Tuesday 5 October 2010

Birthday on the Bridge


We arrived in Istanbul on Gykeria's birthday so of course we had to go out and celebrate. Galata Bridge is a double level bridge with restaurants/coffee shops underneath and a road on top. We decided to make our way from one end to the other to see what was on offer before deciding on a place to go to. It took ages!!! As we walked past each establishment we were wooed by the employees and promised special discounts, it was almost impossible to walk away, we landed up pulling each other out of their clutches (of course we enjoyed every minute of it!)
Turkish man: "Hello my beauty, come come, I give you special price, delicious food, come come, beautiful girls, oh so beautiful! I give you flower"
He proceeded to fold a serviette into a rose!


We oohed and aahed and were about to sit down when we heard someone calling us:
Turkish man from next door restaurant: "My lovey ladies, that is a paper flower, I give you real flower, come come beautiful ladies, I give you special price, come come"


Ching... chong... CHA! Paper beats actual. Why? Because the paper guy promised to give us a cake! We really are cheap dates.


Not only did we get cake but fruit and fire too! *shrugs* who knows why the fruit comes with fire!


AND we got "3 flowers for 3 princes" we assumed he meant princesses.


Just when we thought it couldn't get any better a little band popped out of nowhere and starting singing happy birthday! This was the best unplanned party ever!

Sunday 3 October 2010

The Bastard of Istanbul


This book is an absolute must read for anyone who has been to Istanbul. Elif Shafak's style of writing is amazing, her words paint pictures in your mind and will make you feel as though you are actually witnessing the story unfold in real life. I wish I could write like her.

Elif Shafak is an award-winning novelist and the most widely read woman writer in Turkey.
Have a look at her website, http://www.elifsafak.us/en/default.asp.

I found this book at the Exclusive Books sale, I saw the word Istanbul and headed straight to the till, I didn't care what the story was about or if it turned out to be the worst book I had ever read, I simply needed to satisfy the Istanbul longing in any form possible. I was delightly surprised, I couldn't put the book down...it's is my new favourite!

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The Istanbul Chapter... it's time


Since I have been back in S.A I have neglected this blog, mainly because each time I try to update it I am reminded of the amazing times I had last year and I end up having a little pity party for myself. But I am pleased to announce that Mission Patrida a.k.a The Return to Greece is officially underway! The past two weeks have presented me with an insane amount of opportunity and motivation to get back to Greece, I had intended to start blogging all about my exciting plans but have been warned against the Mati.... I'll keep it on the down low until I have definite plans. So blogging has been on my mind and while driving home the other night I spotted a car with the number plate 'Istanbul'..... I want that car! And then it dawned on me that exactly a year ago to the date and time we were packing our bags for Istanbul! That is definitely a sign! A year late, but I pronounce the Istanbul chapter officially open.

Note the nails in the photo, that's my version of the Turkish flag.

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