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View of Istanbul
With Rafael and Mary over looking Istanbul I said my goodbyes to Matt! Then said hello to two nights on an
overnight train from Budapest, via Bucharest in Romania (2 hours stop
there), then to Bulgaria and arrived at the Turkish boarder. Here I had to
get off my train at 1am, get a Turkish Visa then catch a bus to Istanbul! I
have so many awesome stamps in my passport now with little trains in the
top corner. Initially I was a little nervous about spending two nights on a
train, but it was completely fine. On my first train there was a couple
from Bristol in the UK in my cabin and second train a couple from London
and a Ano a guy from Paris who is a doctor, very good looking, so he ticked
all the boxes expect he had a girlfriend, the good ones always are taken. So I arrived in Istanbul around
630am, I walked to my hostel! Best hostel in Istanbul, so many people from
all over the world - they have an open top roof bar which over looks
Istanbul and St Sophia Museums, so gorgeous views!!! But as you can imagine
I was pretty tried and needed a shower so
bad!!
Istanbul I think is a city which alot of people who haven't been there have
doubts about! I spent 3 days there and absolutely loved it. Istanbul is
such a lively city, so energetic, lots going on all the time and the people
are very helpful and lovely. I think with anywhere in the world when you
are travelling you need to be aware of your surroundings, of the culture of
the people within that place, and most importantly have common sense!! I
think people who don't have common sense or are unable to say no are the
people who have troubles here. I was a-okay!! At my hostel I met Mary and
Rafael, who are from Montreal in Quebec, Canada. I spend two of my three
days with them. They are French-Canadian and are so awesome! We all got
along so well!! I think one of the things that I love about travelling is
meeting and interacting with people from all over the world!! I love travelling
alone, as it enables you to share experiences with people that you normally
wouldn't, which I think is so special! Tuesday I had breakfast with Turkish people
people and an
Pottery in Cappadocia
I volunteered to try out an very old pottery wheel, it was so hard but lots of fun!! Austrian couple, Ice cream with a girl from Brazil, Lunch and Dinner with
French-Canadians....If you ask me, I think that is pretty damn cool!! I
think equally I love travelling with friends and, love travelling alone and
making *new* friends.
As Turkey is a Muslim country there are Mosque's everywhere!! 5 times a day
there are different men singing a Turkish song which is played from Mosques
all over the city and lasts for about 10 minutes and which is an indication
of when people should pray. I went into two Mosques, the first was the Blue
Mosque which is the biggest one in Istanbul and then another one I cant
remember the name. You have to take your shoes off and cover your shoulders
and legs. In one of the Mosques I had to where a scarf over my head! Mary
and I were taking a photo and our scarfs fell off and some man came running
up to us, yelling in Turkish - I tell you what I have never wrapped a scarf
around my head so quick - it looked horrible!! Something I learnt was only
the men where allowed to pray in the main area,
the women had a room at the
back of the Mosque where they can pray...no surprises there! Though the
people in Istanbul are not as strict as other Muslims within the
country...the more East you go it is more strict it is, there are only a
few women here who cover up everything expect their eyes. Interesting
experience and beneficial to see!! Mary, Rafael and I also went to Yerbatan
Sarayi (underground city). Grand Bazaar which is a massive market and other
typical tourist things. We caught a boat for 2 Lira (cheap as chips) across
to the Asian part of Istanbul, there is famous bridge that connects the two
continents which was pretty cool to see up close!! Turkish people love
apple tea and I love apple tea, its so funny you are walking along streets
and these old men who look like they have had a rough life are smoking,
playing checkers and drinking tea. I had the best baklava ever!! Food here
is really good!! I really liked Istanbul, lots of markets, restaurants,
dirty kebabs, Turkish delights and other sweet shops!!
So basically I had no real plans for my time in Turkey except a day
Pamukkale
Thermal Mineral Baths trip to
Gallipoli! From speaking to people in my hostel in Istanbul they highly
recommend that I go to a few places! I organised a little trip with a
travel company and it was within my budget so I went for it! I caught an
over night bus to Cappadocia where I spent two days. Cappadocia is famous for its amazing scenary. I have never seen a place quite like it. Natural forces created Fairy chimmys
and most of them look like caves from the Flinestones. The room I stayed in was literally a cave, pretty cool experience (Dad joke?). I spend one say with Mary and Rafael there too which was really lovely seeing them again!!! I definitely will be visiting them in Montreal one day! So from there I caught an overnight bus to Pamukkale which is famous as it once was an Roman city so there are runis everywhere. Also is it known for its thermal mineral baths which were formed naturally which the Romans used and we can still use today. Absolutely stunning atmosphere. I caught another overnight bus (saving on accommodation) to Eceabat which is a little place 8ks from Gallipoli. I did a day
tour there and I tell you what if you get the chance to go there it is well worth it. It was an incredible experience!! I learnt so much about WWI and the 9 month battle between the Anzacs and the Turks. It was truly amazing to see Anzac cove, North beach, lone pine and walking through orginal trenches that the Aussies dug. Being there puts everything about that battle into perspective! From everything I have experience in my trip so far it is safe to say now I can definitely watch the History channel with Dad back home and actually be interested in it.
Turkey really surprised me. It is a beautiful country with unknown treasures and the landscapes and scenary is breathtaking. I wish I could have spent more time here! I am sad to say goodbye to Turkey but also very excited to see Dimitri in Amsterdam and begin our travels.
Also I just noticed if you want you can subscribe to my blog so everytime I write a new blog you will get an email letting you know!!
Love Jen
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