Istanbul, Turkey

Wow- what a fascinating city. It truly is a strange mix of the East meeting the West here. Leslie has been taking pictures for me as I just forget to. So I have lots of pics to share, but am on a public computer so will have to post them when I get home.

I have been so intrigued with the secular Muslim culture here. We visited the Hagia Sofia today which was originally built in the 400's AD then burned to the ground and was rebuilt in 570 under Constantine's rule as a Catholic Basilica. This is the structure that has the famous mosaics of Mary and Jesus. When Justinian defeated Constantinople (now called Istanbul) he made the Basilica into a Mosque and covered all the famous mosiacs with plaster. The entire building was changed. And now centuries later, they have turned it into a museum and have started the laborious work of carefully chipping away the ugly plaster to reveal the gold laden mosaics of incredible art underneath.

As I walked through the Sofia today, it was surreal to think of all the history that i was literally walking through and the religious wars and i felt so humbled. I walked through the Blue Mosque as well today which was my first time in a Mosque. It is one of the biggest in the world. You have to take off your shoes and women have to cover their heads with scarfs. And my heart just broke for the millions upon millions who have to have to pay their duty 5 times a day...

The people are overall quite warm - though the men are unashamedly aggressive. Most looking for an addition to their collection of wives.

The food has been fantastic! Turkish bread is wonderful - we watch them make it handmade on a little fire/oven thingy. We had a vegetable and chicken stew that was cooked in a ceramic pottery today over a fire. it was AMAZING!

Eileen has joined Leslie and I for this part of the trip. Her and her husband work in London amond Muslims so she has helped us as a cultural informer.

I had to take a break today from the festivities to take a nap. I skipped out on the famous Turkish Bizarre to take a 2 hour nap. My cold got to me today and I was just done with the throngs of people everywhere and needed some sleep and peace and quiet.

Our hotel room has only 2 single beds, so we've pushed them together and I get the place of honour of sleeping right in the crack of the bed between Leslie and Eileen. Leslie and Eileen both think they are so hilarious in telling people that I am their girlfriend. I corrected them the first time because I told them people would get the wrong idea. I should have never opened my mouth. Now, they think this is the funniest game ever. Leslie tells me when I turn 40, I will think its funny too just because you stop caring what people think...