ISTANBUL

WE ARE IN ISTANBUL BUT IT IS PEACEFUL WHERE WE ARE. THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING: THE HOTEL WHERE WE ARE STAYING IS ON HIGH ALERT. THE ENTRANCE TO THE GROUNDS IS BARRICADED AND WHEN OUR TAXI CAME IN THEY CHECKED UNDER THE CAR WITH A MIRROR AND OPENED UP THE TRUNK. THEN WE HAD TO GO THROUGH A SECURITY CHECK TO GET IINTO THE LOBBY AND WE NEED A SPECIAL CARD FOR THE ELEVATOR IN ORDER TO GET UPSTAIRS TO OUR ROOM. PRETTY EXCITING.




WE LEFT THE SHIP EARLY AND TOOK THE SHIP TOUR AROUND TOWN BUT NOWHERE NEAR WHERE THE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE. THAT IS IN TAKSIM SQUARE. WE ARE IN FOR THE EVENING SO THINGS SHOULD BE FINE. WE WENT TO A MODERN OUTLET MALL BEFORE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SAWGRASS MILLS. SAME STORES, SAME FOOD. HOWEVER, EVERYTIME I COME TO ISTANBUL I SEEM TO SEE MORE BURKAS AND I DON'T LIKE SEEING THAT. WE WENT TO THE SPICE MARKET AND THE GRAND BAZAAR AND THE OBLIGATORY RUG STORE. AFTER A WHILE EVERYTHING STARTS TO LOOK ALIKE AND THE SHOPKEEPERS ARE JUST LIKE THE ONES

IN TIJUANA. IT WAS TOO HOT TO BARGAIN SO I REALLY DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING. ALSO, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT WE GOT LOST IN THE GRAND BAZAAR AND COULDN'T FIND THE RIGHT ONE FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S SO EAS TO GET LOST THERE.



GUESS I AM READY TO COME HOME FOR A WHILE BUT I AM ALREADY INVESTIGATING THE NEXT EXCURSION.