Turks, Tea, and Tulips

My latest and greatest adventure, and sadly the last big trip of the semester, was a weekend jaunt to Istanbul, Turkey. There was a lot of hype leading up to the trip because some friends had gone the weekend before and the city did not fail. 

Gorgeous. Breathtaking. Incredible. Peaceful, even. How a city of 17 million people can be peaceful is beyond me, yet Istanbul achieved it. We only had three days in Istanbul so we made the most of it, staying in the city center called Sultanahmet. It was the hub of all young life, tourist sites, and hidden treasures. After living in Bulgaria where most things are different, I didn't think it would be too much of a shock going to the Middle East, especially considering I'm going to spend six weeks there with my aunt and uncle. It is unlike anything I've ever experienced. It was busy and quiet and a little overwhelming with all the men trying to stop me to sell me something or get me to come into their restaurant. It was mainly Keegan and I and we were not short on taking compliments. Everywhere we turned someone was there with a smile and a flattering remark. It was the hair. I'm telling you. See for yourself:

This is pre-windswept, according to Keegs

So here is my take on 5 things you should hit while on vaca in Istanbul. 

1.  Boat tour of the Bosphorus- my favorite part of the trip hands down. Especially when the weather is just fantastic, you can't help but enjoy the rocking boat, the blaring Turkish music (it really did help make the ride, trust me), and the amazing landscape laid out before you. This really gives you a perspective on how big and unique Istanbul really is.

2.  Galata Tower Cafe- undiscovered by most tourists (except now I guess, but I'm not too worried), it is found in Tacsim and very close to the actual Galata Tower, but with the same view (I'm all about the views in Istanbul), enjoy some apple tea and take in the breathtaking picture of both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. On your way there, eat a fish sandwich from a rocking boat restaurant and enjoy the ever expanding view of the city as you cross the Galata Bridge.

3. Blue Mosque- seriously amazing piece of architecture and place of religious worship. Beautiful on the inside, they do close it for prayer in the middle of the day, but it is totally worth going back to see later to just sit and enjoy the intricate painting/script; you have to wear a headscarf if you're a woman and take off your shoes. I do look pretty stylish if I do say so myself. It's a great place to appreciate the religious history of the city itself (also the Hagia Sophia) and to have a quiet moment with God. Inspiring.

4.  Grand Bazaar- it's a great experience, at least once, to be hit on and is completely overwhelming for someone who doesn't shop a lot (aka me), but it was fun to look at all the evil eyes and gold jewelry and scarves.  And, because most shop owners think you're pretty, they'll give you a discount- it worked for me! 

5. Walk everywhere. Keegs and I did a ton of walking every day and it was great because we saw the tourist-y stuff that was near our hostel, the coast, Aksaray, and the non-tourist streets around these areas. It was really great to see how normal Turks live in a massive city and to get to experience places that most visitors don't venture to see. Just walk and explore- that is what traveling is all about right? Turn down a random side street and see where that'll lead you!

Other tidbits: Tea- Drink it. Period. Don't ask questions. If you don't like tea start to because you'll want to drink it while you're here. Especially the apple tea; even if it costs a few lira more, get it. It'll be worth it, most of the time. Get pides. It's reminiscent of an open calzone, but better.  Turkish delight and baklava are house specialties and quite delish and the great thing is you can find them anywhere.

It was the Tulip Festival while we were there so the city was littered with gorgeously vibrant flowers in celebration of the tulip. It's all month long and it adds a small town feel to this monstrous metropolitan. Imagine these, in different colors spotting Istanbul. Absolutely amazing. 

As the semester winds down, Istanbul was a great last traveling hoorah as I buckle down to finish essays and readings for class and start to study for finals. Nasdrave to the next two weeks, it's going to be a crazy, amazing ride. But I'll leave you with one last picture to tide you till next time. 

