My 4th of July-Part 1

My 4th of July was not spent celebrating independence day. It was spent sightseeing in Istanbul with the best tour guides! My sister Sandy and Gulden, her friend, coworker, cousin-in-law. We took the Ferry across the Bopherous to the European side of Istanbul. I love taking the Ferry as the water is my favorite place to be...

Here is the Maiden’s Tower. According to the most widely-known story in Turkey, the ruler of that time dreamt that his beloved daughter was fatally bitten by a snake. In order to protect his daughter, he had a tower built in the middle of the sea and sent her to live there. However, a snake hidden in a basket of grapes sent by the ruler bit the princess who died as a result. The present-day tower was built out of stone in 1719.

This is Dolmabahçe Palace. Beautiful isn't it. I will tell more a little later.

So we got off the ferry and starting walking to Dolmabahçe Palace. It was a bit of a walk but I didn't mind as I was busy taking pictures. Sandy and Gulden had to keep stopping and waiting for me. LOL Here is just a randon street. I just love the architecture here.

And of course I love tree lined streets....

So we arrived at Dolmabahçe Palace. The palace takes up a surface area of 45,000 square meters, while its walls are covered with neoclassical, empirical and baroque decorations. Its symmetrical façade along the quayside has a total length of 284 meters. The palace has 285 rooms, four grand salons, six galleries, five main staircases, six hamams (of which the main one is pure alabaster), and 43 toilets. Fourteen tons of gold and 6 tons of silver were used to build the palace. The extensive use of glass, especially in the Camli Kösk conservatory, provides a gallery of virtually every known application of glass technology of the day. The palace is a glittering collection of Baccarat, Bohemian, and English crystal as well as Venetian glass, which was used in the construction of walls, roofs, banisters, and even a crystal piano. The chandelier in the Throne Room is the largest one in Europe at 4.5 tons, a bulk that created an engineering challenge during installation but that has withstood repeated earthquake tests. Pretty impressive huh?

They have these guards outside the palace and they are like the ones in England and they can't move. They had just had a changing of the guard and the guy walking around was fixing this soldiers uniform. Making sure his feet were in the correct spot. It is pretty amazing that they have to stand still for 2 hours straight.

We never made it inside as the tours were closed because there were too many people inside. So we decided to go grab something to eat and went down to the Bopherous again...there was shopping down by were we ate. Very cute...

No he is not dead. You know I like to take pictures of the locals...he was just resting. It was very hot. This is just something you do not see in the states is all the stray animals roaming the streets. They are very friendly...but it's just kinda sad....

Another local with some local art. I thought these were pretty cool. I think the cats of Istanbul have it so much better than the dogs....

I thought this picture of the little boy was too good not to take. He was trying to feed the pigeons and then catch them. He got close a couple of times but no luck.

I will leave you with another local...checking out his possible lunch.

Next we headed to a boat tour of the Bopherous but that will have to wait for another day. I am tired.... I know I need to catch up on my blogging as I still have the rest of this day and then Sunday...and tomorrow is friday already and I know I will be doing something this weekend....

Emergency Room....

I said the other day that I was going to break out of this joint....well I did...right into the emergency room. I ended up getting sicker. Lets just say that I was dehydrated. So my sister and her hubby took me to the ER. Below is the entrance. Let me just say that I was pleasently suprised at how nice the hospital was. It was better service and care than alot of American hospitals. I walked in and they put me in a bed right away. They found an english speaking Doctor. She was very very nice. So they took blood and did some other tests....and I have some kind of stomach thing....I will spare you the details...LOL They put an IV in me and gave me anti nauesa medication and then fluids. Cengiz, my brother in law took pictures me while I was in the bed having the IV put in. If he sends them to me I might put one up here but it might be R rated as I was flipping him off when he was doing it. LOL He said I could post them to my blog.

Nice bracelet huh? I didn't figure I would get one of those here. Just a memento of my trip. I felt better when I left the hospital. I was suprised that my trip was not that expensive. In the states it would have cost and arm and a leg. I left with 3 perscriptions and a special diet...

So that was yesterday....today I am not feeling much better. Maybe just a little...and I am very very tired. So...this make 5 days that I have been sick....in this apartment...lonely & bored....as it is 7:30pm here in Istanbul. I hope that this goes away soon and I can venture out.....

Sick...

