Istanbul, Turkey

Wow, what a trip! We decided to go to Istanbul, Turkey for our Turkey day this year, it only seemed fitting. Many staff members had been to Istanbul and everyone spoke so highly of it. We flew out early afternoon and arrived into Turkey at 5pm. We were greeted with winter. Simon is convinced that he can continue to wear his shorts everyday that is a non-work day. Not in Turkey. We quickly changed, after finding our hostel, into our winter clothes, Under Armour, puffy jackets, hats, and gloves. We practically stumbled upon our hostel. We had taken the time to write the directions down before we left but conveniently thought each other grabbed them. Luckily we had both looked at the map of its location and were some how able to find it among the thousands of other hotels.

The first night we spent just wondering around the huge city, about 17 million people, near our hostel. We knew the next day we would be taking a tour. Most of the large historical places were very near to our hostel. Most of them closed in the evening, but are viewable from the outside.Hagia Sofia, fourteen hundred years old, was built by the East Roman Empire as church. In 1453 it was turned into a Mosque by Sultan Mehmed II following the conquest of Istanbul in 1453. Today it is a museum.




Blue Mosque- Is the largest Mosque in Turkey. It was built right next to the Hagia Sophia to make a statement, saying that he, the Sultan in 1609, could also build a Mosque of the same beauty.

Friday morning we decided to be real tourists and do a boat and bus tour for the day. It was the only real way to get to see the city. The first part was on the boat. We caught the boat in what is known as the Golden Horn, the water that divides the European side of Istanbul. We then worked our way up the Bosphorus, which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea. The Bosphorus also divides Istanbul, Asia is on one side and Europe on the other. The European side is where old town Istanbul is located, and where tourists spend all their time. After the boat we did a city tour, which was completely on the European side even though bridges also connect the two continents together.

The view from the top of what our tour boat looked like.

Looking back on Old town Istanbul from the water.

The Bosphorus bridge which joins Asia and Europe.

Fortress along the Bosphorus.

A picture of us when we are standing on the top of the Maiden Tower, which is its own little island. Dad you may recognize the Island it was in the James Bond film, "The World is not Enough," it was a prison.

Yes of course I had to get pooped on, good thing I was wearing my rain pants.

Once we were back on land the bus took us to a lookout area, which was on the top of the largest cemetery in Istanbul, all people that are buried are facing towards Mecca.

Picture of us from that lookout area.

After our day on the bus and boat. We had an hour or two before the spice market closed. We had the bus drop us off so we could check out the word famous spice bazaar, which is still used for spice trade in Istanbul. It was a great place for some dried fruit, tea, and spices. We were even able to try some good cheese.

Saturday we spent our day touring the insides of the Mosques, going to the Grand Bazaar (which it looks like we didn't get any pictures of), and the palace (from the outside we got there too late to go inside, 3:30)

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

Blue Mosque (still used for prayer)

Blue Mosque

Famous Mosaic in Hagia Sophia

View from Hagia Sophia towards the Blue Mosque

Last evening, Mosque, men fishing, man selling street food.

I finally got my birthday present. The lamp we purchased and it hanging in our home.

Great trip, great city!

Even More Tabarka Pictures!

Downtown Tabarka

Simon and Liam going for a little walk

Karen and Liam make friends with a local man. Everyone loves Liam!

The view from the Castle in Tabarka

Looking across to the Castle

Tabarka- Dar Ismail Hotel- Beach in front of our hotel

Played a little soccer on the beach

Pouring down rain, forgot a bag in the car!

Looking back at our hotel from the beach

Bulla Regia- South East of Tabarka, about an hour and 1/2 drive from Tabarka

Esperance

Videos

Our ride to the game was one continuous traffic jam of soccer celebration. It was great!

We were told that the Arabic phrase created by the crowed translates to Esperance Forever.

...continued.

Moroccan fans "welcoming" Esperance to the pitch! (Also, one of the glaring reasons why the last home game was played without any fans.)

This is what it looks like to win the African Continental Cup!

This is what is sounds like outside of the stadium 20 minutes after winning the African Continental Cup!

Rades Stadium in all its glory

More Tabarka Pictures

Local water transport.

Cap Serret

Our first Cork Oak

Cap Serret

Local water source.

Dog food! (Zoom in for the full effect.)

National Park

National Park

National Park

Ain Draham

Tabarka Panorama Pictures!

