Turkey

I wish I had more time in Turkey but in the 4 days I was there, I think I got a good perspective of what Istanbul is really like. From the Grand Bazaar to Hagia Sofia to the Blue Mosque - Istanbul had some of the most amazing history I have experienced.

The metro seemed like a nice cheap option from the airport to the hostel. With one change of lines, I managed to make it to my hostel in one piece. It was after I found the hostel, unpacked and went venturing around the city, that I got lost. Good thing there are a billion hotels in Istanbul and that the people in the hotels all speak English.
Walked through the Grand Bazaar - saw all the tourists bartering with the sellers. The Spice Marekt is where all the locals go because not to many tourists need a handful of pepper.
I stopped in a pub for a beer and watched the Barcelona vs. ManU final game. There were a lot more BCN fans than ManU in Istanbul. Everyone loved Messi!

The next morning I had breakfast on the terrace with 2 blokes from England - John and Ian. Both are primary school teachers in London. I ended up spending the next 2 days hanging out with these guys. It makes your trip so much more enjoyable when you meet top notch people.

We all took a boat ride up the Bosphorus, ate some amazing fish and calamari (talk about fresh fish) and spend a some time in the sun at a fortress - Rumeli Hisari (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumeli_Hisari) - overlooking the 'gateway' to the Black Sea. Beautiful views! On the way back we stopped to grab a giant baked potato for dinner. This wasn't no ordinary potato...it was the king of all potatoes. It was the size of a baby's head, filled with everything you can think of. It included pickled cabbage, cheese, 2 different types of olives, 3 or 4 sauces - the flavors kept changing with every bite.

The following day the three of us hung out at the University of Istanbul. Relaxed in the shade on the grass, watched students play volleyball and had some really nice conversation. Oh yah, before we found the uni, we stubbled across the best kabab shop in Istanbul. A little hole in the wall restaurant managed to create the best lamb kababs any of us had tasted. It was great! Got to see the Valens Aqueduct (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valens_Aqueduct), the Galata Tower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galata_Tower) along with a lot of Mosques and shops.
We stumbled across a Turkish musical/traditional performance.

I visited the Blue Mosque (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sultan_Ahmed_Mosque,_Istambul.jpg) and got some really good pictures of the Hagia Sofia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sofia)

Tony, a guy from Virgina joined us for dinner and drinks for our last night in Turkey. We stayed up drinking beers and googling over this little kitten that was on the bar.

The next morning had breakfast, said my goodbyes to the boys and took off to the airport. Oh yah, before leaving the Sultanahmet (area where I stayed in downtown Istanbul) I had some Turkish ice cream. It's a lot more rubbery than ice cream we are use to and there is a boy dressed in traditional Turkish clothing that makes it for you. But he just doesn't make it for you, he throws it up in the air, pretends to hand it to you but pulls it back, pretends to drop it but it sicks to the stick. Anyways...I made my way to the airport and flew to Cairo where I am now. It's been a story and a half already and I've only been here for less than 8 hours! Seeing the Pyramids and Sphinx tomorrow!! I am stoked!!!!!!

Greece Photos

On the road again...or is it - still?

Well, I have to say I had a really good last few weeks. I spent time with friends and family in England. Met up with Stefan for an afternoon of coffee and shopping. We managed to purchase the same shirt in the same store - let's hope we don't wear it on the same night. Elvira was kind enough to let me leave a bunch of clothes at her place while I made my way up north to Scotland and Ireland. Those cheap airlines only allow 15 or 20kg of weight for baggage. And when you are travelling for a year - it's a little more than that. We went out for a nice dinner and said our goodbyes - for now. Elvira, you need to make your way to Canada!! My Aunt Carole made me feel right at home for a week of relaxation and doing nothing but waking up late and watching TV.
I flew to Athens to meet Nicole on the 16th. Like I said on the last entry (not a pretty sight). We toured around the city for 3 days laughing at the dumbest stuff. Went out one night until 6am - "...your brother is so beautiful!" hahaha
We met Mum and Kristina at the airport. Do I need to say what my mum's reaction was when she saw me. The four of us waited around for 5 hours (the girls, including mum, slept for 1/2 that time while I watched LOTR on my computer) before catching a flight to Santorini. I must say, Mum and Kristina were troopers! There were in transit for more than 30 hours before hitting the pillow in Imerovigli.