For the last 3 days I have been sick...flu or something...so no pictures...unless you want to see me in my pj's....what a scary site that would be. I have not left the apartment once in that 3 days. Tomorrow I do not care if I am not feeling well...I am breaking out of this joint! LOL I must or I will go insane. This weekend was rough on me emotionally. Got into an arguement with my boyfriend...through email....which really just sucks as a way of communicating for long distance. You can't hear tone or see body language...it's just plain old hard. But we ended up IM'ing each other and talking it out once again. This long distance thing is very much wearing on my nerves....I love him so....I just want to be with him....but I commited to this trip. I just am finding it harder emotionally than I thought it would be. I got to IM Jennifer today. She always makes me laugh and I feel so much better after talking to her...It is a joy to be her friend! I am hoping that this coming weekend I can do some sightseeing in Istanbul. I will make Goktan or someone take me! I need to explore!

Girls Night Out

Last night we went out with a few girls from the office. We went to dinner and a movie. Here is the restaurant we went to...Cafe de Paris. Not a great picture but the best I could do after we left as it was dark. From left to right It is Basak, my sister Sandy, Asli (I don't have the Turkish I one my keyboard so it sounds like Asla) and me.
The we walked to the movie theater and saw The Proposal. That is my new favorite Sandra Bullock movie. She is so funny. It was a very very good movie. I will buy it what it comes out. Then we went to a little English pub for a drink and then headed home. It was a good evening. I need socialization! LOL

Sightseeing and an evening out after my meltdown...

So yesterday, Goktan must have taken pity on me because the day before I was on the verge of crying all day. I had no sleep the night before...I was homesick and missing my kids, my boyfriend, my dog, my car....my life. He called me and asked if I had dinner plans and I said no and he said good....you are coming with me. He took me to meet some of his friends. Here he is with one of them, Pinar. Aren't they cute together...he had to bend down to take the picture because he is tall and she is short. Anyways....they took me to Bhagdad street. It is were all the upscale shopping and restaurants on the Asian side of the Bospherous. It was very nice.

This picture I took for Jen! It's one of the first words she wanted me to learn. Indirim is Turkish for discount. LOL...yes Jen...I learned it, I know it and I will use it! LOL

Of course I always take pictures of the locals.

I am liking the city streets here. They are crazy to drive on but nice to walk.

They took me to a park by the Bopherous and let me take pictures. It was very sweet of them to wait while I took so many! Like this kissing couple! LOL I couldn't resist. I have to show that Istanbul is just like everywhere else....

With all kinds of people. My brother in law says it's like NYC and I totally agree with him.

Goktan told me history behind some of the places. It is so amazing how old some of these buildings are.

I just love the water....So pretty

Then we went to a bar where another friend joined us and we all sat and chatted and laughed the evening away. I had to take the picture of this poster in the bar. I thought it was pretty funny to be sitting in a bar in Istanbul and see a poster about the world monopoly championship in Las Vegas....

I am glad I went instead of going home and burying my head in the pillows. I needed that. The language barrier gets to me sometimes. So....A week and a half into my experience....and I have already broken down and cried! LOL...be quite Jennifer...I know I am a crybaby!

To the kennels we go....

I went to bed early on Friday and woke up Saturday and it was another beautiful day out. Goktan and Basak picked me up but while I was waiting for them, I took this picture of the yard beside my sisters apartment. It is so pretty and peaceful... Then we drove to the kennels. Here is Goktan....He is such a character. Crazy guy. He must be to like being attacked by dogs! I don't care if he does have a bite suit on!

I was shown around the kennels again. It really is a nice place. They have fruit trees in the backyard. I have no idea what kind of tree this was but I loved the bright orangy red of these flowers.

Then we went to see the puppies. They have them in all ages. They were just so cute!

Below were my favorites. They were the sweetest little things. Not so sweet when they grow up...but for now....

And here is Goktan training one of the dogs. It was very interesting to watch.

I saw so many dogs I don't know how they keep track of who is who.....I stayed at the kennel till around 4:30 and then Goktan took me home. We had our dictionaries with us again! LOL Something I realized when talking with him during the day was how much slang we use in the States. Sometimes my choice of phrases didn't translate well so I had to figure out another word that would get my point across. It is something that we take for granted over there that people know what we are talking about. Saying something like "he flipped his lid". LOL Try explaining that one... Every day I am learning more and more Turkish. Just listening to the people and watching the commercials on TV help. We went grocery shopping yesterday too and even though I couldn't read the words...I pretty much knew what everything was because the packaging is very similar to that in the states. It was funny to go into the international isle and see the American food! LOL I can get Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup but it's gonna cost me 5 bucks a can!

