Turkey Day 3 (3/13) - "Get on the bus"
Grand Bazaar in the morning. Very big, very touristy. Similar to the market in Cairo, but roads were wider and less claustrophobic. We had about a hour and 15 minutes, which was plenty of time to buy some crap. I got a baby hookah that’s pretty cool. Other things like tile, leather, and carpets our guide says are better elsewhere and we’ll do later. Hmm. Probably some commission action going on, but that’s fine.
Bus ride to Canakkale was very long and very cramped. The really surprising part was how many people slept through both the pre- and post- lunch segments. I mean, the first segment was the trip out of Istanbul and the first look at the countryside, and the second was when the guide talked on history and stuff. People paid big dollars to fly halfway around the world just to take a nap on the bus? Lame, very lame.
The post-lunch pit stop was interesting for several reasons. First, the womens toilet was apparently a hole in the ground requiring squatting. Something that’s prevalent, but I guess a first for some of these travelers. Then out back (behind the Shell station) was a small zoo. Zebra, a pregnant pony, an ostrich, and lots of birds. Definitely the aura of bird flu hanging in the air. And as the cherry on the cake, tobacco scented air freshener. Half a dozen of us bought a canister because we thought it was so funny. The Turks working in the place certainly didn’t understand what we were laughing at or why we were all buying air freshener.
Gallipoli was interesting, but a little rushed in order to catch the 6pm ferry to Calakkane. We got the WWI background stories from Bulenz and got some nice pictures. I think part of my problem is that it completely pales in comparison to Normandy. The French installation was overwhelming – this was nice, but just can’t compare.
Dinner at 7, then off to the rooftop bar tonight (it’s drizzling, and too much trouble to explore the city). This is really just a stopoff point anyway – tomorrow we get back on the bus to hit Troy and other cool places on the way to Bodrum.
Bus ride to Canakkale was very long and very cramped. The really surprising part was how many people slept through both the pre- and post- lunch segments. I mean, the first segment was the trip out of Istanbul and the first look at the countryside, and the second was when the guide talked on history and stuff. People paid big dollars to fly halfway around the world just to take a nap on the bus? Lame, very lame.
The post-lunch pit stop was interesting for several reasons. First, the womens toilet was apparently a hole in the ground requiring squatting. Something that’s prevalent, but I guess a first for some of these travelers. Then out back (behind the Shell station) was a small zoo. Zebra, a pregnant pony, an ostrich, and lots of birds. Definitely the aura of bird flu hanging in the air. And as the cherry on the cake, tobacco scented air freshener. Half a dozen of us bought a canister because we thought it was so funny. The Turks working in the place certainly didn’t understand what we were laughing at or why we were all buying air freshener.
Gallipoli was interesting, but a little rushed in order to catch the 6pm ferry to Calakkane. We got the WWI background stories from Bulenz and got some nice pictures. I think part of my problem is that it completely pales in comparison to Normandy. The French installation was overwhelming – this was nice, but just can’t compare.
Dinner at 7, then off to the rooftop bar tonight (it’s drizzling, and too much trouble to explore the city). This is really just a stopoff point anyway – tomorrow we get back on the bus to hit Troy and other cool places on the way to Bodrum.
posted by pantherman at 11:21 AM
1 Comments:
A hookah -- that'll be a conversation piece. I've heard about women's toilets in the East. I'll pass (pun intended). Mom
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