Vacation Part 3: More Istanbul

After spending time in the mosques, we branched out. Luckily we had a guide—sort of. My friend is currently studying in Ankara and met us in Istanbul. He had been there at least once before and is friends with a Istanbulite (is that the proper term? No idea, but I’m going with it). So between the two of them, we were able to successfully use public transportation and sample the night life—which included porch swings inside one of the bars. GENIUS!

We also hit up a couple nearby museums, including the Topkapi Palace and the archaeology museum a short walk away. Lots of jewels, statues, tombs, and pretty. Unfortunately, much of the palace forbade photographs.

Then, our last day consisted of a boat ride down the Bosphorus. It was strange seeing all of the really old and classic looking buildings juxtaposed with the brightly colored homes and apartments that crowded in on them. It was like in Rome—I could see the centuries-filled gap in 15 feet. That’s just something I don’t get see at home.

Now, without further adieu, MORE PICTURES!

 

Yep, those are super old carved stones lining the outdoor area of a café.

There was a skeleton in the FLOOR! Super neat!

Floor mosaic at the archaeology museum.

“Ehhhhhhh!” – He just exudes Fonzarelli style.

Cherubs in a cockfight. ‘Nuff said.

A very pretty doorway at the palace.

I have no clue what this little building on the Bosphorus is, but it definitely wins coolest shaped roof ever.

See? Ancient buildings next door to a multicolored building. It’s the best kind of strange that I need to see more often.

 

And on a final note, we saw a couple giant hollowed-out trees like this. I want to make this my outdoor reading fort.

 

The final vacation post is next week and will contain all the swag!

Vacation Part 2: Istanbul

After our day in Rome, we took the strangest flight into Istanbul. Seriously, we were in the fancy, albeit my least favorite, airport in Rome, when everyone was called to the check-in/boarding desk. We were prompted to go downstairs, and further downstairs, then around some corners. Finally brought to a door that led us. . . . outside? Yes, outside, where we got onto a shuttle van that drove us to the airplane. That’s right, we got onto the plane like someone famous or royal by walking up the outside stairs, lol.

We spent the next couple of days getting our bearings and looking at the famous mosques a short walk away from our hotel—which became an even shorter walk every time we went that direction as we learned the nearby streets and found short cuts :)

Hagia Sofia (Aya Sofya)
and the Blue Mosque

Next to the mosques was a park with GIANT SQUIRREL statues, despite me not seeing one real squirrel the entire time we were there. . . .

More pics to come in vacation installment #3!

Vacation Part 1: Rome

Last month I took my first trip out of the country. The destination was Istanbul, but before that, I had a day long layover in Rome! After some frustration, we found our way onto a cheap-ish shuttle bus into the city. From the bus station, we were able to walk to some of the famous landmarks nearby.

LOOK AT ALL THE PRETTY!

The Coliseum

Arch of Constantine

The Pantheon

Trajan’s Column

Fontana del Pantheon

Okay, maybe this one’s more creepy than pretty.

Not sure what this is. . .

Any which way you turn, there are ruins visible.

YUM!

And of course I had to eat some pizza. It was delicious!

Stay tuned for Vacation Part 2 later this week!

I’m Going to Istanbul!

I start my vacation on St. Patty’s Day, TOMORROW!

A friend and I will be taking the wonderfully inexpensive Megabus to Chicago, where we will get into appropriately themed shenanigans for the evening.

Monday morning we start the long airplane journey. From Chicago to Atlanta to Rome to Istanbul—that’s Monday to Wednesday of planes and layovers. The good news, we’re in Rome long enough to leave the airport! Woohoo!

We’ll be hanging out in Istanbul for 5 days, after which we get to enjoy that flight process again.

Even though I’m out of the country, there will be posts! I’ve scheduled a couple to go live while I’m gone, so keep an eye on your feeds or check back here for your Music Monday fix!

And after I return, there will be pictures! Lots of pictures.

Now I leave you with this song that gets brought up every time I say I’m going to Istanbul: