It's 11 pm here and we JUST arrived back at our rooms!  The adventures of today included our driver (Mahir) driving in reverse down an on ramp - which barely solicited a beep from other drivers- and the purchase of several negros.  It was an interesting day to say the least.

Other than that, today was all work with several schools visited as well as a university.  We capped off the day with dinner at a family's home.  It took us 3 hours to arrive there.  When Hakan said Istanbul was large, it simply did not sink in just how large large really is!  Its the city that never ends.  There are 17 MILLION people in Istanbul.  The majority of them are on the European side where we are staying and where the hosting family lives.

Of course the house was something out of a dream.  Overlooking the sea with chandeliers in every room and a bathroom off of every bedroom.  The family was big and there were many of them there because they own three of these houses in  a row: father, daughter, and uncle living side by side.  They spoke very little English but it didn't really matter as we had a wonderful time with our little bit of Turkish, their little bit of English, and poor Hakan trying to interpret as fast as we all spoke.   We had to force ourselves away to arrive here as late as we did because we need to catch a plane at 5 am tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be dinner with yet another family after some school visits and a visit to Ephesus where we are supposed to see the ruins of Artimesis' temple and a beautiful famous water fall.  We will sleep one night there and then back to the hotel and another flight in the morning to go to Antalya.  I am stressing out just a little because there has been very little time for shopping and I have specific things in mind that I want to buy.

sights and sounds of Turkey continue to amaze and there is more yet to come!  I hope all is well with all of you at home!

Finally!!!

Well, we finally figured out how to get internet.  Hakan, our guide and a teacher from Putnam Science Academy has linked his iphone to my computer and provided internet! Who knew you could do that?

I thought yesterday was busy but today we went to Topkapci palace, Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, the Blue Mosque, and Hippodrome.  Least impressive: the Hippodrome.  Most Impressive: Hagia Sophia.  That being said everything we saw was amazing.  AND we managed to fit in some shopping too.  Everything was so beautiful and amazing that it got to the point of being overload.   The architecture at these sights is nothing less than astonishing, especially when you think that these building were built anywhere up to 2,000 years ago!

I have to confess the things I find the most amusing and amazing are the simple one.  The number of cats and dogs simply living on the street here is astonishing.  They are relatively healthy and people treat them all very matter of factly.  Twice we have dined in outdoor restaurants (these people love to be outside) and twice I have seen a street cat just stroll through looking for a scrap or two.  No one acts surprised, the waiters don't rush over to shoo them out, and people sneak them food.  However, I thought our guide as going to have a heart attack when I patted a cat!  From that point on it amused me greatly to pat every cat or dog I happened to pass....  he was truly disgusted and told me I had to wash my hands at least THREE times!

Also amazing is the aggressiveness.  Lines are for the wimpy here!  the person who pushes there way to the front is the person who gets what she/he wants!  Walking by a row of restaurants is a challenge.  They have guys standing out front who grab passersby to tell them the wonders of their restaurant.  And do not be recognizable as an American here!  Americans all have money of course an every little kid on the street is the child of family who deals in Turkish rugs and is just dying to sell to you... or be your guide... or sell you postcards... or offer any service you need!  You have to peel them off of you!  Hard to do and still feel like a polite person, believe me.

And the driving!  Oh MY GOD!!! lanes markers are just suggestions here!  And tonight our drive drove up the wrong side of a divided highway to get us to the dorms where we are staying!  I have mastered the technique of not seeing ANYTHING beyond the boundaries of the car.

Tomorrow we are visiting a charitable organization the foundation who is funding this trip supports, a high school, a university, and several other sites.... I hope my feet and legs can keep up with this!  I wish I could say I miss all of you... but it is wonderful here so far!

I Can't Count!

OMG!  I am not leaving in three days..... more like.... TWO.... Sunday afternoon it all begins.  I only have one suitcase packed, the house is still dirty, I haven't written down instructions for the boys, what if they forget to feed the cats? And the dog might explode!  What if they forget to bring him out to pee?  I haven't sorted out my pills and other chemically type things....oh God.... I am soooo unprepared!

4 Days and Counting

Okay!  So today it was suggested that I start a blog and here it is!

Four days and counting to the trip and I am so excited.  There are so many things to get done before I leave that my head is swimming!  Shots... check.  passport... check.  Laundry cleaned.... check.  House cleaned.... yeah right!  LOL