Around the First Bend.

So, today was our first day in Turkey, and it isn't even over yet!!! We came back to our hotel about an hour and a half ago, so that we could have a rest. Mum and I both had a shower, and we are all ready to go again. Well, sort of, mum and dad are having a nap. We will go out in about a half hour, to have dinner and see some more great things.

This morning, we got up and got ready to go out. We had breakfast on the high terracce of our hotel, the rooftop. There were olives, yogurt, fruit, juice, coffee, tea and buns with jams. I tried some of the rose jam, it was very good. There was also chocolate spread, not like nutella, it was very good. I didn't have any of the olives, but by the end of this trip I am going to force myself to like them. They have very good tea here, but it is very bitter and strong, you need quite a bit of sugar. While we were eating, we met a woman, from Vancouver, who was travelling in Turkey with her family. They have been here since the beginning of June, and are leaving tomorrow. The fly to Chicago so that they don't have to get up at one in the morning for the flight.

We went and visited a burial place. There were all sorts of big and little tombs inside, with atrifacts in glass cases. To go in, women had to put on a head scarf, and mum and I had to put on long skirts, you have to be covered to the ankle. We got very warm in the scarves. It was very ornately decorated.

We went from there to the Grand Bazaar, where we did a little shopping, not alot, but we got some cool things. We didn't get lost, because one of the shop keepers gave us a map of the bazaar. I finally bought myself a pocketwatch, something that I have wanted for a very long time. After the bazaar, we went and bought some Turkish delight, which is very good, but VERY sweet. We mum and dad had a fish sandwich. After that we went and got a cob of corn, and a chicken sandwich. Now, it seems like all we do is eat.

Over the brigde we went into Aisa, on the tram. It was jam paced with people until one stop, where, about 50% of the people got off of the tram. On the other side of the river, we walked through a fish market, and around the boating supply section of the market. We walked back across the bridge, and saw all of the people fishing. They all had little buckets filled with sardines and other little fish. there are two levels to the bridge, the top being the roadway and sidewalk, and the bottom is full of restaurants and a walkway. We looked around down there, but suprisingly, didn't eat. We went into a mosque, mum and I styed in the court yard while dad went in and looked around. Mum sat in the shade, I did as well, but in a dfferent spot, and wrote in the journal that I am keeping for our trip.

Outside the mosque, there were people selling feed for the birds, there was more bird feed than there were birds to feed. Behind the mosque there was the spice market. In the road leading into the market there were pet shops and plant shops. There were all sorts of pets, animals are very well cared far here, even the stray cats are fed and taken care of. They were selling dogs and cats, chickens, turtles and leeches. Inside of the spice market, everybody was selling a bit of the same thing. We bought some teas and then we left, we were tired.

We took the tram back to the Blue Mosque, which is near our hotel, and found a corner store. We bought some water and sunflower seeds and came back to our hotel.

And now, I am sitting here, having a couple pieces of Turkish delight. Mum and Dad are up now, and we are going out for dinner. Post again soon.

Love Laura