Santorini:

Our first hotel was on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. If you have been, you know what I'm talking about when I say 'WOW!' If you have only seen pictures, you probably get a good idea. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, either look at pictures or go, or climb back into the bubble where you have been living.

A rental car was in order so we could tour around the island. We went to Thira (main city), did some shopping (mostly the women), went to a beach and tasted some wine on an underground wine tour.

Our next hotel was amazing! Not a 5 star but a great experience! The hotel is called, 'Strogili' which is located in Kamari. The family that owned the hotel made us feel like family. Delicious breakfasts every morning (I need to make this feta/jalapeno dip) that the Grandma was telling me about. On Sunday before we left, the four of us embarked on a Sunset Boat Cruise. We swam in the 'hotsprings' by the volcano (which weren't really hotsprings, just warm pockets here and there). Just before we were about to jump in - I don't know if it was on purpose but the boat unloaded what looked to be their sewage. Not a pretty sight. After waiting for 10 minutes, Kristina and I jumped in. LOL! Nicole and Mum stayed onboard. The sunset was stunning that night from the boat. I'll post a picture.

We made our way back to Athens for 2 days. I flew to Istanbul (where I am now), and Nicole flew to Barcelona for her 6 week holiday around western Europe. Mum and Kristina are staying in Athens for anotehr 3 nights before heading back to Springfield to pick up her stuff and then drive back to Calgary.

A best of 5 series of Kanasta was played by the 4 of us. Nicole and Mum on one team, Kristina and I on the other. It was close but Mum and Nicole came out on top. HOWEVER, that night I found of the the cards under the bed, which I am sure Nicole hid to have an advantage over us. The judge is still deciding on the outcome.

My early morning flight brought me into Istanbul. I walked around all morning and afternoon getting lost more than once. In the process of figuring out what I am doing tomorrow and Friday. I have a flight to Cairo, Egypt on Saturday May 30.

Santorini

"...and Zeus said no..."

Once again I have been lacking in the 'updating the blog' department. This one will be a quick update because I need to put some food in my stomach. It's been almost 39 minutes since I last ate something. Just joking, it's been almost 12 hours and it feels like my stomach is going to start eating my liver.

I'm in Athens with Nicole! I arrived at the airport from London Gatwick at 11:40 this morning. Up at 03:00...in the EasyJet check-in line by 04:15 and in the air by 06:30. Needless to say - a little nap will be had very soon as well. Nicole arrived about an hour and a half later and we took a cab to our hotel - the Classical BabyGrand in Athens. It was really nice to see her, it had been about 6 months - she looked like she was run over by a truck though, and not a little 1/2 ton either...(she probably won't read this for a while since she is here with me, actually, she is passed out next to me trying to get caught up on her sleep deprivation). I'll get a bruised arm for that comment.

Anyways, we are going to be touring around Athens for the next couple days before we are joined by Mum and lil sis. Then it's off to Santorini for a week!!!

5 months complete - 7 to go

It's hard to imagine that I have been traveling for 5 months already. But when I sit down and think about everything I have done and all the cool places I have visited - 5 months seems right.

In London, England at the moment. Hanging out with Elvira - a friend that I made in South Africa. She invited me to stay with her while I'm visiting the city. Today we walked around the city...saw Big Ben, The Globe Theatre and the River Thames. We had a really good lunch overlooking the river. Walked to Covent Gardens Market and watched some street performers for a little while. Made our way back to the house and now we are just gonna get ready to head out for the evening. Plan is to hit up a pub for a couple drinks and dinner.

I did the touristy thing the other day on my own as well. Threw on the iPod, visitied Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly...just wandered really. Felt like Frodo Baggins - but with an iPod, Starbucks coffee and umbrealla. Don't think any of those appeared in the movie. Would have been a little odd if you saw Sam Wise wearing the white earphones listening to Britney on his way to Mordor!

Yesterday I did a bunch of nothing. Well, booked my flights to Scotland and Ireland. I'm flying to Edinburgh on Tuesday. Spending a few days there and then making my way to Ireland for a couple days. I got a flight back to London for May 11. Hopefully I will be able to stay with my Uncle and Aunt who live in Kent (south of London). If it doesn't work out, I'll catch a flight to somewhere in Eastern Europe. Might do rock paper scissors with myself to figure out where I want to go - Austria, Poland, Croatia...not sure yet. I just have to be in Athens, Greece for May 16 to meet my sister. My mum and Kristina join us on the 19th in Athens.