Istanbul...Narnia?

Oh wow - ill be posting every day now to catch up.  We are already in Thailand but I'm still writing about turkey! Yikes!

We found where Narnia is!! Somehow we got lost in a closet and came out the other side...and ended up in Isranbul which I'm pretty sure is the real life version of Narnia.  Istanbul is such a unique place!! Such a blend of so many different things.  This place has obvious influences from the Middle East - Muslim being the biggest religion out there - and middle eastern foods, music and decor as well as a strong European and Asian influence as well! Istanbul actually reaches across two continents - there's a European side and an Asian side connected by a bridge.  How cool is that?? You can literally walk to Asia from Europe in Istanbul.  Istanbul is a crazy place in terms of how much is going on and how many people live in this city - about 14 MILLION! To put it in perspective there are 4 million people in the city of Los Angeles.  

Another way to describe it: colorful. So many colors everywhere! Lots of red little old fashioned carts selling some of the coolest food specimens I've seen including homemade candy sticks of all colors and flavors, bright yellow corn, deep red fresh squeezed pomegranate juice that they juice right in front of you, fresh baked breads, giant smoked chestnuts and so much more. Then you have the bright blue ocean nearby with some amazing looking buildings all around.  Many of them are mosques that are huge and extremely colorful - some with gold domes and spirals.  Then you have the busy markets called "bazaars" with shop after shop selling anything from fruit and nuts to Jewlery to Turkish lamps (which are amazingly colorful themselves), to clothes and scarves!  Oh and you cant forget Turkish carpets.  Those salesmen were the best - they all had the most authentic and handmade carpets and had an amazing discounted price - just for you!! Why? Where are you from? Oh from California! I have family there so I make you special price!! They all tried to talk us into how essential buying a massive carpet was and how easily it could roll up and fit into a backpack! Haha I don't even know why they bothered- does it look like Robby and I would be in the market for a giant 15 foot rug?? Who buys those carpets on vacation?!

Just one of the amazing looking mosques - Hagia Sofia

A seafood restaurant right on the water - the boats literally grilled the fish they just caught then handed them over!

Their homemade candies They sell from carts

Corn and chestnut stands were everywhere!

Fresh squeezed pomegranate juice...theeee best!

Lots of outdoor markets selling everything

Lamps galore!!

Magic carpets?

Oh and their ice cream was so weird! Stringy kind of like melted toffee...A far cry from gelato but not too bad

Turkish people have been some of the nicest we've encountered.  Always trying to help even when there is nothing in it for them.  One time When we were obviously lost looking for our hostel we had two people come up to us asking where we needed to go and even used their cell phones to call the hostel reception to get specific directions.  And they never expected anything in return just said we were welcome and smiled and went on their way.  So many people come up to you just to talk and say hello. So cool! I think about America and how many times there are probably lost tourists around and we just walk by in a hurry, I doubt very many people would offer their cell phone to a stranger to make calls on it. 

Isranbul is one of the most unique places we have seen!  From the people, to the crazy looking buildings, the charm, the food, the colors, the ocean, and the traditional/reserved mixed with modern cultures make it so unique.  We agreed that it totally reminds us of what Narnia would be like! And they even eat Turkish Delights in the movie! I've always wondered what those were and I finally solved the mystery.  Man we should've been more on the look out for centaurs! 

We spent a lot of time in istanbul, started our turkey trip there and ended it there as well so there are gonna be a few posts on this one so to be continued!