Day 13: Bruges

Bruges day 13:

Castle

 I finished up my last touristing of Ghent by visiting the Castle, which was cool and close to the hostel and served as a big symbol of the city. It was raining and overall miserable outside so this was a good activity to do, half of the tour was inside and the rest was looking from a good view. To end my stay in Ghent, I went to Agrea cafe which supposedly has the best waffle in the whole country. And let me confirm: they are good! I got a waffle with whipped cream and warm sweet cherries!  It was probably the most expensive waffle I've eaten at almost seven euros but it was definitely the best. Those cherries were to die for!! Every bite included a square of waffle with a cherry in the middle and a small scoop of whipped cream. Yum to the max! 

The Best Waffle!!! YUM!!

Time to travel to my next destination: Bruges. After waiting almost an hour for the tram to take me to the train station, I had to rush to catch the train. I was rewarded with a not too crowded car and no one sitting next to me. Sleep time. I should have realized then how badly I needed sleep. It wasn't until after my trek in the rain to the hostel and sitting in the bed that I realized I need to sleep some more. I went for a small nap of 3 hours. Should I get up and go for dinner?  I really didn’t think I had the energy for that, so I went back to bed for another 5. I woke up at 1 am, drank some water, went back to the bathroom, and pondered if I could actually sleep throughout  the rest of the night, but my body was in such bad condition that I only woke up at 9 again. Got up felt that I was living thought not alive and headed for a shower and breakfast. I normally don’t buy the expensive hostel breakfast, but I needed food and orange juice for the vitamins. After drinking three glasses of orange juice, I started day 14.

Bye-bye Bruges

Day 12: Ghent

Ghent day 12:

Cuberdon, yuck

I've been in this city for about one hour and I have already thought that I could live here, well, vacation here. I am sitting down at a trendy little cafe about to enjoy a bowl of cougette soup. I still have no idea what that is but I wanted soup. I entered the cafe and asked the waiter if he spoke English and four of them turn around and said of course. And there they are all trying to figure out the American word for cougette. It is some green vegetable, but I’m not sure which one. This area is not touristy and so I think they are excited to have a young foreigner at their cafe. Again, a wonderful first impression of the city. I invited two ladies to sit with me since there were no other tables available and when I looked at their menu I found that the name of the restaurant is Simon Says, which is a cafe that is specifically mentioned in my guide map. The guide says that I need to try the carrot cake and although I'm not the biggest fan of carrot age, I had to try it. Yum! It definitely tastes like carrot but it's good. Nice and sugary and yum yum!  Just had a second group sit with me and then leave. See this place is busy and me being by myself is taking up a lot of space apparently. But whatever I'm just enjoying my carrot cake. Yum that was good. And thats why you take advice from someone that knows better.

Graffiti Street

Next I went to a traditional Belgium candy shop and tried the Cuberdon. I thought it was disgusting and couldn’t the finish the minimum four that I had to buy. They are supposed to be raspberry flavor and they are definitely not, at least according to my growing palate. The candy is shaped like a face so as you bite into it you are ripping its face apart. The outside is hard but the inside is gummy but runny gummy like the kind if you leave gummy bears outside for a while. The combination of everything just didn't sit well with me. The other two are still sitting in my coat pocket but I later gave them to a roommate.

On the way to Graffiti Street, I stopped for some fries.  Because I can't leave any belgium city without trying it's best fries I went to Jozef for some good old fashioned fries. They were very good it's just that none will ever compare to my first ones in Antwerp with the unlimited condiments.  Graffiti street is its common name and I just asked where it was rather than it's ordinal title of Warregarenstraat which no one knows. It's a narrow road in which people just spray paint graffiti all over the walls. It's legal and encouraged here and if you want you can buy your own spray paint across the street and leave your own mark on the city.

