No, I didn't eat turkey in Turkey.

Last week, I had four extra days off for Easter weekend, so Ray and I went to Istanbul, Turkey. This technically marks my first trip to Asia (Asia Minor is still Asia), and probably to the most unique place on my list of travels so far.

It was still fairly European, but still had a much more Eastern flavor to it. For example, there were about half a million mosques in the city, and your day begins at 5:30 a.m. when they sound the first call to prayer. It resonates from approximately four thousand loudspeakers attached to every minaret in the area. There were, naturally, a few right near my window, so it was nice and loud. BUT I did sleep through it the last morning. Anyhow, I really didn't mind it, and it sounds five times a day.

The food was great--lots of kebaps of lamb/chicken/beef, rice, eggplant, and Turkish delight. I had never had real Turkish delight candy before, but it was SO good. I bought a box to bring home, and I have to ration it to a few pieces a day so it's not all gone by tonight. It's much like Knox Blocks, or very concentrated Jello, and they often put nuts in it, and powdered sugar on the outside.

Without fail, we could not walk down the street without being continually harassed by people selling things in shops or wanting us to try their restaurant or bar. We quickly found it didn't matter if you ignored them or talked to them, they would call after you until you either went in the shop or were out of earshot. One man kept yelling "Blondie" at me. The shopkeepers were a bit annoying, but I know that is how they make a living so it was not so bad.

I must say that the Turks were the absolute friendliest people I have seen anywhere. They put even the smallest towns in the American south to shame. The children (on weekdays we ran into some school groups) almost ALL shouted hello to us, and asked where we were from and even our names. Aside from the people trying to sell us things, the adults were also very friendly. Strangely, I found this to be more so the case in the center of the city than in the more suburban areas and on the Princes Islands.

One more thing--I've never seen so many flower beds in my life. Budapest--and almost every other city--could learn a lot from Istanbul. The city was very clean, there wasn't graffiti anywhere, and every inch of grassy area was landscaped and had flowers planted, mostly tulips.

It was a wonderful trip, and we had a wonderful time. Here are a few of the pictures:

Me, all dressed up, inside the Blue Mosque.


The Blue Mosque, built in the 1600s. We could see it from the hotel window.


Obelisk and tulips in the Hippodrome


The Aya Sofya Museum, which is about 1500 years old.


Inside the Aya Sofya. By the way, there are no visible support columns inside. All that are used are some built in the walls, which is impressive if you can see how very big it is.


Gulhane Park, near the Topkapi Palace. Actually, we walked all through this park before discovering it didn't lead to Topkapi Palace, but well worth it, as you can see.


The Spice Bazaar


Prayers in Sultanahmet


We took a ferry trip to the Princes Islands, about an hour away. We visited two of the islands, Hegybalia and Büyükada. We climbed to the highest point on Büyükada, which was a pretty good hill.
Just like in the city, there were cats everywhere.


Horses and a kid roaming around on Hegybalia.


On Büyükada. They use horses and carts for basically everything, with almost no cars on the island.


It gets pretty windy by the water.


Hegybalia, seen from the ferry


Whirling Dervishes, which practice Sufism, a sect of Islam. We saw a show at dinner one night, but these were performing in the town square.