Touchdown in Turkey!

No sleep for the weary! Met up with some always welcoming Turkish (SO friendly, middle easterners, I swear!) Landed close to midnight and had to get on another plane to the black sea at 6am, so didn't sleep a wink. Took a long foot-tour through one of the main streets in Turkey, surprisingly alive for 3am, but apparently empty compared to what it's like during the daytime.

Saw a half dozen beautiful mosques, the Bosphorus and smoked nargile - otherwise known as hookah! Vera introduced me to cappucino, which rivals my favorite flavor - rose! Had a ton of turkish tea and ate raw green plums off of a random tree in the yard. Got to know Jacob and Azziz a little better - such nice young men!!

Walked until I got blisters, I feel like we circled the bosphorus about 4 times!! Ate Simit, a delicious pretzal-tasting (but much better) bakery item covered in sesame seeds I believe. The pastries in Turkey are unbelievable!! And we only tried like 2 or 3 of them! The cafes on this street were unbelievably ornate - no matter how small the cafe, there were crytal chandeliers and gilded walls. The street is also COMPLETELY LINED in ATMs. You can't walk 2 steps without encountering a bank or an ATM, it's like "spend your money!! now!!"

The last hour was particularly hard to stay awake, but a few shenanigans and a call to prayer later, we were off to the airport again at a quarter to 5am. Aziz and Jacob took care of our bags (I feel like I never have to worry about transportation and luggage carrying around middle easterners!) and walked us through security practically to the gates.