Milk Chocolate Hot Chocolate with Maltzers

I was going to attempt to climb the 256 steps to the top of the Bellfort an old Flemmish  watchtower but then I realized that I just happened to be in the area of another cafe on my list. At Huize Collette, I ordered a milk chocolate hot chocolate with maltezers (little malt duds). It was a very good chocolaty drink and I felt completely full after it. I needed to sit down for a while after the drink just to regain my strength and composure. Colette then told me about a little cabaret near by that I should visit. I asked her to mark it in my map and write it's name down. The actual cafe seemed like a bookstore in that one goes upstairs and can read any of the books there while sipping on a hot beverage. I tried to find the Bellfort but it was not open. I don't know if it was open at all that day. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow. There was another church that I went in and sat for a little until they started yelling politely for everyone to leave. That was 6 and everything else seemed to to be closed at the same time.  Everything was so quiet so early. I wanted to enter a few bookstores but everything was closed. Oy what a world.

Me, in front of another Church

I started walking around and two ladies sitting drinking wine called out to me so I answered and ended up sitting down with them and chatting for a little. They were drunk and I was bored. One is writing a book about how she felt emotions when she was still in her mothers womb. I don't buy it but whatever. They apparently had tried calling out to others just for fun and no one responded. No surprise there. Buy whatever I had nothing to do.

After talking with them about normality vs craziness I decided to find the bar that I was told about earlier. I walked in and asked him wait is this it. Yep. It's a small personal bar. At the main area maybe 15-20 people max can fit comfortably. This surprised me especially since it's supposed to be a dinner theater kind of bar with shows and magic. I arrived very early and just sat talking to him because we were the only people there. Eventually Ruth came and when I said that I was going to Bruges she told me that he is from there and gave me lots of advice as to where to go and that she is too going there tomorrow so she gave me her number and maybe I will find a way to call her and then we can take the train together and she can show me around a little. The issue is that I have these giant bags and can't really just walk around with them. Also I'm not sure if I would instead rather have that hour to sleep or relax rather than talk and such. But to make a connection with a local how can I pass up that opportunity. I'm not yet sure what I will do but I know that there us another thing or two that I still want to do while I am here in Ghent before I travel to my next destination (update: I didn’t call here).

Hulk Smash!!

The performers were really good. They are from Holland yet they only sang English sings. I talked to them for a while after the concert ended. I thought that the songs were all covers, the music was in english after all, but no they had written them all. I asked them why in English -that's not their native language nor the one they are most comfortable in. They said that they believe English is not only the universal language which will help then if they ever manage to make it big but also that English is a beautiful language and that they wouldn't feel comfortable singing in their native Dutch. The English you is simple and meaningful compared the complicated many forms of you in their language. We talked about how difficult it would be to break out in America.  I wrote down her name and will maybe find more of her music somehow.  Her name is Joke Derre.

Day 10: Brussels

Brussels day 10:

The Pissing Dog

Woke up early to do my research and decided that things just weren't working out and that Berlin didn't seem like a good idea. Plan two is to go to Luxembourg, Munich, and possibly Salzberg. I'm trying to figure out the trains which are really infusing and I understand why people actually plan thing in advance now. I was trying to find the central station so I could ask someone but apparently I decided to go a different way and now I am sitting at a gourmet hamburger lunch place ad the area here is really nice. Again I wish I had more time but there is never enough time to do everything. This area where I am now is full of fresh (French) people. Not English speakers but French. They say bongiour to you and it's really nice. Not touristy but a local hot spot. I ended up talking to the guys sitting next to me and they gave me a few suggestion of where to go for a dinner and a place to walk around. That interaction just proved that the area was a local place and not just a tourist trap. Before they left, they asked me if I wanted help getting anywhere, and even though I hadn’t thought of what I was going to do, I quickly asked them about the first peeing statue.  They had never heard of it.  Completely touristy.  Well, I tried. 

Me, at the Lot

Then along to the third peeing statue. This time it’s a dog pissing along the side of the street corner. Small but cute. The statue really is not a big deal but another unique aspect about this city. The dog wasn't pissing though. Still counts.  I walked to the Parking Lot 58, which is an ordinary parking garage but you can take a lift to the top for a panoramic view of the entire city. . I also found myself on the streets Nieuwstraad and Rue Neuve which is the most expensive street in the Belgium version of monopoly. It's an expensive area with your typical American brands.

