 meters you can't miss it?!?!?! Yeah right. What they fail to tell you is how to transfer to the tram which is 2 blocks over, that the cost is 2TL, how easy it is to buy the token and that the Hostel is a little off the beaten track once you pass by not thru the park and just down from the Four Season's Hotel. Landmarks people...give me landmarks. Anyway I am in a 21 person dormitory which has been fantastic as there have only been at most until tonight only 12-15 weary travelers. Only 2 nights did we have to put up with the snorer...and one of the nights it was a girl not the guys...LOL As I have repeatedly said living in a dorm is reminiscent of college dorm living days however then it was just one or two strangers to a suite. My life has been bunking with international strangers of which language barriers has been overcome, personal hygiene, nighttime noises and the occasional early departure (my bunk mate left at 4:30am to catch a train) and he felt the need to turn on the lights and pack noisily for 30 minutes before he left. My roommates have not all been like this one but there have been a few. Most are just really nice guys and gals out to explore the world, have some fun on their vacations and have a cheap place to lay their heads at night after a long full day of sightseeing/exploring.

Istanbul is like so many of the other countries that I have visited in the last 9 1/2 months...it is a plethora of sights, easy to get around (walking), the tram is easy too but I have always preferred the wandering so as not to miss anything and there has barely been anything that I have missed. I love the people as they are all so friendly and eager truly to help with directions, recommendations and of course to sell you stuff from their shops. As I am sharing my pics on Facebook, I will just summarize the locations that I have visited and you can view the pics that I have uploaded separately.

Taksim Square is about a mile + of pedestrian walkway filled with high end shopping, restaurants, bars and people watching. It is definitely worth a days visit and if you can stretch the people watching, dining and a few stops for tea into the evening the whole place changes from family fun into the youth night out. It was amazing good time. During the day take advantage of the street performances, singers, guitarist and while I promised not to join any political protest there was a rather large rally for the opposing party that drew quite a crowd (of armed military police with uzi's)...Yikes. Why do foreign countries seem to arm their military police with such weapons...Oh wait we have the same I just don't seem to be in the are of riots so maybe out of sight out of mind??? Anyway it was a spectacle to be in the midst of and fortunately it did not get out of hand, although I have video of the cheering and anti-government chanting. So sorry i just had to stay and watch as it was for me....entertainment. I also video taped a guy in an alley bar sitting in a doorway playing the guitar and singing to well..his 2 friends that were taking pic of him from about 2 inches away and Me. It was a great special way to spend about 20 minutes being entertained. The walk from my hostel was about 30 minutes of meandering as I just followed the tram rail line all the way across the Bosphorous river where it is a bit of an entertainment paradise as on my side is where all the river boats take their passengers to the alternate destinations further up the river. There are large mosques dotting the skyline and with their intricately decorated interiors there can be visual overload of the senses. Alas it is all amazing to see and join the throng of others enjoying the amazing sites.