Istanbul is growing on me. I’m getting to know my way around one area, Sultanahmet (the old city). While Ukrainians aren’t quick to smile at strangers, Turkish people are big smilers! In fact, they seem insulted if I don’t chat with them as I pass on the street. They all want to know where I am from and how I like their city. I had been warned by fellow travelers that Istanbul is crowded and salesmen are pushy. 
It’s true that they try to sell their products, and get you to by a carpet or whatever else. However, today I wandered through the grand bazaar market without any problems. It was really fun haggling for lower prices and chatting with all the shopkeepers, and much more calm than I expected. It can be hard to negotiate prices, since we don’t do that in America, but it is an interesting part of the Turkish culture. My favorite purchase of the day (which I’m sure I paid too much for) was fresh squeezed pomegranate juice. Delicious!
I did a lot more than shopping today. In the morning, I visited the Blue Mosque, which dates back to the early 17th century, and the Basilica Cistern, which is an early water system from the 6th century. In the evening, I went to a Turkish cooking class! I learned a bunch of new recipes, and look forward to trying them out when I get home. I hope to do a blog entry on Turkish food soon too.
Turkey is a country with a lot of ancient history, but it’s also very modern. This makes it really fun to explore — sometimes I turn the corner and see something totally unfamiliar, and sometimes I run into an American chain store. People are very open to diversity here, as the locals come with a variety of religious backgrounds, skin colors, and styles. I look forward to my first Turkish school visit tomorrow!
Note: I’m having some technical difficulties with the blog and it’s taking me a very long time to upload movies and photos. I have a lot more of them to share, but I’m not able to get them posted. I will try to resolve the problem so that I can add more soon.
Categories: Turkey
Innovation on Earth 
I am enjoying following your trip even without a video this time. In your first picture do you know what the tall tower in the background is? Anyway, I don’t want to pressure you, you probably have a lot on your hands. Can’t wait for your next post.
Yes! It is part of the building in the front. It’s the Blue Mosque! The tower is a minaret that is part of the mosque.
I am loving reading your posts and the pictures are beautiful! I have added Turkey to my travel wish list.
I’ve seen some videos on youtube of the call to prayer at the Blue Mosque…just beautiful.
I had the same experience of warm people. Love that you are expanding your experiences to include more than just the surface tours. Send me some receipes when you get back!
that’s really cool, Ms. Krakauer!
it seems that Istanbul people are very friendly, and love to talk. were the people in Cappadocia like that too?
and when you were in the cooking class, did the teachers there teach like American teachers? or did they teach with different methods like the teachers in Ukraine? i saw the picture of you chopping tomatoes. what kinds of food did you make? did you eat them afterwards? or did you present them to taste testers? and were taught in a restaurant?
say, based on your comment about your technical difficulties, do you think it might have something to do with the landscape in Turkey? your hotels (in Cappadocia, and Istanbul) are both like caves, you mentioned. since the landscape is all rocky and cave-like, then maybe that has something to do with the signal your computer is getting. usually in large cities like New York, your computer signal is very good, but near the wilderness, or ‘caveness’, the signal may not be so good.
i hope you had a wonderful time on this adventure!!!
😀
The cooking class was in a restaurant, and once we finished, other people came in and ate our food also! And we sat in the restaurant also. My room in Istanbul is not actually in a cave, it’s just LIKE a cave because it’s so small. But I do think the problem might just be a slow internet connection. Last night the connection worked reasonably well! I think it’s just inconsistent.
I think it would be fun and interesting to have a cooking class at our school do you think so?
yes, that would be nice!
that would be super cool!