Tabarka (Seen from the Fortress)

Tabarka

Tabarka

Tabarka

Cap Serret

Bulla Regia

Ain Durham (Cork Oak Forest)

Tabarka

Cap Serret

Sheep brought into town for Little Aid

Another great weekend after a very busy week. This week consisted of being at the school from about 6:45-5:00 everyday. Simon was working in the cashier's office. He was covering last week and next week for a women so she could make her pilgrimage to Mecca. This meant long days and many new systems for him to learn. It was nice for him to have something different and new to do. I had conferences this week, which meant half days on Wednesday and Thursday and Conferences starting at 12:30. The kids didn't have school on Friday because it was a professional development day for us, teachers. Four day weekend for the kids and a 3 day weekend for us because of Aid.

In November the Muslims celebrate little Aid. This is a very important holiday for them. The week prior to little Aid the Muslim families, that can afford it, purchase a sheep. The price of the sheep ranges from 180 TND to 250 TND. The night before little Aid the person who it was purchased from drops the sheep off in their yard. The week or two leading up to the celebration brings a ton of sheep into the city. It is common to see sheep in the city but the week leading up to it the streets are filled with sheep. On Sunday morning the Muslim family cooks a large breakfast to share with the family along with the man who comes to kill the sheep. Once the sheep in killed it is cut in half. One half is for the family the other half the family gives to the poor people. Everything but the brain is used. There are some families that do not use it all and will give it to other families. On Monday people traveled to see other family members which they were not able to see the day before. This is important because the women in most cases are expected to spend the first day with her husband's family but is able to travel to see her family on the next day. Aid Mabrouk!

For our three day weekend we decided to go up to the northwest corner of Tunisia, Tabarka, about 10 km from the Algerian boarder. On our way we saw beautiful beaches, coastlines, and orchards full of olives, cork trees, and pine trees. When we arrived at the hotel there was a lightning and thunder storm but as soon as that cleared we had two full days of complete blue sky. On Sunday we went to visit, Bulla Regia, one of the most well preserved Roman Ruins in Tunisia. The gate was suppose to be closed for the Aid but we were lucky that it was left open. We ended up getting a tour from a local man who knew a lot about the ruin and even spoke some English.

We got back to the hotel just in time to get a quick swim in before sunset. Karen, 1st grade teacher, Simon, and I braved the waters. It was fairly warm but the air was cool. I definitely didn't think I would be able to say that I went swimming in the Mediterranean in November.

This morning we went into Tabarka, most of the town was quiet because of the holiday but we were able to explore some of its natural beauty. Couldn't have asked for a nicer weekend, beautiful blue sky, 75-80 degrees, new sights, and great company.

Hammamet

Beach in front of the hotel

Archery, one of the activities, which was included

View from our room

Wow! What a weekend. All inclusive resort. Beer, wine, drinks, and food all included. The first night in Hammamet it was just the four of us that went, Kelli, Adam, Simon, and I. We arrived with mostly blue sky and some clouds. The clouds rolled in and the wind picked up. We enjoyed our evening, music, dancing, drinks, and a wonderful Asian themed Buffet. Amazing chocolate sauce for dessert.

Saturday we had a lazy day at the beach. Kelli and I wrapped up in our towels when Adam and Simon played in the rough waves on the beach. The wind had really picked up, which made the waves larger and the water all stirred up. After, Simon had his first shower of the day. Around 2pm the others started to arrive. There were probably about 25 of us from the school. A group of us then did the Hash, the run ended up with Simon in the Ocean for round two, which meant shower number 2 of the day. After the Mexican themed buffet a few of us decided it would be a great idea to dress up for Halloween (it is a German resort so we thought there might be a few others that would join). What a surprise there was about 7 of us in costumes, the Germans reminded us that Halloween was not until Monday! After another night of dancing and celebrating a friend's birthday the night came to an end with a splash. The birthday girl, Paula dared Simon to get in the pool with his costume on, with little hesitation Simon was back in the the water. Splash! Shower number 3 of the day!

Sunday the weather turned from cloudy and windy to down pours. Some people ended up leaving Hammamet a little earlier then planned. When we got back to Tunis, streets were completely flooded in areas. We had to turn around three times to get home that evening. We really got to experience some real urban flooding. It continues to rain for the next five days. Beautiful days that reminded us of home!