So...I know everyone at home started school this week.....so let me tell you what lessons I learned today...
International Trade Lesson #1: Don't schedule business meetings the week after Ramadan......So we have been talking with a friend of ours in Amsterdam...who has put us in contact with a guy here....and found out yesterday (YESTERDAY) that all the shops take the week after Ramadan off for vacation. Ramadan is the Muslim's month of fasting...kind of like Lent and Mardi Gras...as we know it....so for the month of August they couldn't eat or drink anything between the hours of something like 4:30 a.m and 9:00pm......for the entire month...well Ramadan ended yesterday...so everything is taking vacation this week...ugh...trying to work around that...but definitely a good lesson learned....Turkey is 99% Muslim....so will keep that in mind for our next visit!
Travel To Turkey Lesson #1: You have to"BUY" a Visa at the airport before you come through customs....no big deal...so here is what I'm getting out of the shake down.....only certain citizens from certain countries have to pay to enter the country (I mean buy a visa :) )....from what I can tell it is those countries using Euros and Dollars......we had stopped at the ATM to get some Turkist Liras so we would be prepared for "whatever"....but they wouldn't take Liras...they only would accept Dollars or Euros....lol....I think they like our Dollars...worth twice as muh as Liras...and of course Euros are worth a bit more....very interesting I thought....that was a bit of a cluster "F" at the customs....for many travelers unaware of this "entry fee"....caused a lot of chaos I thought...with switching lines...and getting back into other lines...trying to figure out how to get out of the "wrong" line...lol.....ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But we are troopers....we came to our room.....and took a nap! We are mentally exhausted! Tomorrow will be another day...oh yeah...then there was the cab ride to the hotel! :)
You know I have been reading some travel blogs on Turkey...and they warn about the "pushy rug salesman"...who want you to come in and have a cup of tea...then try to pressure you into buying their rug!They are very pushy..and make you feel guilty because they have invested so much time into the presentation....so I was ready for it... Well, the restaurant that was recommended to us for supper.....we were hit up as soon as we stepped into the building...then on the way out....so travel blogs....right on......didn't take long...have to be very FIRM!...I think tomorrow I'm just going to tell them that I already bought one...lol...and I can't afford to buy another...they are expensive I think....think that will work? Hope they don't ask me where I purchased it? lol? Yeah, I think I'm going with that story!!!!
Okay, going back to sleep...think we will have a full day ahead of us tomorrow!
Oh, we met a family from Boston at dinner and they have been here for 2 weeks...and have absolutely loved it...they rode in a hot air balloon...took a trip to the Greek Isles....they have loved it...so gives me hope...
The city is beautiful and its right on the sea....I'll send more pics tomorrow!
Wanted to post some positive times we had in Istanbul......here are two.....our view from our room at night...spectacular...see all the twinkling lights on the water? They are all ships waiting for permission to pass through the Bosphorous Strait...which connects the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea....tons of ships there 24/7...the other picture is just all the ships during the day time...we loved watching the ships come and go...
Well...we finally made it back to the fish market pier for a big ass beer and xanax...yes, you heard me...will have to fill you in on our experience in person.....
Saw this cute little car on our morning walk to town...there are quaint little cars like this around everywhere.
Leaving England...taking a train to Harwich...which is a port side village on the North Sea...still in England....quaint little town.....that's where we are catching the ferry in the morning.....Then taking the slow boat across the English Channel (I think it's still the English Channel) to the Hook of Holland....(it is an all day journey on the boat...like 7 hours....for sure the slow boat...then we'll take a train into Amsterdam..where we'll spend the night...then we'll fly to Istanbul,Turkey on Sunday....be there for one week....wish us luck on our finds.....
Found all these blackberry bushes while walking along the shore...craziest thing...so of course had to pick some....Bob was freakin' out a bit..."are you sure that's what they are?"...please...who does he think he is talking to? There we go again...something about "taking the girl out of the country..and all"...but I finally convinced him they weren't poison..so he tried them..well...he had like TWO...LOL "oh yea of little faith"...I enjoyed them immensely! LOL
