Turkish Delight

Last night we arrived in Istanbul. Let me pause for a moment to scrape my jaw off the ground... this is one of the most GORGEOUS cities I've ever seen in my life. I don't even know where to begin.

Well, first I should say that we're leaving Istanbul today (but will be back!) for a two-day trip to Cappodocia, an ancient city carved into, and under, a series of the most beautiful rock formations and caves, in central Turkey. I don't really know what to expect, as I can't really get finger on what this place is exactly. Tune in later for details...

Istanbul truly is the meeting place between Europe and the Arab world... it has the look of a European city, with its narrow, windy cobblestone streets and old stone buildings covered in brilliant flowers, but it has the sounds, smells, and feel of the Middle East, with dozens of mosques and minarets dotting the cityscape, women in head coverings, and the scent of turkish coffee, almonds and cinnamon.

On the west, Turkey is bordered by Bulgaria and Greece. To the east, is Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia and Georgia. Turkey basically serves as a bridge between these two worlds, with the Black Sea on the north, and the Mediterranean on the south. Istanbul itself, is surrounded by water, with the Sea of Marmara forcing its way through the city, literally creating the border between Europe and Asia.

I am so happy that we spent some time in Jordan before coming here. I've spent much time in Europe over the course of my 20s, and am familiar with the feel of its culture. Being in Jordan reintroduced me to the Arab world... and coming here is a weird, beautiful, lush and exotic combination of the two. It gives me the sense of having my feet in two different countries.

We are staying in an old, rickety, charming hotel, covered in tapestries and textiles, with sprial staircases taking you up and down like a maze, just below the famous Blue Mosque. When we arrived last night, the hotel clerk said to me, in broken English, "...write about my country on your blog." - - I had e-mailed him from the Dead Sea to see about arranging a room, and he clicked on the blog link at the bottom of the signature box, and read the whole thing! He said that it seems like we've had a great adventure. So funny! I hardly expect anyone to really read this thing anyway, and receiving comments from a Turkish hotel clerk makes me smile...

We have a few hours before we fly to Cappodocia, which I hope to spend in the Grand Bazaar... we passed through a smaller bazaar this morning as we were wandering, which was overflowing with beautiful rugs, hookahs, carpet bags, ceramics and textiles, spices and tapestries... I can only imagine that the Grand Bazaar, which has served as Istanbul's primary trading place for more than 8 centuries, will be an overwhelming delight for all the senses...

I hope you're well...