Ciao

Back in Italia. Sorry I haven't written in awhile I have been so busy. So Turkey was amazing it was probably my favorite city on the trip. While it can be sketchy, the beauty of the trip was worth every sketchy guy.

So our first night in Turkey we went out to dinner at a traditional restaurant and ate on the floor on pillows it was nice. The food was very filling and delicious. Our room were beautiful. The beds were very nice as well. I was very satisfied. The first day we went to the hippodrome then what is known as the Blue Mosque, the gardens and palace. Then we had some lunch by the Bosphorous. It was a lot of fun. Then we visited some museums and saw a crib made of jewels. The babies lived in some royalty.

Then later our guide took us to a special carpet place where these men with bad jokes tried to seel us carpet. It didnt work but it was still interesting and fun to learn the process. Then he took us to the Bazaar which is their big market. It was actually a lot of fun. The vendors would try to tell you anything to get you to buy things. Here are a few of my favorite lines:

"Hello Chicks!"
"Look at me with your magical eyes"
"This is the place you were looking for?"
"You guys are sisters? I have a brother if you like?"
"We can get married now if you are ready"

Almost everyone single one of them says "Yes Please!"

My one friend had an interesting conversation

Vendor- Hello can I help you
Her- No thank you
Vendor- Can you help me...change your mind!

So it has been quite an interesting expience at the bazaar. Aside from the creepy men it was very good and had some fairly good deals. After the bazaar we went back and relaxed for a little bit then went out to dinner. We ate at an interesting place, it was nice but the guy who owned it was a little wacko. A customer thought he should get better prices cause he was muslim the the owner freaked out and complained to us the rest of the night. Luckily we got free apple tea for this.

Our next day in Turkey was fun as well. We went to the Cistern which was very interesting and then went to the Hagia Sophia which is a beautiful church. Following that everyone except me and one other guy went to the Turkish Bath. I am very glad I didn't go one because it was expensive and also because you were in a room full of naked women. It wouldn't be so bad if it was strangers but my classmates expressed extreme embarrassment when their towels were ripped off by Turkish women in front of not only 50 random strangers but all the other classmates. While they all expressed that it was an awkward yet satisfying experience, I am too ticklish to do it. The tour guide said not to do it if you were incredibly ticklish. Maybe one day when I am on my own I will try the Turkish bath.

We were on our own for dinner and us girls ended up finding a fairly good restaurant. My one friend Beth got hit on badly by our Turkish waiter, it is never dull in Turkey. Our last day we went to an art museum which was interesting and then to the Spice market. The spice market was similar to the bazaar except for the products. Following this we took a boat across the Bosporus and ate lunch. The reason we did this is because it is actually considered to be in Asia when you cross to the other side of Istanbul. So we actually went to Asia for lunch. It was nice. After that we went back to the Bazaar and did a little more shopping. Following this we had a big dinner at one of the nicest restaurants in Istanbul.

It was Mark Heidrick's last night was us really so we wanted to celebrate. Dinner was delicious, I am going to miss kebabs. After dinner we went on the town a little and hung out for our last night in Turkey. It was fun. Altogether Turkey was an amazing experience, I would definitely want to go back another day. Our flight back was a few hours and it was good to back in Italy. I kept saying :"grazie" and "ciao" everywhere we went. Its such a habit now.

So the night we got back we had our official last dinner with Mark at a restaurant we have never been to. It was nice and a lot of fun. I was fairly exhausted and went to bed shortly after that. Friday we went to lunch with Mark and he came to see our apartments. He wanted to check them out and tell the school suggestions and such. It was nice. We then said goodbye to Mark but I will be in touch with him. I spent most of the rest of my time working on planning my trip. I booked all of my hostels and now just needed to set up what I will do while I am traveling.

Yesterday I worked more on my plans and making an itinerary for myself. Then I went out with the gang, it was nice. Back into a normal routine. So this week I am going to France. I leave for Paris tomorrow morning. I am going to be spending one night in Paris. Then the next day I am going to Dijon and I will be there for two nights. Then I am going to spend the remainder of my week in Nice on the beach. It should be a nice variety. I am going to see culture and also get to relax. I got good hostels and also good prices. I am very excited. I am nervous but it will definitely be worth it in the end. I am gaining a lot of independence and life experience. You all would be very proud of me.

I am going to send my itinerary to all of you so that you will know where i am when. I will have a cell phone with me the entire time. I have been practicing my french and also am bringing some handy phrases with me. I have already mapped out the cities I want to go to and have all the metro maps and such that I should need. It should be a lot of fun. Wish me luck. I will be in touch when i can. Miss you guys a lot.

Bon soir et un bon Easter!