Istanbul

Just a mere 2 weeks after arriving back in Copenhagen after an intense trip to Italy, I found myself on a plane yet again, heading south to the board of the East and the West: Istanbul. This time I traveled with my core course in my study abroad program. Which meant no planing, much less money spent, and a group of 59 amazing people to bond with. It was very different from my Italy experience, where I traveled alone, and made me realize the benefits and downsides to both.

Day 1: Sightseeing - Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque. Whirling Dervish.

Our sightseeing day was a blur of magnificent sights and awesome historical information. The Hagia Sophia was the most memorable part for me. It was the perfect symbol of the conflict between East and West, with its beginning as the Greek Orthodox Patriarche church, then changing to a Muslim mosque, and then to a national museum to preserve its past. The Topkapi Palace also struck me as very different then many of the other things I have seen on my European adventures so far. It was a palace built for the Ottoman Empire sultans, and was thoroughly decorated with beautiful tiles and laid out in an intricate maze of rooms that were clearly divided based on gender and stance within the hierarchy.

Day 2: Academic lectures, dinner with Turkish Students in Asia

We started out this day with multiple academic lectures that clearly laid out just how much of a mess the Turkish political system was, and is currently, in. One talk discussed the issue of where Kurds stand within the country, and the other was about possible Turkish inclusion in the EU. We then traveled to the Asia side of the city (my first time on the continent!) and had a dinner with a handful of students from a University there. It was our only real chance on the trip to talk to Turkish people our own age (unless you count being asked out on countless dates by random men on the street) and was very enlightening. The student I sat with said she could read the coffee grounds for us and tell us something about our futures. In case you were wondering, I'm going have a lot of wealth someday. Hopefully that puts my Mom at ease with my sociology degree.

Day 3: Dolmabahce Palace with small academic group. Grand Bazaar. Turkish Baths.

This first time that I was in the Grand Bazaar was very overwhelming. We made the mistake of entering in the more touristy side, and got just that as a reception. There were tons of people, and with over 4,000 shops in a very intricate maze. Needless to say, we got confused very quickly. I was disappointed at what was offered, thinking it would be more authenticity and less tacky. After we untangled ourselves from the maze, we ate a nice lunch at a modern cafe, and then went to the Turkish Baths, which was just what we all needed. After getting over a few minutes of self-consciousness (thank you swimming locker rooms for making me use to female nudity) I very much enjoyed being scrubbed from head to foot in a sauna-like room and soaking in a hot tub afterwards. The room was what I always picture when I think of Roman baths - high dome ceiling, separate room for bathing in hot water. It was a great end to a rather stressful day.

Day 4: Women's organization, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar Part 2, roof top dinner/club

This day was by far my favorite. It started out with a very interesting lecture by a women who is the head of a grassroots women's organization that tries to help women gain self confidence and job skills in a run-down neighborhood. It was very interesting to hear about the first steps in how to help women in a non-western senario.  Later that day we visited the Spice Bazaar, which was absolutely amazing. Food, sweets, and spices were everywhere. Prices were fixed so there wasn't the constant battle of bickering with the seller. And I was with a great group of friends. All of which led to me spending over 1/2 of all of the money I pulled out of the ATM here. From their we went to the Grand Bazaar again, this time having the exact oposite experience of my first trip. I had a great time, and since it was so much less stressful, was able to actually enjoy myself and buy things (mainly scarves). That night was our last dinner as a group, where our entire class ate a very nice dinner on a rooftop (glass on all sides) with a spectacular view of the city. The tables were then cleared to the sides, and we had our own personal club.

Day 5: Wrap up session, late lunch on the water, sunset boat cruise, home.

Our final day there consisted of most people nursing hangovers. However, by the evening most people were feeling better, and we were all able to fully enjoy the sunset cruise. The city in the evening was breathtaking, and definitely left me wanting to go back again in the future.