Tintin!!

The next place to explore was the comic book museum. Of course I had to visit this museums! I don't always like history (well I rarely do) but the comic book history of Belgium is sweet! There was information about the general history of the comic book which was interesting. They have been around since before the ye old days during the times of stele. My favorite part was the exhibit on Tintin. I've never really had any connection to this character but since I've been here and have fallen in love with the city I was excited to learn more about this famous comic character. He’s really cool. I would  have been reading about him from an early age if the comics would have been available in English. He's like a super awesome guy who can do anything and everything. He reminds me of Cam Jansen but not really.  More like a mixture of a young Sherlock and Barbie. He solves crimes of all sorts and takes on different identities and personas. He has a trusted sidekick and an inventor and a dog (who is really the one that saves the day). There is also a pair of villainous twins named Dupont and Dupond. They each have two different names, I think depending on the language.  Tintin is so cool and not just because he looks like Stefan.

There was then an exhibit demonstrating the uses of animals in comics. Most of them were in French. All except two. But the amazing thing about comics and art is that one does not need to understand the words in order to understand the meaning. One of the two English ones was of Spiderman and it was so exciting to see Stan Lee’s creation. Brought me back to my olden days. The second one was information about the sperm whale.  Much less exciting. Didn’t bring back memories. There was also exhibits about several other Belgium and Dutch comic artists but it was all in French so I didn't understand any of it. The last part was about a female Brit  who I had never heard of. But everything was in English, so I could understand and enjoy all of her work and the exhibit. I went to the giftshop and bought a Tintin comic for myself!  This was one of the first souvenirs that I bought, but I wanted to buy one, so I now own a Tintin book!

I read about a really good place to get a waffle, and not just the typical touristy one, but the place where the Grannies go to eat waffles.  I ordered a waffle, and started talking to the lady next to me who was reading a guide book.  She is Canadian and is renting an apartment for her week vacation.  We exchanged stories, gave each other suggestions of places to go, and enjoyed each other’s company.  Even though she is at least 10 years older than me, it was nice to have a conversation in English and talk to a fellow traveler.  The waffle wasn’t that special, more like a typical American waffle, which I guess makes it special, but not like the extremely touristy waffled topped with strawberries, whipped cream, and nutella.

I had already found the pissing boy and the pissing dog the only one left was the pissing girl. My journey took me to the famed Delirium Bar which has thousands of beers.  The little statue was tucked away in a corner not really important nit at all. But I found here took a pic and then moved on. 

I went back to the Cathedral of St. Katherine to look at the schedule but by the time I arrived it was already closed. I sat down just to relax and two ladies came up to me asking for money for the handicapped and I decided to give a little for tzedakah. But then she kept asking for change. Change. Change. I had no idea what she meant by that. At this point I already a little bit uncomfortable of the situation and suspicious of her. I caught her touching my camera and I snatched it away. Just in case she was about to take it from me while I was concentrating on the charity. So like I said I was already suspicious. I should have just walked away right then, but I didn’t.  I stupidly was still holding my wallet and she grabbed 50 Euro out and was still screaming ‘change’.  I started yelling at her to give me the money back.  She handed it to me and then I picked up my stuff, kept yelling at her, and walked far away from her.  I need to be more cautious.  

Me, at the Comic Museum!!

My best view of the Atonium (can you find it?)

