Rose Around the World: Where Have I Been for the Past Eight Days, You Ask?

So, it's been a long week and a half since I last posted. Much of my time has been spent moving and settling into our new apartment and then working on a family emergency.

Despite everything, we have had some very nice excursions, and I am posting pictures from those little trips. Enjoy!

========= @ =========

Shortly after my last post we boarded a taxi and tried to find our apartment, but after what should have been a five-minute ride turned into an hour and the taxi driver got angry after asking about 15 people for the location of the street and not finding it, we had him drive us to my old school where I piled my suitcases and waited for one of our new roommates to show up and lead us to our house. At the same time, we were supposed to be meeting a friend who was planning to take us to Eyup for some sightseeing. We met at the school, then took our huge pile of junk to the apartment and set off.

At Eyup we explored an old fez-factory-turned-expo/conference center. Next, we strolled along the streets past booths selling religious articles and books, to a nice fountain. Maria enjoyed feeding the pigeons.

Rose and Maria by the fountain in Eyup

We looked in the mosque where there are some relics, then had pide, pizza and dessert before riding the cable car (teleferik) up the steep hill, over the old cemetery to the Pierre Lotti Cafe with an excellent view. We had tea and Nescafe but soon got cold anyway and had to go back.

At Pierre Lotti Cafe

The next day was a sunny Friday. We got up early and walked down to Kabatas pier where we caught a ferry to Prince's Island (Buyukada). On the way we passed the Blue Mosque, Ayasofya and Topkapi Palace. The ferry ride took about an hour and a half.

Rose in front of Ayasofya (r) and the Blue Mosque (l)

Along the way we entertained ourselves watching the seagulls following, taking lots of pictures of each other all over the boat, looking out to sea, chatting with other passengers and drinking tea and eating cookies. We saw a dolphin in the distance, but weren't quick enough with the camera. We also saw a fishing boat being trailed by a huge swarm of seagulls.

Maria on the ferry to Buyukada

When we got to the island, we met our friend and spent the rest of the day exploring, enjoying the calm atmosphere of this tourist haven during off-season, looking at the scenery, and eating at various locales. First, we had to pose in front of the Founding Father.

Maria and Rose in front of Ataturk

As we went up some stairs, we had an unexpected "Peanuts" moment. The quality of graffiti seems better here than in Chicago.

Maria and Lucy

Maria insisted on carrying the backpack for most of the day.

Maria and Rose in front of "Rose" apartment. This place has my name on it!

Maria found a litter of kittens.

Abandoned orphanage: The largest wooden building in Europe, second-largest in the world.

This orphanage was inhabited during the wars, and on until 1964.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rum_Orphanage

We continued walking up the hill past the orphanage and through a nice little pine forest. It was pretty amazing how quiet and peaceful it was up there, considering Istanbul is so close.

We decided to go ahead and trek up the even steeper trail another few hundred feet toward a small Greek Orthodox church at the summit.

It is a place for pilgrimage, and people say that if you go on pilgrimage up to that church you have accomplished half of the Haj...Sometimes I wonder where they get these sayings.