Sangria, Sofia, and some life lessons

It's raining here in Blagoevgrad and it seems that the weather has turned to nastiness. It snowed over the weekend while I was in Sofia, which I'll get to in a second. One of the main points of studying abroad is to meet people and make connections all over the world. Which definitely does happen and that is what set the stage for the sangria party I went to, put on by some of the Spaniards here; they are super nice and definitely know how to party and definitely know how to make good, strong sangria. So drinking starts about 9-10 here in preparation for going out around midnight. The party was really great and I mingled and had a drink or two, got tipsy so slowed down on the drinking even though it was quite tasty. But it was nice to meet new people and be a little crazy with friends that I already knew that were there. Let's just say that a conversation did happen in a British and Indian (not Native American) accent; and yes, I was sober, I just think it's fun to talk like this and for the people who know me they will back me up on this.

I don't drink ever at home so when I had a friend get a little to friendly with the sangria and had to help them home, it was definitely a new experience. They, like me, don't drink a lot and so I learned quite a bit from Keegan, who is in a sorority back home and for sure knows what she is doing when it comes to the protocol of taking a friend home. It was good so if you ever need me when we get home, I will be equipped with my new mastery of the art of designated walking and home care. So life lesson number one is a handy thing to have in my pocket in case the situation ever arises again. But just don't get that far people, it's not cool and you aren't fun and it kills the mood for everyone else. Drink to be social, not to get drunk. That is one thing about here, people know how to hold their liquor because they have been drinking for so much longer than us in the States...maybe we should take note America?

I also went to Sofia with a group of girls that I've been hanging out with. We left on a snowy morning and arrived in Sofia around noon and then that is where some of the problems started. We had 7 people so that was problem number one. We had booked the Art Hostel, which is really cool so if you ever want to visit Sofia and are looking for hostels check this one out (it comes with a bar and breakfast is included), we just needed to get there, which leads to problem number 2. Too many people were trying to figure out how to find the hostel and I was just like whatever floats the boat people, I'll follow on this one. So we eventually found it and checked in to our room and please people, book before you go. It just makes things that much easier. Spontaneity is wonderful, but have some of the logistics worked out.

                                             bar downstairs

                                                       the beds...and my awesome friends

We went to this Moroccan restaurant a block over and it was delicious! Eat like the Moroccans do because it was so good. Especially the tea. Even if you don't like tea, you would like this tea.

So that was good and having full bellies for 7 girls is a very smart move. Then, shopping. If you know me, they will all tell you my attention span for shopping is about 2 seconds before I get bored so trying to find the mall was a hassle, to be honest. So, if you want to see something specific, find directions beforehand; either do it yourself or ask your hostel about it. That was problem number three. So after no luck trying to find a taxi I suggested changing the plans and staying in the neighborhood to shop, which turned out great. Zara was close so we went there and because there were 7 people, we split and did our own thing for the afternoon which worked out wonderfully. If need be, split up, that way people can do what they want instead of targeting certain people and the others having a crappy time because they are pouting about not doing what they want. Solution.

My friend Mary is Catholic and Sofia happens to be one of the only places that has a Catholic church, and though I'm not Catholic I did need some quiet time and gladly went to mass; it was a really nice excuse to get away from the "real world" and just sit and pray and slow down from the two weeks of being here. It was refreshing and calming and just completely what I needed to refocus on what I was doing and why I am here and how I am treating and acting around people. It was a nice slap of reality, something that has been hard to come by here because everything has been distorted, especially time. A thing about study abroad, time drags and moves really quickly all at the same time. You are stuck in time, which you always are, it just seems more noticeable here rather than back home. So keep that in mind too.

The weekend ended well except I am just tired of bad Internet. Sometimes being cut off from the things that you thought you needed are really just an excuse that keeps you from other really amazing things. But it was good catch up with some friends I hadn't talked to in a while, but at the same time I hate that Facebook is the only real way of communicating with people. Oh, the things our society has come to. But that is life, and I keep learning something new every day, which is the point, right? Because why then would I be half way across the world if I could just discover all this stuff at home? So get out and explore, even if it's just your backyard, because chances are you will find something totally new and unexpected, either about yourself or your surroundings or your friends, and those are the things really worth living for. Study abroad, experience all that God put out there for us to see, and then be amazed at the fact that He put this all here for us. Love.

