Cruising Down the Bosphorus

Well, today was a relief compared to yesterday.

After a leisurly tea on the roof, we decided to get out of this rug-dealer infested neighborhood and spend some time where people were less-inclined to try to sell us stuff. An hour-and-a-half ferry ride on the bosphorous did the trick. The only thing merchants were peddling on the boat was nice cold Orange Juice and it was well worth the 1 turkish lira. Ethan described our harrying race down from the castle in asia to catch our boat and our subsequent bus ride through the greater Istanbul area. We explored the Beyoglu neighbohood, a fun part of town north of the Great Horn. Like Paris' Quartier Latin or Italy's Trastevere it was that place across the body of water where the middle-class young-people hung out. I felt much more at home. Although there wasn't really anything Turkish about our cafe, I thoroughly enjoyed my yummy tuna salad!

It was tempting to stay and peoplewatch at the bustling outdoor tables around Beyoglu but unfortuantley people here smoke like chimneys and Ethan was getting nauseous (I wasn't enjoying it much either). So we wandered down past the Galata tower. My guidebook says this is the old immigrant part of town. Lot's of Jews, Armenians and Greeks lived here. We walked by an an old synagogue. There was no clearly marked entrance on the street level but we figured it was the one with the thick doors and security entrance. Lonely Planet says there was a bombing at one of the synagogues in this neighborhood. I had wanted to try to get inside some of these synagogues, like we had done in Prague. Apparently a number of Jews from Spain settled her after fleeing the Spanish inquisition. Unfortunately, the only way they are open to the public is through a "Jewish Heritage Tour" which costs 140 euros! No thanks. So walking by will have to do.

It's only 9:45pm and Ethan is antsy to go out and see some more stuff. "We're only in Istanbul so long!" he says. So anyway.. I better go see what he has cooking up.

Talk to you soon!