Cruises and other Tales

It has been some time since I have blogged and kept everyone posted. This has been for several reasons. There was no internet connection at the hotel for several days and the hydro in Istanbul can be a bit temperamental. The last few days have been very busy and I am totally EXHAUSTED!

One day was spent going on an all day tour which included a half day cruise on the Bosphurus. We visited the Dolmabahce Palace as well as visited both Asian and European side of Turkey. This day included the spice Bazaar and many sites from the cruise including the Rumeli Fortress.

So here are the highlights f the day that were not necessarily advertised as part of the tour. The water way apparently does not have rules. I NEARLY DIED several times. There was a ferry boat that seemed to have its own mind. And decided to cross in front of our boat several times which was witnessed by the wa by the water way safety boat. ok ok so well if that was not enough the captian of our ship decided to turn the boat around right about then which meant we had these HUGE waves to deal with on the sea. I was hoping that I was not having deja vu from my last boating accident. The big waving crashed into and over the boat. I grabbed on to this couple next to me out of shear reflex... poor guy! Anyway- I was quite frightened. I soon learned later that the boat also did not have a depth finder...eee gads... i will be thinking twice on my cruise expedition. After this event, we did have a lovely lunch by the sea with nice Turkish beer... Yum.
Ok So after the near water death experiences, there are several other experiences that caused me to say I NEARLY DIED... driving in Turkey is a life risking event. They are crazy... there are rules and then there are "other' rules of the road. Between the buses and Taxi drivers-- I have decided I will just close my eyes, it was better that way.

One night , I walked and walked to reach a music and dance event. Now here is a blonde story so brace yourselves. I was communicating with a local about what tram to take to the event. Anyway - he says, not this tram station but the next. I am thinking why? But - I follow his directions because I am really nervous about getting lost and stranded. Anyway- I walk and walk and walk.... BTW did I tell you that I walk alot here... no kidding... so I walked until I reached the tram station he told me to go to. Before getting on the tram , I decide that I am gonna make sure this is the right one... soooooooo glad I did... I find out the event I was attending was across the street from this tram station...???????? OMG talk about miscommunication.... Anyway - now to more interesting story.... I was 2 hrs early and the event called the Turkish Mystic Dance and Music is happening at the Oriental Sirkeci Train Station (1889). Two things- this oriental express is famed for the the rail travel experience of many noble people. The train still runs various routes between London and Istanbul... secondly, The Music event: this Sufi and Whirling Dervishes Ceremony was quite interesting. It is put on by the Sufi group of Istanbul Galata Mevlevi Lodge. It has much importance for those who hold dearly the year of RUMI 2007 - 800 year anniversary. Now I won't get into all the details here as I have not that much time. BUT- I got to understand the ceremony alot better prior to the performance after having dinner with an interesting lady from Sweden.... whose name is Ann Elizabeth-- yes go figure. Needless to say- we exchanged emails. The evening itself was totally not what I expected and was terribly dry for me. The building was cold and I was tired and needless to say I found my self falling asleep. Don't tell RUMI.... :)

Sunday is a good day to get up early and stroll through the streets of the sultanemet alone. I only had one persistent Turkish man persistently following me whom I actually managed to ditch after diving into Starbucks! Yes they have that here too! Anyway, this turned out cool because I met another very interesting woman from Minnesota who recently moved to Istanbul. Her heating in her new very expensive 'room' was not working... and had come to the coffee shp to warm up.... go figure...so needless to say she was an interesting conversation.

Gotta go as I been monopolizing the computer for some time... will blog later more events and of course Happy new year...:)

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