Strikes and Gutterballs....Bulgaria Part Two

So, part two....and go. 

Well, I received a warm welcome on my first day at the university to a lady barging into my room, speaking fast Bulgarian which was then followed by a man who came to check the smoke detector. At least he said good morning. It was pointless going back to bed, so I got up and vacuumed which was great and disgusting all at the same time because it just is. My room, just to give you a view. You walk in and on the wall with the door is a bunk bed and next to that on the next wall is a desk, the door to the bathroom, and closets/ drawers. On the connecting wall are two huge windows with blinds (thank God) and a bed and then on the last wall are two desks and a closet. It's nothing special, three girls to a room, no big deal. But what I love is the bathroom. It's three rooms...yes, rooms... for the sink, toilet, and shower. I couldn't believe it when I walked in. There are about 6 light switches, which are huge, to light it all. But the shower is its own room; and it pours from the top so right over your head, not at a slant in the states. The water gets hot really fast and it's wonderful.

I went to lunch with the group from the van and then we walked around Blagoevgrad for a little bit and it was really great. Everyone is really nice so it was a fun group.  People on the streets don't smile and then give you the look-over when you do smile at them; it's hard but I'm working on that.  It was nice to see that I wasn't the only blond; there are some blond Bulgarian women and though I still stick out like an Eskimo in summer, it made me feel better. Blagoevgrad is really pretty in an old city kind of way. The buildings are somewhat old and dusty looking, and they are painted many colors that have faded, but it's just a really cute city; I'm looking forward to keep getting to know it. It's definitely bigger than Kirksville, that's for sure, but that's not too hard to accomplish.

We went on the first shopping trip for essentials at Kaufland, the new Walmart for the next four months. It was big and it went well but it was just different. Everything was in Bulgarian, obviously, and so finding things that looked familiar was interesting. Nonetheless, I did get everything I needed for a mere 66 leva. Cheap. I'm telling you people, it's a great vacation destination. So come visit me! 

Sabine's birthday was on Tuesday so Esra, Mary and I went out with her to the bowling center (though we didn't know that at the time) near the university's main building and had dinner. I swear I've had pasta every day since I've been here....I didn't know I was in Italy. It's good pasta though so I'm not complaining. I had this spinach pasta with a white cream sauce and it was really good. Ordering is sometimes a shoot in the dark but surprisingly a lot of restaurants have English menus so that is great. Anyway, had dinner, ordered cocktails (I had an orgasm- kahlua, bailey's, and cream or something of that variety) and started bowling. If you know me it takes me forever to actually warm up and this night was no exception. Three games of bowling- 6 leva. Legit. We had a great time bowling and I wasn't the worst one, although I did have my fair share of gutterballs.  Sabine was really good actually, I think she might get into professional bowling; okay...I doubt that, but she did really well. And it was a really fun time. 

After that we went back to Skapto and Esra surprised her with a caramel cake which was really good, pretty sweet so one piece was definitely enough. She had also bought party hats and they were the greatest because I think it said happy birthday on it in Bulgarian so that was fantastic. Afterward we just talked for a while and then hit the hay. I froze overnight because my heater isn't functioning properly so that has been great sleeping and waking up uber cold. Showers are the only way I'm not freezing to death in the morning. And there is some exaggeration in this so parents, don't freak out and call the university, I've asked them to look at it. I'll be fine. I like the cold anyway. It's just more of a hate-hate-ish relationship right now. It was a much better day than the hysterics I threw myself into on the first night with only Stainer and Kirk to comfort me. Oh well, it has gotten much better and I really do love it here.