Merhaba

Istanbul. Istanbul! Istanbul.

Let's see.

We started with my family--Brendan, Emily, Nick, Mom & Dad. From the 8 star apartment (mix fixtures such as chairs, couches, and pillows; add hot water; celebrate), we took Istanbul's streets by storm: bazaars, mosques, museums, fishing villages along the Bosphorous, Turkish cooking experiments at home, local eateries, nights spent walking around with the Ramazan crowd, quiet nights spent with baklava, wine, and good company.

The week's only drawback was its length.

Outside the Blue Mosque

Now, Larissa and I are both incredibly intelligent world travelers; we are four months into a very important trip whose very importance should be studied -- or thought about over some coffee, perhaps, or maybe, even, I mean c'mon just glance at the blog when you have nothing to do, will you?--by all.

As a result, no such instances occur in which, having just said goodbye to my parents and therefore their itineraries and guidance, a taxi driver drops Larissa and I off at the wrong destination and drives off with the change (my baklava money, dammit!). We're smarter than that.

We may or may not have then walked to our new apartment, where we still reside a week later and for at least one week more. Our apartment?! We met and friended a late 20s/early 30s couple vacationing at Pastoral Vadi -- our most recent help exchange location. We got along mighty well, and they, Nazlihan and Kemal, informed us that they have a spare apartment in Istanbul, unused and with our name on it if ever needed. Such altruism is equally humbling and inspiring.

We took them up on their offer once our Indian work visa was rejected (see a few posts below). And we've spent the time here figuring out a new plan for September and October, which we'll blog about next. We've also, as usual, been up to no good:

Exploring!

Larissa crossing a bridge! The Galata Bridge

Hanging out with friends

Nazlihan, our friend/host, at the farmer's market. We made them beef bourguignon and chocolate chip cookies (rare in Turkey), and it was awesome.

Breakfast with Hande, an Istanbul resident and law student who volunteered at Pastoral Vadi with us.

Eating baklava

With vanilla ice cream, it's serious

Caring for Dante

Kemal and Nazlihan's golden retriever challenges me each day. "Do ye not comprehend that we are worms born to bring forth the angelic butterfly that flieth unto judgment without screen?”, he asks me, and then adds, "Feed me."