Today was a wonderful day in Istanbul.
 
Today Lindsay and I decided to stick together and hang out. We started by sleeping in this morning. It was much needed after a busy time in Cappadocia. After we got dressed, we headed out for our adventure.
 
We started out by making our way to the Spice Bazaar by way of the tram. The tram system here is very easy to use and it comes quite often. When we got off we walked around a large stand that was outside of the tram station. There were a few booths selling different goods. Lindsay and I both decided to buy some bracelets from this one stand.
 
After that we walked into the bazaar and started walking through it. I stopped at a booth and got a really good deal on a large array of spices with a spice grinder and an array of teas with a tea set. After that we continued to walk around and I found a small set of spices to give to my dad. We finished walking around the bazaar and walked back to the tram to head to the Grand Bazaar.
 
We passed by a woman who was selling bird seed to feed to the pigeons. She was a million years old and was sweeping the seeds off of her stand. I think she was a tad bit crazy.
 
We made our way to the Grand Bazaar and began the adventure of such a crazy place. It was overwhelming even just to look at. There are over 60 isles and 4000 booths. And to make it even more confusing, a lot of them sell the same things so it starts to all look the same.
 
We began walking around for awhile and then decided to find a place to eat lunch. We found a small café to eat at and had fresh lemonade and pasta. They were very kind men that worked there and gave us free Turkish coffee and a Turkish delight to snack on. Then they also gave us free water and then asked to take pictures with us. So we have pictures with the workers of the restaurant.
 
After lunch it was time to start shopping. We walked around for hours and I finally got what I wanted to get. I got a knock off shirt for my brother and a lamp for my parents. And then I got a few candle holders for myself.
 
Then it was time to go to a Turkish bath. We took the tram and got off to see a Turkish bath right next to the tram stop. We walked in and decided to get the luxury package and a clay mask. It totaled about $75 and was well worth it. They have it separated by gender so we were led into the area for women. From there they gave us underwear to wear and a towel to put on and a locker to put all of our belongings in. From there you move into a large room made out of marble with a huge ventilated dome. Then you make your way to one of the women working. She lays you down and washes your body scrubbing off all of the dead skin. Then the clean you off with buckets of water and then give you a soapy massage. Then they wash your hair and send you to the pool and Jacuzzi. You get to hang out there for as long as you please and then move to another room to get a fresh dry towel. You then wait till they are ready to give you your oil massage. It was a very busy day that day. Normally you will be in a room with about 5 other girls getting a massage. But because it was so busy, I was taken upstairs to a private massage room where I was given my massage and clay mask. It was very relaxing and there was a window open in the room so I heard the call to prayer while I was getting my massage. Then you get to shower and get dressed.
 
It was a very enjoyable experience and I highly recommend to anyone going to Turkey to do a Turkish bath.
 
Lindsay and I then made our way back to the ship to shower once more and get ready to go out for the evening. We decided to go to the Galata Tower to see the city and have dinner there. The Galata Tower is one of the oldest towers in the world and was built in 528 as a lighthouse. It was then reconstructed in 1348 as the “Christ Tower”. The external diameter of the tower at its base is 16.45 meters, the inside diameter is 8.95 meters. At the base the thickness is 3.75 meters and at the top it is 20cm. The tower is also 61 meters tall. It gives the most amazing 360̊̊ view of the city.
 
After walking around the balcony of the tower we went inside to have a fancy meal. They gave us an appetizer tray followed by another appetizer. Then a salad and then the main course. And finally a dessert tray with tons of fruit. During dinner there was a number of different performances that went on. There was a sultan with his women, a belly dancer, other dancers, a knife thrower, other dancers, and another belly dancer, and finally a male singer. The whole show was very entertaining and at one point Lindsay was pulled up on stage to be fed fruit by the sultan and then to dance on the stage. The singer at the end was great because he knew songs in almost every language that was spoken in the room. On each table was a flag representing the nationality of the people at the table. We had a lovely American flag on our table. There were people from Brazil, Italy, Jordan, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, and the UK. He sang a number of songs and introduced many of the people in the room to the entire room. The whole ordeal didn’t end until midnight! Before we made our way back to the ship (which was only a 10 minute walk from the tower) we went back out on to the balcony and I took pictures of the skyline of Istanbul all lit up at night. It was an amazing sight.
 
We walked back to the ship with no problems at all and headed straight back to the room to get ready to sleep for the night. I was able to call my family and chat with my mom for a bit before going to sleep for the night. It’s very sad that there is only one day left in this amazing country!