Went back to my room to get directions to the organ concert (take two). I walked for a while found a Renaissance festival celebrating something from 1800.  This was my first encounter with someone who doesn't necessarily speak English. The second police man gave me general directions. I eventually found something. I also found the Notre Dame Church. Beautiful. The church that I went was absolutes beautiful. Its base was located about three levels above ground. There was an elevator that would take you up o the normal level. I didn’t see the elevator so I walked up the long long ramp. It looked very gothic, like from centuries ago. I'm not sure it's name because there were no signs or people so I was obviously in the wrong place again. Oh well I guess an organ concert just isn't in my schedule. I did manage to see where the Jewish Museum of Belgium is located. I found a large crowd of people waiting by the Notre Dame for fries so I decided to join them. I tried speaking in French but I don't know any beyond ‘hello’, ‘my name is’, and ‘speak French/English’. And ‘thanks’. So he responded in English which was good. I found a random bar that takes place when the train station is abandoned late at night. I also bought a few apples for sometime in the future. I figure I need to start eating more fruit and veggies and less fried food. I am now sitting down at dinner. I ordered French onion soup and a chardonnay. Classy to the max!!  And the waitress doesn't speak any English so adventure. I usual just look at her until I understand and then say ‘wii’ (another French work I know!). 

The View from the Lot

Day 9: Brussels

Brussels day 9:

Cathedral of St. Katherine

After the morning activities I boarded my train to Brussels. I figured I would be there by noon after a two hour train ride and then go to Luxembourg for the day. As it turned out the train was over three hours which was fine it just meant that my plans would be a little different. Trying to do too much in too little time. Sometimes it works not this time.    The train was nice and there was plenty of room for my bags and me. Good thing the train started in Amsterdam, otherwise don't know if I would have had space. I ended up sitting near an Aussie and we talked for a good two hours near to when she got off at Antwerp. She has been doing odd jobs and such so that she can travel and has been going for over two year. I can't imagine that long living out of a backpack even if I would be in one place for months at a time. We were both able to laugh at the number of bags that I'm lugging around. If I ever do this again no more three bags. I'll get a bigger backpacking backpack and that will be it. 

Jesus

Found my way through the metro and the streets to drop off my bags because I can't check in yet. I've been walking around for the past few hours, following signs and finding things. I'm definitely going to say here tomorrow during the day to keep exploring. I found the church of someone. Beautiful. Then I found the Centraal Station. Again I guess. And then to the grand palace and such. It is a beautiful European area. So old, gold, and European. I visited the museum. On the top floor was info about the pissing statue and a good video about him. They also stored all of his costumes there so it was cool to see all of ten from across the world.  Many from USA, several from Israel, none from Australia.  

My friends, when I travel alone

After this I decided that I needed to eat something or else my stomach would start yelling at me. I found a really nice area of Greek cafes and I decided to get a falafel, the first one I've had since leaving Israel about a week ago. Wow! I can’t believe it’s already been over a week that I've been traveling. Time goes so fast when you don't have time to see how slowly it goes. I did manage to spill tichina sauce on my shirt luckily both were white.  The waited brought over several more napkins, after he was finished laughing at me. I managed to randomly find the pissing statue!  Yea, mad props.  It was so exciting!  Mostly because it is something that everyone is supposed to see while they are here. In the movie from the museum, the narrator asked people what the statue represented and why. Most of the people had no idea  .  Apparently king whatshisname prayed for a son and the duke’s visit allowed his wife to conceive.  And then then the child pissed on the duke, so thats why it exists.

This is how I feel when I get lost

Goal: to find the Atonium statues. Goal status: incomplete. I officially checked in to the hotel. Not a bad room. Up top on the fifth floor even though it says floor four and private bathroom for the five of us. I decided to take the top bunk. The only top bunk. Well see if I grow to regret that or if I even had a choice (it’s often hard to tell which beds are taken and which are available).  Next goal is a surprise: To hear an organ concert! Let's just say that this didn’t work. I wasn't at the right place at the right time so I night try to go tomorrow; I'm not sure yet. I did sit down with my maps and my advise and circled everything I wanted to do in the next day. I really like Brussels! It might be my favorite city, well, so far it is. I like it more than Amsterdam and am almost wishing I to have two more days here while I barely have one more. I'm not sure if I will actually accomplish anything on the list but I really want to make sure that I visit the Atonium (the giant nine ball carbon atom). Its a little distance but these legs have proven themselves time and time. I am sitting down for dinner now. I usually wait till past I am hungry to think about eating which is fine unless I have specific plans which I don't so all sails have been risen (I’m not sure if this is a real metaphor or just some strange attempt at one). I ordered a glass of wine with my meal. How classy!   Update on the wine: I didn't get it. Rain started pouring down and I ended up talking to the Americans sitting next to me. They forgot their camera outside so I brought it inside to them. We kept talking outside after the rain about how lucky I am to be able to take advantage of this opportunity. To be able to travel the world and actually go round full circle. I told them how much I love Melbourne since they had only been to Sydney before. Oh, and the waiter took my food when I told my waiter that I was just going inside for a minute so he brought out some more green beans. I don’t usually like complaining, but it does work. I expected to do my nightly research before bed but nothing was open. I also had amazing advice from the roommate that I had not talked to. “Don't eat the cheap mussels”. Wow, that’s beautiful. He told me this after he was done puking up his dinner.  Thanks guy, I will definitely take your advice and will never eat cheap mussels. 

