A fun filled day. I went for a run along the Bosphorus river which is very open and pleasant. It was sunny and warm, which added to the nice, fresh feelings. I noticed for the first time another female runner who did not look like a tourist, although she was with a man. All the runners I've seen so far have been men, and I've gotten several curious looks since athletic women are not a common site here. After breakfast, we left the hotel for the grand bazaar, which is the largest enclosed marketplace in Istanbul. A colorful labyrinth of mini-boutiques selling silk scarves, jewelry, souvenirs, glass lamps, belly dancing costumes, rugs, tapestries, etc. We stopped in several different shops, and were offered Turkish tea in three of them. The first time was in a rug/tapestry shop. A sea of reds, yellows, and greens covered every inch of the small room.
We discussed trips to the States to sell rugs, and joked about me working with him to sell rugs in Boston. The tea comes in small glass cups, very hot, which makes it difficult to hold! The second vendor told us that the reason they serve it so hot is so that you have to sip it slowly so that you will take a long time to drink it and thus spend more time talking. :P I'd been drawn into his shop by one of his friends literally grabbing my wrist and putting a rather lovely bracelet on it. I thought about buying it until they told me the price... After spending probably an hour in there, talking to the vendor, and sipping tea, and trying on about 80 different necklaces/bracelets, I did end up getting a necklace. =)
After the bazaar, we took the tram to the ferry boat station to get to the Asian side of Istanbul - first time ever in Asia! We were meeting up with my mother's good friends for dinner at a rather chic restaurant. One of them was going to pick us up, so we got tea in a cafe while waiting for him. On our ride to the restaurant, observing the city at night, I thought about how Istanbul is a feast for the eyes. The ancient buildings lit up at night, the Bosphorus river wide and swelling... At dinner we had fish, wine, and baklava. Everyone was very warm. We speak very little Turkish, and most of them speak very little English, so most of our interactions consisted of us saying "love Turkey, Istanbul!" and them saying "love visitor!" then lots of smiling back and forth. At some point I realized that only I and one other person had ordered wine (at a table of six) and that we were apparently splitting a bottle. A moment later I swelled and thought "I love Turkey!", and then after another moment I realized I was a bit... affected, by the wine. :P Bellies full we hugged and kissed and went our separate ways. My bed felt superb. =]
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