This is looking to the north of the Golden Horn. The big tower is the Galata Tower.
And looking to the south, at the Suleymaniye Mosque.
Later that night, I took Group #2 to a good restaurant in Taksim where you can sit on the floor, and they serve some great Turkish food. It's called Gani Gani, turn left at the McDonalds while walking down Istiklal Cad. and then it's a little to the right.
While I was traveling around Eastern Turkey, I was with a couple who had never been to Turkey before and so their excited, keen eyes opened me to things I was used to seeing and didn't appreciate any more. For example, women hanging Turkish rugs out of the balcony to let them dry. The woman on our trip really wanted a picture of one but never managed to get one, but here's one taken from my apartment.
Sinan is hopefully graduating this year, so he went to the graduation ceremony and there was also a ball for it. I was a little nervous about going because I know how grouchy I get at these things, and here I was, going with people I didn't know speaking a language I can't understand, but it was more fun then I expected. I let myself go and danced in the grass with some girls. I was incredibly plain compared to the other girls - Turkish girls have a tendency to be very into makeup, hair, clothes etc - and I just washed my hair and put on a dress from 3 years ago that I can wear to the grocery store. Anyway, I didn't care and it was less pressure on me to enjoy myself because I didn't spend a fortune getting ready for it. Ok blah blah sorry.
With Sinan's roommate's girlfriend. She's incredibly sweet and the epitome of glamorous.
I had a scare last week that my gym was closing. It is so convenient, cheap, and many of the people who work there know me, and many speak English. Because I don't start work until 2:30, it's easy for me to go, and it's really become a habit and like a second home. Also my shower doesn't work well at home so I like showering there. I really was quite sad, but luckily I didn't sign up anywhere else because a different company ended up buying the gym - so same place, just a different name! Phew! A couple of the Turkish instructors have befriended me and I ended up going to a wedding with one of them. It was completely random and last minute but I've been dying to go to one of these types of weddings. Last August I went to a wedding but it was a very American, modern wedding - outside, unlimited alcohol, tasteful decorations and not a huge crowd of people. This though, was a more traditional one in a "wedding salon". Tons of people cram into this court looking room (very drab, but with lots of fake flowers), and I think you have a limited time slot. Once we got there the ceremony was over but people were lining up to kiss the couple and give them money or gold. Then there was dancing! I had a quick lesson in dancing then I got up and did it! I learned another that you'll see pictures of but I couldn't do it, it was too fast. I'm not very good but I think people appreciated a foreigner doing things like that. Anyway, this wedding style is not my cup of tea but it was really interesting to see. This post is getting a little long to give more details but look at the pictures, you'll see.
People lining up to give money and kiss the people.
That's the bride. That's a lot of poof.
I hope the video works, I'm not sure if it does though...
That's it for now! This week should be a little calmer but a little emotional - it's my last week at work. I've started telling the students and it's been really hard and they don't want me to go. I don't understand exactly why I'm leaving myself but I need a change I think and I don't want to get caught up in teaching English all my life. I don't want to say I'm quitting my job just for a holiday but I will go to America for 5 weeks which will be really fun. Then I'll come back, and then we'll see! I'll keep you posted. Thanks for reading!
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