Day 8: Amsterdam

Flower Bulbs for Sale

Amsterdam Day 8:

Woke up this morning made sure that I had a room for tomorrow night had breakfast and started to get lost. I was told that it would take twenty minutes to get to the Anne frank house and well almost two hours later I found it. I was definitely getting annoyed at how long it was taking. By the time I found it the line was already humongous. But this is the life and I need to wait in order to do the things I want. I'm planning on only spending one more day here in amsterdam so I need to do everything I can. I want to do a cheese tasting beer tasting and visit the Amsterdam sign. All in a day. Let's just not keep getting lost. 

Q/A session at the Anne Frank House

I'm a Beer!

Just came from the Anne frank house. It was very interesting to be in the famed house that I've read about and seen through plays. The house was bigger than I expected. Several rooms and no privacy yet a little room. Some of the people in front of me didn't know anything about her the family or the war and it just completely surprises me. How can someone in this day not know about the holocaust?  I understand that were not all very educated nor Jews but still. I guess this is just a touchy subject to me. The end presented many cases of what would you do and what is the right thing involving modern issues of freedom of religion speech and such. People would vote on their opinions and then the general consensus would be shown as well as the days total answer. Most of the time they were very similar but every once in a while the answers would just be completely different. Nice to know that people do have opinions.  I had been told about this part and that it was thought-provoking because it makes people actually make a decision as to what is right or wrong.  It covered many different issues such as internet bullying, freedom of speech/religion, and veiling.

Heineken Bottles

I just bought my ticket for the heineken experience beer and now I'm sitting down to lunch. The weather is kinda crappy today but I found a little French-ish cafe and am now eating a salmon and avocado sandwich. I usually go until I can’t go anymore and then I find a lunch place and decided that it’s time to eat.  It was a little place and was empty, expect for the few locals that would come in and buy a fruit drink before leaving.  I went to the heineken tour and it was actually really cool. Definitely an experience that is better shared with friends rather then by myself, but I’m glad that I did it none the less. There was a simulation of ‘brew you’ (you become one with the beer) and the tour of the brewery. That was something I wanted out of this Europe trip. I've had two beers which is great but now I'm ready to not drink more. That's my limit for now. I haven't been able to drink a lot for the last few weeks. So that’s disappointing. But what are you going to do. When I'm done with this I'm going to try to see if I can find the cheese tasting place. This has been a pretty spectator day so far. 

I eventually found the I Amsterdam sculpture and along the way bought and ate an Amanda crescent (I think that’s what it is called). Really good and powder sugary. The inside was moist not like a normal crescent but as if there was something else special baked inside it. The sculpture is very touristy and I’ve seen other friends photos with it, that's why I knew about it. I don't think my trip was exponentially improved by seeing this but it was something in a different location and gave a new perspective. When I was ordering my crescent, the lady asked me what I wanted in Dutch. Everyone else there was a local except me. I had finally gone past the tourist side of town and into the regular side where normal people live and work. I'm now waiting to take some boat shuttle from the beer brewery to it's store so I can get a free gift and ride. My legs are tired so I figured that sitting for half an hour would be nice. I'm not sure If I'll make it to the cheese place in time I mean there's no way I will make it In time. 

