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The travel fatigue has still been hitting me rather hard. For the most part, I took another easy week in Istanbul this last week. I went by the Blue Mosque, which was unfortunately under renovation and so I could see maybe 1% of it. I had heard that the national archaeological museum was really spectacular, so I spent a few hours going through their ancient Egypt/Sumeria exhibits, and their collection of sarcophagi from the Levant region. It’s incredible how much the ancients could do with a big block of marble. I attempted to go to Topkapi Palace, which is another one of the big sites in Sultanahmet, but the line was very long by the time I got there that I took a stroll in the adjacent park for a few hours while listening to a podcast. Fall has definitely settled in around here, and not only do I actually have to layer, but I have to also turn the heater on in my airbnb. Thank goodness for #TheBigFreeze earlier this year back home, otherwise I would be completely unfamiliar with these concepts. Also on my list to check out were the Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar. My experience at both can best be summarized in this text I sent my mom when I finished power-walking through them: Armed with my AirPods, I attempted to avoid being accosted by aggressive agents of the ancient art of trade. Alas, I was unsuccessful, but it afforded me an opportunity to author this alliteration. Additionally, I have never seen so many knock-off designer bags in one place. Later that day, I headed up to a part of town called Osmanbey to have dinner with a friend from high school who has been living here for about six years. It was cool to catch up with her, and she showed me around her part of town, which was very upscale. I made a few notes to come back again before I leave Turkey, mainly to check out the antique market that happens every Sunday. On Friday, I took a day of PTO and headed to the Aegean coast with my Instagram friend, Beste. We spent the day trying to stay out of the rain (and at one point, hail) that beset the small coastal town of Ayvalik. She introduced me to mezze (Turkish tapas) and raki, which is the Turkish equivalent of Greek ouzo. You mix about a shot’s worth with water and add an ice cube, and the whole concoction turns white, even though the liquor itself is as clear as water. The Turks like to pair it with sad Turkish music and unleash their pent-up ennui with notes of introspection and nostalgia. As far as local beverages go, I actually quite liked it. I also found a few small non-tourist keepsakes in an antique mall there, including a hand-carved horn and a 100 year old saddle bag made of carpet with tassels.
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