Today was a lazy day....we did nothing but lay around and watch TV. Cleaned the house and made Chili for dinner. Tomorrow is work again....Hi Ho, Hi Ho...it's off to work I go....LOL

Show & Tell

Today, since I didn't have to be at the office as early as my sister, I decided that I would stay home catch a few Zzzzzzzz's and then walk to work. It was a beautiful day. Not to hot not to cold...just right....with a slight breeze. I figured I would take a few pics to show you my journey. Here is a picture of where I now live for the next few months as I was walking away from the building.... There are a ton of little stores below all the apartment buildings. I would say it is very much like New York City, except they sell way more fresh fruits and vegatables. I had some peaches last night that were so awesome! I swear I could become a vegetarian here.

This was my view walking forward to work. It's only about a mile to walk to work. Not too bad. Get a little exercise. just gotta watch out when you cross the street. Turks don't like to stop and wait for anything! They hate lines! Any kind of line, traffic, in the store....they will just cut in front of you. New York City traffic will be a breeze after being here. It is just so opposite of how it is when you meet them. They are just soooooooo nice! Friendly....makes no sense...but Cest La Vie....

I guess there is a Katy Perry concert coming....LOL I just liked the look of the wall...

Cute little traffic sign. Have no idea what it says except no parking...LOL I think we should have little heart traffic cones in the USA. LOL

Ahhhhhh.....my final destination....where I go to work with my sister......

Today was a good day. No mall food court today. After work I walked home too. I was not in the mood to go anywhere.....so my sister and her hubby are still at work slaving away. I am going to bed as soon as I finish this post as they have wore me out for the week! TGIF!!! Well...not really cause tomorrow I head to the Kennels to check out that.....

I have to find time to create something soon....maybe I will do a sketch or something......We shall see....

Another day in Istanbul. Hmmm...I was at work all day. We went to the mall food court again for lunch. I again went the safe route and today I ate Burger King...LOL Whopper Jr...it tastes the same as in the states. No difference. Maybe next week I will try one of the Turkish places. LOL After work, Goktan asked my sister if he could take me to dinner to discuss K9 Business. She told him to have me home no later than 10pm. LOL and she asked where he was taking me...LOL I felt like she was my mother. So off we went. It felt weird to be out and about in Istanbul without my security blanket (my sister). So we went to a Turkish restaurant and he picked out food and I just ate what was in front of me. It was awesome! LOL I have no idea what it was but it was good. I think one thing was like a stuffed eggplant. Have no idea. I will make Goktan tell my sister tomorrow what we had and she can then tell me...LOL After dinner he drove down by the Bospherous to what we in the states would call a hooka lounge. This is where we did most of our talking. It was a sight. Me with my 3 inch English to Turkish dictionary and him with his 3 inch Turkish to English dictionary. LOL I can only imagine what people were thinking. He speaks pretty good english but some words we get stuck on. Here is the view from the lounge.

The weather was perfect. It was a good evening. After we were done talking he drove me back to where my sister was eating....my favorite place...LOL and I sat with them where I got to eat my favorite fruit! Kavun. That is Turkish for Cantalope type melon. So again....I didn't get home till 11pm.

Dependent

Today at lunch we went to the mall for lunch. As I was standing looking around the food court, Basak giggled at me. She said I looked totally lost. And I was....I was thinking to myself that I needed to learn Turkish fast!!! That I was totally dependent of those around me to communicate with anybody but them. It is not a good feeling for me. I have issues with feeling dependent...ask my boyfriend!! Ask my ex! That is probably the single biggest cause of our marriage breakdown is that he needed to be needed and I am totally against needing anyone. LOL I obviously have issues. So my plan of attack tomorrow is to sit down with my lessons and hit it hard all day and see what sinks in. I have about 50 or so words that I know now. But it is not enough for me. Before when I was here it was no big deal as it was only for a week at a time...but now I will be here for months....I need to take care of myself.

So anyways, here is the view from my bedroom window. It is the city life. Last night a street cleaner woke me up out of my very good sleep. It is nice to sleep with the windows open. We are high enough not to have to worry. I just didn't like it last night!!! LOL
Going to dinner now....it's almost 9pm. I am sure that we will be out late again....Ah such is the life at my little sisters! Crazy!

We could use one of these...

So today was pretty uneventful. I got to go in the afternoon instead of first thing in the morning to my sisters work. We had to take her cat to the vet first. So along the way I was taking in the sights and I saw this in my sister's neighborhood and a couple other neighborhoods. Come on...don't we all need a watermelon truck in America??? LOL How awesome is that. See those yellow melons....Those are the BEST things EVER!! OMG....I love them. I could eat them everyday! And here is another you don't see in the USA....McDonald's delivers here! And Burger King and KFC. LOL

Didn't get home till 11pm again....dinners here take about 3 hours! Just sitting, drinking, talking, eating.... I am beat though. The jetlag is killing me. I hope to get a good nights rest as I had no naps today. So I am off to La La land....