So I missed the shuttle because I was waiting on the wrong side. Apparently the banner does not mark the correct location of the boat’s meeting point. So I had to walk home without a gift. And I decide to stop off at the central station to check up on the times for tomorrow. My feet were and are still killing me. I'll need to figure out something for tomorrow or else my feet might revolt. I am planning on being on trains for hours and hours so maybe that will make them feel better. And I'll have more tine to blog too. After a shower and having to remain quiet while one of my random roommates sleeps I'm realizing that while I love traveling and all of the experiences it brings, it is tough. Some aspects of me wish I were a secret millionaire and could stay in nice places and not have to worry about money issues. Ok maybe a lot of me but I know that I am blessed with what I have and the people in my life. (Yea didn't want to sound too douchy.) 

My British Meat Pie

My Amanda Crescent 

Anyways.  I went looking for a British pie shop that I found earlier and was starting to get really frustrated because I couldn't find it. All of this anger was coming out. And magically I turned the corner and I saw the pie shop. I'm not sure what specifically drew me to this place. Maybe I was remembered of the Sweeny Todd days when mom first introduced me to this possible human meat meat pie or maybe that the parents and family is in England now and maybe I'm missing them more than I am willing to acknowledge but in either way this meal is dedicated to the fam and the parents specifically.

This is My Type of Beer Label

I just tried to start up a conversation with these Americans sitting next to me and after polite introductions no more. Thats the difference between traveling by oneself and traveling in a group. When you already have friend you don't care about that lone traveler. But when the roles are reversed then you notice the difference. I definitely never tried talking to others but I also don't when I'm by myself often too (update: this last part has greatly changed). I have been more social this trip in the last few days talking to other lone travelers and I ever met a kid named Adam who will be a freshman at tulane the upcoming semester. I might have accidentally awed when he said freshman but I generally think all younger or shorter people are cute. But that probably didn't bode well for the first interaction. Whoops. 

Day 3: Istanbul

Islanbul adventure day 3: (just a warning, about half of this is the description of the hammam- it was such a unique experience that I felt the need to fully explain it)

While I'm sure that someone has warned me not to get lost, I proved everyone wrong.  I can get lost in any situation! Go me!  I think I got lost every time that I could possible take a different path.  Highlights of today include seeing that street eating chestnuts one last time wow going to the hamam (wow) and the Turkish Twirling Dervishes!  

I wanted to find the synagogue of the city.  I walked around for several hours and eventually gave up.  I was following my map trying to get to the correct location, but somehow I always wound somewhere else.  I did find a really nice street for shopping and I could have spent a lot more time there.  I bought some souvenirs there and also found a nice church that is supposed to be a good church to view.

I went back to the bazaar expecting the same thing but this time I found a whole new area. While last time I found the outside tourist and local parts, this time I found the inside bazaar. This was the real bazaar, the one that people talk about. It's much more like the Israeli shuk than I can describe except this part might have been even more touristy. Every stand was selling things that a local would not buy there: fancy jewelry, souvenirs, etc. I had been to the local area and knew that they would buy their stuff at other locations. I can understand how people get lost in there and walk around for days. I definitely walked around it too much but I just couldn't find a way out that was comfortable. I kept running into side alleyways or sketchy paths that I didn't want to explore. I also found some roasted chestnuts! I wanted to eat them one last time before I left the country.  They are so tasty!  I might need to figure out how to roast them myself when I get back somewhere.

In the Grand Bazaar

Hammam time!  I wasn’t originally going to go to one, but after talking to Albert about it last night, I realized it’s a really cool experience and a would be a way to insert myself into the Turkish culture rather than being a foreigner only viewing it from the outside.  After walking around for a long time, I finally had to ask for directions.  I knew I was close, but I couldn’t find the place and didn’t even know if I would be able to ask since I don’t speak the language.  I was in a local part of town without foreigners and I felt very out of place (in a good way).  I love experiencing life the way locals do and getting away from all of the touristy sides of a foreign city.  I finally found it and that’s when the experience truly began.

