No place lıke Istanbul

Blue Mosque

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Marhaba!

Where to start!  Turkey does not have a European, Middle East or Asian feel to it.  It is a place that is very unique and special.  The border crossing was interesting, took a bus form Alexandropolıs, Greece.  I thought it would drive me over, no.  It drops me off and then I head off by foot.  The police said that I cannot cross by foot I need to get on a bus or take a taxi.  They told me to ask the buses if I could hitch a ride.  Who in their right mind would allow an english white girl on their bus to cross the border?  I must have looked very suspicious as people just sent me away.  I try to find a cab, none at the border to hire.  I get this waitress to call, she does but no cab will take me across.  I go back to the police and they make a call and a cab finally comes for me.  He drove me across a bridge for 10 euro then I got out.  Had another check point where I had to go and get a visa.  Did that and had to walk some more through yet another check point.  The guys there were trying to find me a ride to Istanbul on one of the buses, but no takers.  I walk to the last check point where the cabs are.  A  guy walks out waving his arms asking what I am doing.   'Trying to go to Istanbul!'  He thought I was trying to walk there (300km).  I guess they do not have many people on foot cross over.  I get a cab to the next town which cost me a whopping 50 euro.  As the cab pulled over the driver was yelling at the bus to stop.  5 guys come over take my bag chuck it on the bus and push me on it.  I do not even know if I am on the right bus or not.  No ticket, no local currency.  Real treat.  The non english speaking attendant had fun with me.  The bus travel is quite a treat though.  The attendant who was wearing a pin stripe suit with a bow tie walks through the bus with some hand cleaner then out of his tickle trunk of treats gives you a drink and snack.  They even tell you when to get off the bus which is very helpful when you have no idea where you are going!  I get to the Istanbul bus station which was a whole other experience.  I get through that and now in Istanbul. I get there to realize I lost my bankcard.   Always something exciting on day one in a new town.  I manage to make a phone call to my friend Yekta (I met her and her husband Murat in Brazil) who tells me she is unable to meet me in Istanbul.  After a small breakdown I find a really great hostel in a great area and manage to get money.  After two nights I head of to meet her in Eskısehır.  She spoiled me rotten.  We hung out in her cafe (Varuna Cafe and ate great Turkish food (which contains a lot of yoghurt).  Each country I find a new treat that I cannot get enough of.  Spain was this seafood skillet thing, France was baguettes and cheese, Italy was gelato, Greece was Tazıkkı, and Turkey is apple tea.  Love it!!!  Yekta introduced me her friends and it was a nice break from  traveling.  We hung out and drank beer.   I felt normal for a few short days.  She was unable to see the rest of Turkey with me as she was in the middle of moving.  I headed Pamukkale then to Ephesus and finally Troy.  They were all good except Troy.  Boring ruins and they have a really cheesy wooden horse for the tourists to climb in.  Turkey is a very beautiful country and I will definitely make my way back here I want to visit  Cappadocıa.  Too much to see and do in such a short visit.  Some of the other tourist had some trouble with the locals but not me.  I met Vulcan, Moses, Chacha and Adam all local workers around the hostel who helped me out.  Turkish men are very helpful.  Most times they just want you to visit their store and look around.  Awesome place!!!    

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I have to tell you about my experience last night at the hammam (Turkish Bath).  This may be to much information for some but I am going to tell my story anyways!  The bath I went to is very traditional and used by the locals.  I decided to get the full meal deal if I was going to go through with  this I was going to do it right.  You walk in, strip off and they give you a tea towel to cover yourself.  You then walk into the steam room where you find a large marble platform with basins along the wall.  The sight is very overwhelming as there are about 30 naked women flaked out relaxing!  You lie down and try to relax and wait for the attendants to come in.  You feel very expose and vulnerable and there is no possible way to relax.  The attendants (who are just wearing underwear) grabs your hand and your towel and tell you to lie down.  There are woman laid out on the platform waiting for their bath, you are almost touching.  The lady gets you into position and dumps boiling hot water on you.  Then starts scrubbing you down with this coarse pad.  Then lathers you up, flips you over, sits you up, very awkward positions.  She then leads you over to the basin and washes your hair.  You go back to the platform and lie down where you get another scrub and a rinse.  The attendant then SLAPPED my ass and yelled 'done'!  She then tells me to go to the massage lady.  I had to walk through the chamber into the next room before they would give me a towel.  The massage was something similar to our style.  A room of 5 other women, a little more private.  The massage was relaxing.  After that I headed back to the marble slab to lie down and relax.  I FORCED myself to stay and work through this.  It is a mental thing as nobody cares what you look like.  If you have any self-esteem issues this is the place to go!  You see the fear and pain of the new people coming in, they are all covered up and ooze panic.  By the end, you have your towel flung over your shoulder!  You can stay in the steam room or go to the basins and bath yourself do whatever you want.  I stayed for 3 hours and quite enjoyed it by the end.  A very Turkish thing to do.  When in Turkey.....