On Thursday Feb. 12, Emily, Jessi, Katie C, Kristina, Grace and I all went to the Grand Bazaar again but this time we visited the old map and book section of the bazaar. It was a really cool place actually. I am definitely going to go back and probably buy an old map of the Aegean Sea. However I have make certain it isn't authentic because Turkiye has very strict antique exporting laws because Turkiye wants to preserve its rich history. Also, I practiced my haggling skills with the local shop owners and bought a backgammon board. Ever since Orientation, I have learned to appreciate the game. Words of caution to all who come here: the store owners do harass foreigners to try to get you to help their business. Everytime I make eye contact with one, I can then expect to get harassed by them. The cool thing though is that they do take dollars. Since the Grand Bazaar is near the water front, the selection of fish is excellent. Unlike back in the midwest, the chefs here know how to cook a fish. For instance, that very same day I got enjoy delicious, mouth-watering salmon kabobs, and a couple of days before I got to try a fried fish sandwich found right on the water front in Sultanahmet.
Later that night, my roommate Erman and I went out with Emily, Jessi, Katie C, Kristina, Grace, Katie W and Crystal. We also met two friends of Crystal who were Turkish and they took us to a bar where we just socialized. It was a fun night. I got to know Erman a little bit better and I also got to spout philosophical jokes at Lessa and Em. We were forced to by our Turkish comrades however into trying a drink with them called Raki. They said it was harmless...and it soon became apparent that they were full of it. It is the strongest drink perhaps in all of Turkiye. I only had a sip, but that one sip made my face spasm and it also burned the inside of my nostrils. Apparently that drink is the kind of drink that people drink in Turkiye to get drunk or to say that they can drink an entire shot of it. Its kind of like a badge of honor if you can drink it. I guess I am not deserving because there is no way that I can, nor will I ever drink it. I think I got ordering things like food and drinks at restuarants and pubs down. Now I need to work on compliments and directions, because if I ever need a cab ride I will have to most of the time speak Turkish in order to get where I need to be.
Friday was Laundry day and I had to take my laundry downstairs and pay a woman 10 lira to have her do it for me. I found a laundry mat earlier this week but I ran accross the same situation. I had to pay someone else to do my own laundry. And I thought the personal washing machine allowed for creative destruction to take place...
Later that night, Emily, Jessi, Katie C, Grace and I went back to Taksim to see a show being performed by Tatavla Keyfi. They are a turkish-greek folk band that are somewhat famous to those who listen to world music from this area. This was by far the best night I have spent in Turkiye. We met up with Verena of Germany, and Anna of Ukraine (whom I met for the first time that night). This band consisted of a singer, a guitarist, a violinist, and a drummer. The music they performed was magical! The violinist and the drummer were especially fun to listen too. The bar got so into the music that many of its patrons started dancing in between the tables. But unfourtunately (my) words can't describe this music so therefore I will post a video of them playing. But by and large this was the coolest thing I got to see in Istanbul. I am going to definitely do this again.
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