My fun travelling companions!

This was the first trip I have taken with Amanda or Bethany.  I was hopeful that we would travel well together and we did!  Here are a couple funny photos from our trip.  :)

Hotel Agan - "Feel Yourself at Home"

We got a chuckle out of this poorly translated sign each time we got in the elevator! 

Amanda giving me the Turkish eyes!

Apple Tea at Ozler

The hosts at the restaurants could be a bit persistant as we walked by their restaurants...especially the ones at the place across the street from us.  Tuesday evenign the host started chatting us up a bit and I, being a little tired from the long day, got a little feisty and reminded him that we had eaten there the night prior.  He then amde a big to-do about how he was just talking to us, not trying to get us to come in.  I apolgized for snapping at him and then went on up the hill to do some more shopping.  When we came back down the hill he invited us in for some apple tea...on the house.  We got to sit in one of the rooms filled with the big comfy cushions and low tables.  It was fun and the apple tea was delicious!  :)

Bethany

Me & Amanda with our tea

Group shot!

Another beautiful lantern!  :)

Going to Asia

Istanbul is the only city in the world that is on two continents - both Europe and Asia.  Tuesday evening we walked across the Galata bridge to get to the Asian side of the city.  Here are some photos of what we saw...

A photo of the New Mosque

Here's a video that captures the evening "call to prayer" at the mosque.

This call to prayer rang out several times a day.

 The bridge that we crossed had seafood restaurants on the bottom half

Men were fishing off the bridge

Someone's evening catch

Me standing on the Asian side of the city!

Americans abroad!

Bethany, me, and Amanda!

Galata Tower

A sad little dog hanging out in the street.

Spice Bazaar

Tuesday we went to the Spice Bazaar.  It wasn't as large at the Grand Bazaar, but it was filled with many wonderful sights, sounds, and smells!

Mounds of fragrant spices!

Piles of Turkish Delight...not all that delightful in my opinion!

Tea, tea, tea, and more tea!

Dried spices

Hooka Pipes

People were everywhere!

Fine gold jewelry

Belly dancing outfits and some lanterns

Pretty candle holder lanterns

Candle holders lanterns all lit up!

I loved those lanterns.

Cooking class

When we were looking for fun things to do in Istanbul we found a great tip on tripadvisor about various cooking classes.  We ended up signing up for the class at the Sarnic Hotel.  It ended up being a highlight of the trip for all of us!

When we first arrived at the Sarnic Hotel they sat us in the outdoor garden

and brought us some Turkish Delight

and a cup of tea!

We were taught how to make roses from the skin of a tomato

Bethany & Amanda cutting beans

Mehmet (our instructor) hamming up for a photo with me and Yvonne

Chefs in training! 

Amanda, Bethany, and me!

Mehmet instructing me on how to make the fig/walnut dessert

Yvonne & Nick - new friends from Canada (with Mennonite ties!)

Amanda whipping up the eggplant

Getting my workout with the eggplant

Our class!

Bethany, Amanda, me, Mehmet, Yvonne, sous chef, Becky, Nick, and Peter

The delicious figs!  Mmmm...so much better than I anticipated!

Ozler Restaurant

We had dinner at the restaurant across the street from our hotel one night and had an AMAZINGLY delicious meal!  The highlight was the Testi Kebap - which was a clay pot filled with a wonderful stew of sorts.  It had many vegetable, complex spices, and perfectly cooked chicken.  I also really loved the beautiful lanterns that decorated the space.

One of my favorite lanterns - right next to our table.

Amanda "smoking" her cheese cigar - basically a fried cheese stick.

There were cats wandering around the restaurant

(as they were all over the city.)

Another gorgeous lantern.

A video of the waiter serving our Testi Kebap!

This is a view of the restaurant from our room.

Grand Bazaar

After touring the palace on Monday we found a bit of lunch and then headed off in search of the Grand Bazaar...the shopping center of Istanbul.  It was a great afternoon of so many gorgeous Turkish sights, sounds, and smells.  I loved it!  :)

Bethany and her Turkish coffee...isn't she adorable?!

me & Amanda with the Blue Mosque in the background

entrance to the Grand Bazaar

street sign to tell you where to go!

Turkish fabrics 

One of the main halls....people everywhere!

lots of lanterns

 more gorgeuous lanterns...loved them!

The Turkish flag was everywhere - I thought it was so festive and fun!