Can You Ople Can You Pople...

Can you Constantinople?  I always remember my Uncle John uttering the limerick to me as a kid and I had no clue what he was talking about.  Granted, he also confused the hell out of me my holding up 4 fingers instead of 3 when counting; I was in the dark for the majority of his jokes.  Anyways, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would one day travel to the ancient metropolis revamped as the modern city of Istanbul.  Yet sure enough, this past week, I indeed learned how to "Constantinople".

Istanbul.  I'm not sure I quite no where to begin.  It's one of the most indulgent cities from a sensory perspective.  The savory scent of spices wafting through the air of the Egyptian Bazaar, the stunning skyline illuminated by the pastel backdrop of the setting sun, the familiar and comforting honks of taxis passing, the twinkling of lanterns that hypnotized and dazzled the eye...

Topkapi Harem

Grand Bazaar

Hagia Sofia

"Love Tea" = hot Kool-Aid

While there were certain cultural differences that required some adjustment, the trip was overall amazing.  I don't know if I'd ever get used to the hovering waiters standing at the end of the table watching me take each and every bite of food, or the unwanted commentary and attention from Turkish men.  Some favorite lines include: "hey Spice Girl, Coca Cola!" "I see the deep ocean in your eyes, where do you come from, Paradise?" and the always effective "Follow me."  Traditions I could get used to?  The beautiful call to prayer heard throughout the day all over the city, and definitely, the breakfast.....mmmmmmmm......

In addition to seeing the sights the city had to offer, I wanted to think outside the box, push my limits, and experience something truly Turkish.  I opted for a trip to the Çemberlitaş Bath House, the premier bath house in all of Istanbul.  My friend and I were skeptical and nervous upon entering, but once we walked into the heated, domed room, we suspended all inhibitions and focused on the experience.  This is about to sound thuper nerdy (note the lisp), but it was awesome to be able to participate in an activity that has been going on for thousands of years; for crying out loud, Socrates did this!  I left feeling a little wiser, very clean, and pretty damn bad ass.


I almost feel like this trip to Istanbul was a tutorial lesson of Turkish culture, a precursor to future trips to Turkey and other Muslim countries.  I would like to revisit Istanbul someday and see what else the city has to offer.  While I felt on this trip that the city was the most foreign place I've ever visited, I think the second time around I will be more comfortable and know what to expect.  Finally, a shout out to my awesome cousin Leanne for showing us all such a marvelous time!  Many thanks and much love!