10:50 p.m. on July 17, 2009 in İstanbul
The wake-up call thıs mornıng came at 5:45 a.m. Thıs was rough because I had a difficult time sleeping last night after the Turkish Bath experience. Anyway, no tıme for breakfast so I packed quick and raced to the bus. Goodbye İstanbul.
We drove into the small town of Adaparazi to vişit the Enka schools there. These were established in 1999 after the devastating earthquake there. These schools are so inspiring. The teachers are so motivated and hopeful, even when their resources are so limited. We can all learn a lesson in that.
Next, we drove to Iznıc to the studio of Targut Tuna and he was there! He demonstrated and explained the tradition of Turkish tile making. If any of you get a chance to ever check out his work, thınk pomegranate. You will thank me. Anyway, his works were available in his shop in the town so we went there next. Threw down some serious lira. Loves it! But as awesome as the shop was, the poor conditions ın that town around the shops were undeniable. It was so sad to see such conditions in a city enveloped in ancient ruins. We lunched on a terrace overlooking Lake Iznıc, which was a lot of fun.
We loaded the bus and headed off to Bursa. Thıs was when I realized that I really was not feeling so well. I slept the whole drive. Bursa was very cool. It is a city of over 1 million people but you would not know it with your eyes closed….it is so quiet there. We checked into the Kuza han market and tossed did a little damage. But the scarves were irresistable – pretty and cheap!
We then traveled into the Ulu Mosque. This mosque was beautıful as well as serene. It was built ın 1399 and holds 192 caligraphy inscriptions. Finally. We checked into our hotel – Kervansaray. It is snazzy. We ate a quick dınner in the restaurant there before going to a pricvate showing of a Turkish tradition – shadow puppet theatre. It was strange yet entertaining. Such neat traditions here. My day is so done now. Headıng to bed to get ready for the big day tomorrow….Ephesus. Squeel! Irı gecelem.
Factoid: Turkey is roughly the size of Texas.
Blog Playlist: Nausea by Beck; Middle of Nowhere by Hot Hot Heat; Lebanese Blonde by Thievery Corporation; My Summer Vacation by Ice Cube
The wake-up call thıs mornıng came at 5:45 a.m. Thıs was rough because I had a difficult time sleeping last night after the Turkish Bath experience. Anyway, no tıme for breakfast so I packed quick and raced to the bus. Goodbye İstanbul.
We drove into the small town of Adaparazi to vişit the Enka schools there. These were established in 1999 after the devastating earthquake there. These schools are so inspiring. The teachers are so motivated and hopeful, even when their resources are so limited. We can all learn a lesson in that.
Next, we drove to Iznıc to the studio of Targut Tuna and he was there! He demonstrated and explained the tradition of Turkish tile making. If any of you get a chance to ever check out his work, thınk pomegranate. You will thank me. Anyway, his works were available in his shop in the town so we went there next. Threw down some serious lira. Loves it! But as awesome as the shop was, the poor conditions ın that town around the shops were undeniable. It was so sad to see such conditions in a city enveloped in ancient ruins. We lunched on a terrace overlooking Lake Iznıc, which was a lot of fun.
We loaded the bus and headed off to Bursa. Thıs was when I realized that I really was not feeling so well. I slept the whole drive. Bursa was very cool. It is a city of over 1 million people but you would not know it with your eyes closed….it is so quiet there. We checked into the Kuza han market and tossed did a little damage. But the scarves were irresistable – pretty and cheap!
We then traveled into the Ulu Mosque. This mosque was beautıful as well as serene. It was built ın 1399 and holds 192 caligraphy inscriptions. Finally. We checked into our hotel – Kervansaray. It is snazzy. We ate a quick dınner in the restaurant there before going to a pricvate showing of a Turkish tradition – shadow puppet theatre. It was strange yet entertaining. Such neat traditions here. My day is so done now. Headıng to bed to get ready for the big day tomorrow….Ephesus. Squeel! Irı gecelem.
Factoid: Turkey is roughly the size of Texas.
Blog Playlist: Nausea by Beck; Middle of Nowhere by Hot Hot Heat; Lebanese Blonde by Thievery Corporation; My Summer Vacation by Ice Cube
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