Istanbul, Turkey.

Well, I know I promised the rest of that list about Russia. But, part of me is realizing that I find some things far more interesting than others because, well, I experienced them.

So, on that note, I hope you will find istanbul interesting.

because, so far, istanbul is my favorite. okay, nizhniy i love for different reasons. but, seriously. turkey is enchanting!

maybe it is the fact that danielle and i get compliments all of the time. for example:

"hey, angel. come sit."
"hello, are you from paradise?"
"hello, lady. can i sell you a beautiful carpet for a beautiful girl?"
"lady. you dropped something." frantic looking around. " you dropped my heart."
"shall we say....welcome?"
"hello, lady. i am here. don't worry i am here."

and my personal favorite: when we talk camels.

"when i love, i love for real. maybe i will just take this one for a wife. how many camels? any price. no problem."

now, i had been warned of being offered camels, and we heard 300 was a normal amount. Chad forbid me to take anything less than 500. So what happens when someone agrees to pay 500?

i said, " uhm, 500 camels."
"no problem. i will pay anything."-savas.


don't worry. i didn't take him up on the camels. but i did take him up on the offer for:
-apple tea.
-an awesome view of istanbul.
-a short walk to see spinning dervishes for free.
-a tour of his uncle's carpet shop. [flying carpets: they are real. and expensive.]

meet savas:

Turkey is definitely the most magical and mesmerizing of all the places I have been. Even with 4:30 morning wake-ups. But, more on that later. For now, this is it.

K. Billy