Me, at the Hammam

I walked in and tried to ask if I was in the right place.  Remember that no one here speaks English, so I’m trying to communicate through pantomimes.  The man at the counter asks ‘massage’ and I say yes.  I’m used to saying yes and hoping for the best.  He walks me to one side where I take off my socks and shoes and wear local sandals to the changing room where I take off everything.  I tried to ask if I was supposed to wear anything underneath the cover that they gave me and they motioned for me to take everything off.  I was expecting a little tiny cloth to cover up.  From what I read, I would be wearing something that didn’t cover anything.  A little loincloth.  I was very happy to receive a long piece of fabric which I could wrap myself in and fully covered everything and reached a length of a foot above my knees.  At this moment, I’m thinking, what am I doing?  I love getting myself into these types of situations, but really, I am not wearing any clothing and am about to get washed by some fat hairy Turkish man.  It might be better than no one speaks English.  At least this way, I may feel a little bit more comfortable with the entire situation…maybe?

I am brought to a marble slab in a giant sauna and am motioned to lay down.  I am in this beautiful sauna for I don’t know how long, but I am the sweatiest I have ever been.  I try to wipe my face but there is no part of my body that is not drenched in my own sweat.  I can see liquid emerging from my every single pore.  It was disgusting, yet cleansing.  The roof is filled with beautiful colored marble that lets the sunshine into the room.  The building looks simple from the outside, but is beautiful from the inside.  After some length of time, the big hairy Turk comes over to me and makes me roll over.  This would be my massage.  I am being massaged with my own sweat.  It’s all natural.  I think my favorite massage was the one in Thailand, but this one was still very good.  He pushed my leg into a position that I did not think it could go to.  I thought he was going to pop it out of place.  Instead, I hear a crack.  He just cracked my leg.  I didn’t know that was possible, but I sure will not be doing that again.

He then brings me to the cleaning stage.  I have my own little somewhat private area to be washed down.  He sits me down.  I still have no idea what is happening.  He slowly pours warm water over me.  Warm, hot, warm, hot.  Alternating temperatures of water.  And then he goes for the surprise of cold water.  It feels like a shock went straight through my body.  He just looks at me and laughs.  I would expect nothing more from him.  He then takes his scrubber and rubs my arms and legs and back to get all of the dirt off of me.  He scrapes the dirt away into what I’ve been told are called ‘tootsie rolls’ because it is just a glob of dead skin (much like the candy).  He does this a few times, then rubs soap throughout and washes again.  I am clean now.  After walking around for the past three days (and apparently not being clean), I am now clean.  Simultaneously, I take off the wet garment and he wraps me in a new and dry one.  I walk over to my changing room, quickly and surreptitiously snap a few photos of me, get changed, find my shoes, and leave.  Wow, what an experience that was! 

Pre Whirling Dervish:

Night Market

At night I will and see a Whirling Dervish show.  I'm excited this should be an exciting event.  I'm not too sure what will be happening other than some guys in dress spinning around.  There is some tradition to this and I'm sure that I will learn about soon enough  if I actually pay attention.  Or not.  

Post Whirling Dervish:

Well, I just came from the performance and I’m still not really sure what I saw.  There was no explanation or English, so I just relaxed and enjoyed.  Musicians sang and played their instruments while the dancers spun.  Wonderful songs.  I will have to do my own research upon them to learn about who they are and the purpose of their dance.  

The night came to an end, but I realized that I wanted to ride the ferry one last time.  I asked when the last ferry would be to make sure that I had enough time and got on the next one.  The ferry is so relaxing.  Riding on the water,having no control over the destination.  Purely relaxation.  Reached the stop and I stayed on.  I didn’t want to get off anywhere, I only wanted to see the city at night from the water’s vantage point.  I’m not sure if you are allowed to stay on but I hid a little and no one bothered to tell me otherwise.  I’m glad I did this.  If I ever go back, I might spend even more time on the ferry.  Maybe get my meal and eat it on the ferry!

Day 2: Turkey

Turkey day 2:  

I  started off with a late wake up and an even slower start.  Highlights included walking through topagi palace, hagia sofia, blue mosque, trying to find the blue mosque, snacking, blue mosque again . Basically being a tourist!! 

