Istanbul Constantinopal

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Got to stay in a hotel! It's cool. We had another guide. The first night we ate at a great restaurant with chandeliers, etc. It didn't feel that tough - camping after all. I saw traditional dances similar to Greek and Russian. There was knife throwing and belly dancing. It was so good!! W ate great food. It was a better set up than the Greek dinner and dancing we saw. I was somewhat disappointed because the Greek one experience has weak food and old overweight dancers performing for our tour. When I had seen such wonderful dancers back in Trikala I was annoyed that they didn’t represent our culture better. They let themselves down.

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I went to the Blue Mosque. It was beautiful. We had to remove our shoes. They don't use icons in Islamic religion so instead there are intricate designs. A rose represents Allah, and the tulip, Mohammad. The arch way in the Mosque always point to Mecca. We went to Agios Sophia. I think it was called one of the oldest churches of all time. It had a combo of Muslim and Orthodox imagery and design, as it was redone in the Ottoman Empire. There was this hole in the column. We stuck our finger in and turned it 360 degrees. If your finger is wet in means your wish will come true. We walked through spice markets filled with Turkish delights, spices, chicha traditional customs, and cheap jewellery. There are coffees and kebabs. It was nice.

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The people working were all guys and had funny comments to make. They thought I was Spanish and kept saying 'Ola' to me and saying things like let me help you spend your money - just having a laugh. Talking with the boys it hardly seemed like they were working. No women anywhere even when we went out at night. I felt uncomfortable with their looks and conversation. After a while it was annoying, they looked at us like Western girls that were easy. The difference with the lifestyle and the economy is so obvious. It really was confronting for me. Young children begging extra. But I really liked the ambience of Turkey. It was warm, inviting and cosy.