Turkish Delight

It is only 3:15pm on Day 1 in Istanbul, Turkey and I feel as if I have accomplished enough touring for a week, however father time and his jet lagged antics are compeltely to blame. Staying in a hostel isnt as bad as I imagine it to be, though it is akward sharing rooms with people I do not know, I am instantly repaid when I wake up to conversations amongst the British residents about "VITTamins". I believe they were talking about how huge the VITTamin C pills were, the size of "dinnerplates" and that they were so hard to swallow, until later on the poor UK lad discovered that they were chewables.

Today I was "spot the tourist a mile away", Canadian edition. Despite the rather chilly air and cloudy skies, I lathered up in my 30SPF, and gleefully slipped on my flip flops, shorts, and t shirt, and hit the streets. It felt like summer, until the rain started. After scurrying back to the hostel to pick out a more appropriate outfit, I spent the afternoon "not buying, just browsing" the shops, and instead of lunch, decided to just buy a ridiculous amount of street bread and coke.

Today's highlight would be my observation of the disturbing, yet entertaining number of mangey cats lurking everywhere, who beg for bread, running the birds right out of a food source. Also, the "call to prayer" blasting on the city's loud speakers at 5am, 1pm, and god knows when else gives me the heeby's, it is just as creepy as I imagined, especially in the middle of the night.

Tomorrow's agenda is unclear, however I plan to make another attempt to get into the Four Seasons across the street from my hostel, which I am certain has a pretty fantastic outdoor pool. If that fails, which would be a realisitic asumption, I will hit up the mosaic museum, drink more coke, and hopefully allow time for my poor toes to heal from today's "breaking into the sandals" experience.. oh yes, and Science Girl will be arriving tomorrow, so I will have a partner in crime!

B