Merheba everyone! Yes I am still alive...
Well Bodrum was as relaxing as ever. No surprise there. I’ve had plenty of time to spend with the kiddies now that they are out of school. I’m proud to say that both of them have really improved with their English. Lal, has become a huge Harry Potter fan. We have been reading from the Philosopher’s Stone every night. Two weeks ago we even made puppets. Below is more artwork I have done with the kids!
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| The fabulous cast of Harry Potter |
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| Our own characters |
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| A little something Can made for me |
Below is a picture of the most amazing moon rise I have ever seen. I took this picture around 10 in Bodrum, and the shot doesn't do it justice. It was the largest brightest moon I have ever seen. Massive and orange, like a second sun!
Two weeks ago I met up with five other Au Pairs and we took a ferry to Kos (a Greek Island). The ferry took a mere 15 minutes, but we spent a good 45 minutes waiting and getting our passports checked out. I was a little disappointed with Kos, where we got off it was super touristy and expensive. In fact, it wasn’t all that different from Turkey. That particular day it was ridiculously hot! Theresa, another Au Pair, and I were happy to wander around after lunch and just chat in a cafe. That evening we all shared a bottle of wine down by the waterfront in Bodrum city centre.
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| Au Pairs excited on their day off! From left to right: Hannah (Canadian), Theresa (American), Theres (Austrian) |
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| Some ruins next to where we ate lunch |
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| Theresa and I |
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| Theres and Hannah |
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| Kitty company at lunch. I think this is pretty post-card worthy if you ask me. |
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| Typical Greek boats |
I’m currently in Istanbul (AND SO HAPPY TO BE HERE). Bodrum, while beautiful, lost its novelty fast. Istanbul on the other hand is so historically rich and exciting. I am always bound to have an amazing time. This past week I went to get my visa renewed. It took much less time than anticipated and I was lucky enough to get to spend the rest of my day with Sarah. We just walked around buying souvenirs for friends and family at home. It was so nice to see Sarah. I have definitely missed her.
This weekend the family went to Antayla and unfortunately I couldn’t tag along because I have to wait for one week for my visa to get renewed. I have spent the past two and a half days by myself- watching movies at the cinema, reading lots and taking buses into the city to walk around. I had a chance to visit the Basilica Cistern (or in Turkish Yerebatan Sarayı meaning “Sunken Palace”). It was really nice going by myself, I spent tons of time wandering around. However, some children’s tv show was being filmed right at the medusa heads so I didn’t get to spend too much time there.
The Basilica Cistern is an amazing cavernous underground water cistern and what I consider to be a spectacular demonstration of Byzantine engineering. The current cistern (much like every other piece of architecture in Turkey, the original was destroyed) was build in 532 under the orders of Emperor Justinian to meet the increasing water demands of the Palace. Approximately 7000 slaves were involved in the construction of the cistern. The cistern is made of limestone and consists of 366 columns, each just under 9 metres high. For a century after the Ottoman takeover, the cistern’s existence was unknown. It was rediscovered when people were “found to be collecting water, and even fish, by lowering their buckets through holes in their basements”. Pretty neat eh? If you take a look at my pictures you can spot the albino fish.
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| See the fishes?! |
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| The weeping column |
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| Don't look at me! |
In the north-west corner are two medusa heads at the base of two columns. The heads were originally from another site, but were taken and brought to the cisterns. Medusa is a Gorgon in Greek mythology whose hair is made of writhing snakes. Those who look directly upon her would turn to stone. These heads are thought to mark a nymphaeum or a shine for ancient water nymphs. You will notice that the heads are not upright. This was done on purpose although historians are unsure why. Some believe it is to counter the power of Medusa’s gaze, others say it is for structural purposes.
In other news, Ramadan has started. Ramadan is a Muslim tradition (holiday?), in which people fast (no food or water) for one month between the sunup and sundown. Children are allowed food and water throughout the day. Zeynep fasted the first day and was pretty tired. I don't know how you could go the whole day without water! In Bodrum they set off this big explosive at 8:40 every night to indicate that people can break their fast. Gave me quite the scare the first time they went off. In Istanbul if you are not in the touristy parts, you will find many of the restaurants are closed. I heard a pun and thought I would share it with you all: Ramadan, putting the "slim" in Mu"slim". Get it? Get it?
AAAAANDDD just because I love you all so much, I have decided that I will update my post on Domabarche palace. I promised I would put up photos and I still haven't. Check this link later and you can see the rest of the pics at the bottom of the "Where we left off" post.
Thanks for reading.
That's all for now!