Giant Squirrel Statue in Topagi Park

I did a lot if the random things yesterday and I planned for today to be for all things touristy. I walked to the left, a new path, because instead if going through the small paths like I normally like to do but get lost I chose to follow the main tram line. Somehow through all my organized wanderings I still managed to not know where I was. I found a park and decided that it looked pleasant so in to it I walked. It turned out to be the Topagi palace, a big tourist area and park. That is where some old guy lived. There are giant sculptures of bears and squirrels and other strange inhabitants.  As I sat down I was approached by two Koreans. ‘Do you speak English’. ‘Yes’.  Usually that means I'm lost can you help me. Not this time. ‘We would like to teach you about god the mother. You already know about god the father but there is also god the mother’. An interesting concept. I listened to their schbeil. I was interested. In Judaism we believe that there are different aspects of god but only one. In their views, there are separate gods. Interesting. I specifically told them that I was interested in what they told me but that I had differing views and that I would respect them as long as they respected me. I don't fully understand Judaism and the torah but I do not appreciate someone else telling me that what I believe is wrong. I listened up to the point where they were using evidence from the new testament, which as I told them, is irrelevant to me. They gave me a paper and I took it but I definitely will not be calling that number. 

View from Hagia Sophia

I then made my way into the extremely touristy area of they city. Wow there were foreigners everywhere. First stop Hagia Sophia pronounced Aya Sophia. For a tourist attraction and church  it's pretty expensive and then on top of that you can rent the audio tour. It's really big and beautiful and I would recommend others to go there because it's one of those things that you have to go to while you are in Istanbul.  I remember that it was a lot bigger than I was expecting. After going through the church main floor there is also the top floor and then some outside parts. 

Me, in Hagia Sofia

I then put my map away because there were so many tourist signs everywhere. Bad idea. I went to the blue mosque thats native name is obviously not that but is remarked suyimddfjfkde. After wandering throughout that which I thought was the nicest mosque in the area I kept trying to find what I knew as the Blue Mosque. I ended up walking for hours trying to find this only to discover that I had already been there. Whoops. The best part about mosques there is that you have to take off your shoes. Normally it's an annoyance but here thousands of years ago ancient Muslims decided that they needed to have a way to clean their feet after walking around barefooted. There are giant feet washing stations where people just plop down and take a little break to wash their feet and bring some cold water to their faces. It's a really great thing to do after prayers (or after a long day of walking). 

Me, at the Blue Mosque

Throughout my walk, I found a local fountain filled with native shops and people. I saw a candy store that sells Turkish delight and well I had been in turkey for two days and hadn't yet tried this delicacy.  Actually I'm not really sure if I've ever had it. I mostly only know about it from Narnia. I looked at the guy and pantomimed what I wanted. I generally try to order very few of things I don’t know but it's hard to do that in a land where I don’t speak the language. He gave me three of two different kinds: one covered in powered sugar topped with a peanut the other one see-through but filled with cashews . Turkish delight is actually pretty good. Purely sugar but not bad. I really looked the cashed one, no surprise there. The added flavor of the nut throughout the delight made it taste so good. 

I found little concerts by the Blue mosque and so I sat down and enjoyed them.  A typical Turkish band played a few songs and then an hour later a solo singer came and sang.  He wasn’t very good or entertaining, but when he wasn’t singing, he would clap his hands in the daintiest manner; I burst out laughing every time he starting clapping.

Feet Washing Station!

I tried going to the outside bazaar for dinner but everything was already closed so I returned to the fish boat for dinner again.   I walked around outside for a while before heading back to my room where I met Albert. He's from Korea and would be my only roommate for the next two days. He has a friend living in the city who could give him advice and talk for him. That would be nice. Luckily I will have Allert in a couple of days to take me around Holland. He kept talking about wanting to go to a hammam the next day which inspired me to do the same but separately. 

The Blue Mosque

A random extra Mosque

View from inside a Mosque