I have arrived....

Ok....I know I know.....I haven't blogged....but I couldn't connect to the internet from my computer and I needed it to be able to add pictures! I don't like blogging without pictures!!! Anyways, I am here in Istanbul. I arrived today...well actually yesterday as it is 1:30am. But I had to show people that it is modern. So here are a couple of pictures from the ride back from the airport.
See....pretty modern. Tomorrow I will be going into work with my sister. I look forward to all that offers. I am going to try and blog once a day....even if it is short.... I will be posting pics too. My adventures....etc. I have to take a picture of the Watermelon truck tomorrow. You will understand when you see it...LOL So all is ok in Cindyland....

Leaving Las Vegas....Day 1

As I was driving out of Las Vegas...I was full of mixed emotions. This was the same road that I came into town 14 years ago. I came to Vegas with a husband, 2 young kids and entry level job skills. During the next 14 years I started working in the construction accounting world and worked my way up to the top. My kids grew up, Megan graduates in a few weeks and my marriage...well that was a roller coaster that ended up coming off the tracks and falling hard. But would I change any of it? Maybe a few things, but I believe that what happens to you makes you who you are. So...I left Las Vegas, alone...no husband, no kids with me and no job. But what I did leave with was a sense of excitement of the possibilities....of things to come, of places to see, people to meet and things to experience.

The early part of the day was spent in Utah....my most dreaded part of the drive.

All a bunch of rocks and nothingness. One sign said no services for 110 miles....they weren't kidding....nothing, nothing, nothing....as I entered Colorado, the terrain started to change.

I started to notice more colors...brighter colors and I started to feel like I was in the Wizard of Oz. You know how it starts in black and white and then turns to color.

The further I went, the more color I saw. I knew that things in Las Vegas were always a bland mix of browns, tans and sages. The only color being the neon signs.

I got to the Rockies in the late afternoon. As I drove through and saw all the snow still on the ground, I was happy I made the decision to drive my car across the country now instead of when I come back from Turkey. It will be winter then...I so didn't want to drive through there during winter! My plan was to stop for the night once I got right past Denver....

Well that didn't work....I had to keep driving....into the sunset....because I couldn't find a vacancy at a hotel! I kept stopping at the next few towns only to find no room at the inns! Finally...when I got into Nebraska, and into central time...midnight...I found a room. 1000 miles driven...and 700 to go tomorrow... 15 hours in the car. The 10 hour flight to Turkey will feel like a breeze compared to this day. Sleep came easy.....

Soon....

Soon I will be leaving the city that I have lived in for the longest period of my life. 14 years here in Las Vegas. I have seen it grow at an amazing pace and have enjoyed the benefits of that and now I am watching as it takes a huge dive.... But don't count out Las Vegas yet. It will bounce back. My kids and my friends are still here so I will be back to visit. Where else in the world can you go to New York City part of the evening.... and then Paris for the rest of the evening?

Or where you can walk in and see a lion in the middle of a Casino?

Or watch fountains dance to music....

Or see the most neon light that you have ever seen?

I am sad and excited at the same time. Sad to leave my kids and my friends but excited to start my journey of discovery....This weekend I am packing up my car and heading East to New York City. I will be making pit stops along the way. I am starting my journey in the Good ol' US of A. So stay tuned because I am going to try and blog alot more often about this trip....I don't leave the US until June 14th so I will have plenty of time to see the USA. Maybe I will discover things that I never knew....we will see....

Ignorance is bliss....

Sometimes.....I do really stupid things....I read an email that I wasn't supposed to read from about 11 months ago...and it just brought back all of that CRAP right back in front of me. I cried for hours over it last night....It was very hurtful...to me...to read. But then, the more I thought about it, the more I decided that it was a good thing for me to see. I 100% know for sure I did the right thing last July. I know now...that I am stronger than I thought I was. I know for sure that I can survive just about anything....A friend saw me today and said I was just glowing...that I looked so happy now...So to me...that said it all....you can knock me down but I am gonna get right back up and I am gonna be stronger than before....

My first class!

I have no pictures! Can you believe it????? I was so scattered brained or maybe it was that my students were such a rowdy bunch! LOL Ladies....you were the BEST! I had the best time ever teaching you. If you read this, please send me pictures of your flowers so I can post them! I was so proud! They did a great job and we had a lot of fun. Although...warning for future students as told by past students...wear goggles around me....My wires tend to fly across the room! LOL.